THE NATIONAL Basketball League (NBL) is home to a number of talents both domestic and international, with players from all over the world heading down under to play in one of the strongest competitions in the world.

Each year, NBL teams are allowed three imports on their roster as they look to help nurture some of the most enticing talents across the globe. Imports often dominate headlines, given they come into the competition as established players with some playing in the world’s best competitions.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be keeping an eye on how the fresh imports for 2022/23 are faring on a weekly basis, and what they are bringing to their respective teams.

Alan Williams – SEM Phoenix

The former NBA big man produced his best performance to date for the Phoenix in Sunday’s loss to United. He was immense in the first half, completely owning the paint on his way to 20 points by the main break. Outplaying veteran Isaac Humphries, Williams kept his side in the game for as long as he could with his offensive rebounding (he had six for the match) and was able to utilise his size and strength to finish over the top of the opposition. Williams ended the match with a mesmerising double-double of 30 points and 14 rebounds, in one of the bigger games we have seen in season 2022/23, fully taking advantage of his NBA experience and strong build.

Brady Manek – Perth Wildcats

After a shaky start to his time in the NBL, Manek finally fired for Perth in its five-point triumph over the 36ers on the weekend. Known internationally for his sharpshooting ability, the big man finally got his rhythm going, torching Adelaide with a magnificent scoring showing on the road. Manek caught fire in no time at all, nailing six of his eight attempts from behind the arc in impressive fashion. He worked extremely hard to get free off the ball, and given his 206cm stature, proves to be a difficult matchup for the opposition big men given his work rate around the perimeter. Finished the night with 25 points on 8/10 shooting from the field.

Shannon Scott – Cairns Taipans

It was a terrific win over United from the Taipans on Friday night, and Scott was a massive factor in Cairns’ dominance. He has been stepping up in the absence of Tahjere McCall, ensuring the team does not drop off without one of their main pieces, and has taken full control of the team in this time. Against Melbourne, Scott appeared to pop up everywhere, with an all-around performance of 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals, as he simply executed whatever was required to keep the team on top of the opposition. Scott was too difficult to stop going downhill, and drew plenty of contact as he attacked the rim with tenacity and speed. The Taipans have been exceeding all expectations this year, and Scott has been a key cog in the team’s success.