ROUND 5 of the 2023/24 season of the National Basketball League (NBL) took place over the weekend, with some eye-catching results headlining the action for the week.

It was the round of upsets as underdogs across the country produced some massive results that completely changed the landscape of the competition. There were big performances across the league, with familiar faces and unsung heroes standing up over the span of the weekend.

From Thursday to Sunday, there was no shortage of standout performances, showcasing the talent and depth in the NBL, a league that is arguably as stacked as it has ever been.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central‘s weekly stat series continues, taking a look at the leading contributors in some of the key statistical categories that impact the game most.

Points per game

• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers) – 22.4
• Nathan Sobey (Brisbane Bullets) – 21.8
• Jaylen Adams (Sydney Kings) – 19.3
• Jordan Crawford (Tasmania JackJumpers) – 19.2
• Alan Williams (SEM Phoenix) – 19

The current scoring leader in the NBL changed over the weekend, with four guards and a returning big putting up big numbers every week.

Despite his side losing both games in Round 5, New Zealand Breakers import guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright put up some big games in an attempt to drag his side over the line. The scoring machine showcased his talents with 33 points in his side’s second’s game of the round, and is proving a real problem for opposition defences.

Nathan Sobey remains comfortably in second spot in terms of scorers, and showed exactly what he can do with a 28-point match-winning performance against the JackJumpers on Sunday. Despite being 33 years of age, Sobey is on track for a career-best season, and played a big part in the Bullets going 2-0.

Jordan Crawford and Jaylen Adams had reasonably quiet weekends by their lofty standards, while Alan Williams continues to be a focal point for his side offensively.

Rebounds per game

• Alan Williams (SEM Phoenix) – 10.7
• Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United) – 9.4
• Jacob Wiley (Adelaide 36ers) – 8.1
• Sam Froling (Illawarra Hawks) – 8
• Luke Travers (Melbourne United) -7.8

‘The Big Sauce’ is at the forefront of this category too, proving to be the most premier presence in the NBL on the glass. A pair of massive rebounding performances over the weekend were instrumental in the Phoenix climbing to second spot in the standings.

Ariel Hukporti is making the most of retaining the starting spot for United, and was a real threat on the glass in Melbourne’s two wins over Tasmania and Illawarra throughout the weekend. Jacob Wiley has played a big part in Adelaide’s in-season turnaround, while Sam Froling and Luke Travers have been quietly going about their business.

Assists per game

• Will McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers) – 6.8
• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers)/Patrick Miller (Cairns Taipans) – 5.8
• Justin Robinson (Illawarra Hawks) – 5.6
• Shannon Scott (Brisbane Bullets) – 5.3
• Denzel Valentine (Sydney Kings) – 5

William McDowell-White remains the premier playmaker in the competition despite a tough weekend from a New Zealand perspective. His teammates continue to benefit from his innate ability to find them in scoring positions, and McDowell-White is the best there is in that domain.

Jackson-Cartwright pops up again as one of the best in the competition, showcasing how dangerous he can be on the offensive end. Despite having a seriously good ability in finding the bottom of the net, the import guard is just as good at getting his fellow Breakers involved, and shares the ball-handling responsibility with the man we mentioned before.

Steals per game

• Shannon Scott (Brisbane Bullets) – 3.2
• DJ Hogg (Cairns Taipans) – 3
• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (NZ Breakers) – 2.8
• Jaylin Galloway (Sydney Kings) – 2.5
• Will Cummings (SEM Phoenix) – 2.1

Shannon Scott remains at the top of the list, but missed the team’s impressive weekend with a hamstring injury, although the Bullets got over the line to close out proceedings against the JackJumpers.

DJ Hogg returned to the NBL, and although the Kings didn’t get over the line against his hold time, the forward’s hands were extremely active on the defensive end and he will be an excellent contributor on that front for the reigning champions.

Blocks per game

• Tyrell Harrison (Brisbane Bullets)/DJ Hogg (Sydney Kings) – 2
• Jo Lual-Acuil (Melbourne United) – 1.8
• Jordan Hunter (Sydney Kings) – 1.4
• Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United)/Alexandre Sarr (Perth Wildcats) – 1.6
• Gary Clark (Illawarra Hawks)/Isaac Humphries (Adelaide 36ers) – 1.1

Hogg continued his defensive work by protecting the paint for the Kings against the Taipans with a pair of blocks in his Sydney debut. He has the athleticism to meet anyone at the rim, and may be asked to do a bit more of that for a Kings side that loves playing exceptional defence.

Tyrell Harrison continues to start for the Bullets, and although Aron Baynes returns this week, will play an important role off the bench. Brisbane comes into the sixth round on a two-game winning streak and boosting the team’s big man depth will only help.