THE 2023/24 season of the National Basketball League (NBL) has officially reached the second half of the fixture, as spots in the playoffs and play-in tournament heat up with a number of contending sides.

The round officially commenced last night with a highly anticipated match-up as another instalment of the Throwdown Series took place at John Cain Arena between Melbourne United and the SEM Phoenix. Unfortunately for the latter, the game did not live up to the hype as United claimed another dominant victory.

The ladder-leaders are now looking extremely well-placed heading into the back half of the season after downing a fellow contender in the Phoenix to the tune of 28 points. Melbourne looks the undeniable favourite for the title, but there are a number of sides that will be looking to place themselves in that category this weekend.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will continue its weekly series of highlighting some key players worth keeping an eye on this weekend.

Bryce Cotton – Perth Wildcats

After delivering one of the more remarkable resurgences of the last few seasons over the past six weeks, Cotton and the Wildcats were handed a reality check by the Hawks last round. The three-time MVP was held to just seven points in the loss to Illawarra, and his poor performance emphasised just how important he is to Perth’s chances of winning a game. They say the good players don’t play two bad games in a row, and Cotton will be one to watch as he and the Wildcats look to bounce back against Tasmania tonight.

Sam Froling – Illawarra Hawks

As mentioned above, Froling and the Hawks produced a dominant win over the in-form Wildcats last round, showcasing just how good the team can be under the new direction of Justin Tatum. The star forward delivered his best performance of the season in that match, top-scoring for the match and getting back to his best. It is clear Tatum has instructed the team to get the ball to Froling in pick-and-roll scenarios and in the low block, and he has delivered in spades. The big man’s importance to the team is still evident and he should play a big role in the team’s matchup against the Phoenix.

Jack McVeigh – Tasmania JackJumpers

It is a big weekend for the JackJumpers, who currently sit in second spot in the standings but have a tough weekend in terms of matchups. First up, they travel to RAC Arena to take on the Wildcats, who will be eager to bounce back after a poor performance. A couple of days later, Tasmania will take on the reigning champions, a task that is always tough to manoeuvre. If the JackJumpers are to go 2-0 and officially cement themselves as contenders, McVeigh will need to continue his strong form of late. He has delivered 20 points in two of his last three games, and plays an underrated role alongside his star guards.