SEASON 2024/25 of the National Basketball League (NBL) is already approaching the halfway mark, and the race for a top-six spot is as tight as ever.

10 rounds into the fixture has seen record-breaking performances, dominant team displays and thrilling finishes as the NBL produces its most exciting season yet, with the championship race wide open as it stands.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be putting each side under the microscope, and on the cards today are Melbourne United, who have been the best team in the NBL over the first 10 weeks and are charging towards championship contention.

Melbourne United

Record as of Round 10 – 10 wins, four losses

How its happened

United have secured top spot on the ladder at the halfway mark of the fixture, producing dominant performances and consistently outperforming the opposition. Melbourne arguably flew under the radar heading into the season, with the likes of the Sydney Kings and the SEM Phoenix dominating the headlines with aggressive off-season recruiting. However, no side has been better than last year’s runners-up to date in season 2024/25, and barring a rare blowout loss at the hands of the New Zealand Breakers at home, United have been the team to beat.

MVP – Jack White

Despite the loss of a large chunk of their roster from last season, picking up White fresh off a stint in the NBA was a massive coup from United. The NBA Champion has been simply terrific for Melbourne in the first half of the season, and would be right in contention for the league’s MVP award as it stands. The big man has been nothing short of dominant on the glass, and has caused opposing sides constant headaches with his performances. He is currently the only player in NBL25 to be averaging a double-double, with numbers of 13.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Another contender for this spot is Chris Goulding, who has been shooting the lights out of late and delivered a whopping 46-point performance recently.

Where to from here?

It is a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ for United given they are sitting at the top of the table after 10 rounds. Dean Vickerman has his team in tip-top shape, and they are an ominous matchup for any side in their path in the coming weeks. They have the Kings and the Breakers as their next two opponents, but Melbourne has shown the ability to defeat any side in the NBL, and should be heavily involved come finals time.