ROUND 16 of the NBL has wrapped and there were some big scores across the courts as some of the league’s best bucket getters fired their side to victory, while others performed admirably in defeat.

In a round of upsets, there were some forgotten players that managed to pop up for some impressive performances. With that being said, the big names were still putting up some big numbers, giving the fans plenty to cheer about.

As revealed on the Got Next Podcast, which chats all things NBL and WNBL, Rookie Me Central names a Team of the Week, and the 11th round of the fixture had plenty of stars making an appearance.

Starters

Point Guard – Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks)

After performing strongly in a losing side for much of the year, Harvey finally got reward for effort with the Hawks getting a win over the Breakers on the weekend. As has been the case all year, the guard was the star of the show with a game-high 25 points and the match-winning bucket. Trailing by one point with the shot clock turned off, Harvey stormed up the court with ball in hand, pulled up from near mid-court at the Hungry Jacks logo, and gave his side the game-winning lead with the shot of the season. He also had 22 points a few days later in the loss to the Bullets, showcasing his place as a star in the NBL.

Shooting Guard – Tyler Johnson (Brisbane Bullets)

There was plenty of expectation when Johnson entered the NBL that he would be one of the top scorers in the competition. Although he did not reach those heights to start the season, Round 17 was a massive step in the right direction. The import guard had 27 points in Brisbane’s shock win over the 36ers on the weekend, and looks at his best when freed up to control the offence, rather than being strictly a catch-and-shoot player.

Small Forward – Chris Goulding (Melbourne United)

It is hard to stop CG43 when he’s in a groove and he showed that is still the case during his side’s win over Adelaide in Round 16. He had a game-high 28 points, scoring plenty of those in short bursts and breaking past the defence with his hard work off the ball. Despite being 34 years of age, he continues to defy age and torment opposition defenders with his lightning fast shooting motion.

Power Forward – Jarell Brantley (New Zealand Breakers)

Brantley has flown under the radar a bit for the New Zealand Breakers, with a lot of the spotlight focusing on the likes of Barry Brown Jr. and Dererk Pardon. However, he remains one of the best defensive players in the competition and delivered one of his best outings of the season in the tense win over the Kings. He finished the match with 30 points and nine rebounds, delivering some clutch plays down the stretch and steering the Breakers to an awesome victory against a quality opposition.

Center – Alan Williams (SEM Phoenix)

Williams has been a pillar of consistency for the Phoenix all season long, constantly controlling the paint and crashing the boards. In the big win over the Wildcats, the big man was immense across all facets of the game, finishing the match with a statline of 27 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. He has been a force to be reckoned with inside throughout the entirety of the fixture, and continues to play a massive role in the Phoenix’s finals aspirations.

Bench

Point Guard – Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)

A mainstay in our Team of the Week in one way or another, Cotton had 21 points and 11 assists against the Kings in a classic, before backing it up with 25 points in the loss to the Phoenix.

Shooting Guard – Dejan Vasiljevic (Sydney Kings)

The firey guard’s Boomers’ campaign continued with a 26-point performance in Sydney’s tense loss to the Wildcats on Friday night.

Small Forward – Mitch Creek (SEM Phoenix)

Creek is as reliable as it gets for season 2022/23, and had another excellent outing against the JackJumpers with 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists to lead the Phoenix to a crucial victory.

Power Forward – Robert Franks (Adelaide 36ers)

Although it has been a tumultuous campaign for the 36ers, Franks continues to shine with another great performance, leading Adelaide in all three key categories with 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Center – Dererk Pardon (New Zealand Breakers)

Pardon has been one of the most impactful big men of the season, and had a big rebounding performance on the weekend with 17 rebounds to go with 14 points, continuing to control the paint.