As the young iiNet NBL Championship season gets into full swing, the likely MVP candidates have reared their heads. Whilst there are no surprises here, the big question will be which one of these gun players can rise to the top? Alternatively, will there be a surprise import that surpasses them all?
Julian Khazzouh, C, Sydney Kings
After finishing the 2010/11 season as the runner-up to MVP Gary Ervin by a single vote, 119 to 118, there is little reason to doubt the Sydney Kings centre as a very likely MVP candidate this season. During the Kings' revival season, Khazzouh proved to be their key asset, attracting double and triple teams on a nightly basis and often being the sole hope for the franchise. He averaged 17.4ppg (third in the NBL), 10.0rpg (first) and 1.8bpg (second) in what was a stunning example of a player returning to the league from overseas and showing the fruits of international experience.
This season Khazzouh leads a much more well balanced squad, thus alleviating some of the pressure on his very wide shoulders, however don't expect him to slouch from the challenge of turning the Kings' fortunes around. Appointed team captain during the off-season, he very nearly was sharing the pivot position with NBA superstar Andrew Bogut, before some last minute insurance hurdles precluded that from happening. Already Khazzouh has picked up Round Three Player of the Week honours, as he averaged 23.0ppg, 9.0rpg and 1.5bpg across two victories against Adelaide and Wollongong, getting the Sydney train back on track with the softest big-man hands in the league.
Despite the assistance in the frontcourt from big import Jerai Grant and the scoring load being shared by the likes of Aaron Bruce, Anatoly Bose and Ben Madgen, expect Khazzouh to figure very heavily in the MVP voting come season end.
Gary Wilkinson, F/C, New Zealand Breakers
As they took out the 2011 NBL Championship, much of the focus in New Zealand rested on world class shooting guard Kirk Penney, despite the phenomenally deep supporting cast the Breakers boasted. Leading that entourage was 206cm import, Gary Wilkinson. With a stellar introduction to the NBL, the big red head averaged 16.1ppg and 5.6rpg, scoring from inside and out, and leading the Breakers through games whether or not Penney was present. His emphatic style immediately endeared him to Breakers fans, whilst rubbing many opponents the wrong way, as he destroyed them with a variety of shots from all over the floor.
This season, with Penney far away in Spain, this is Wilkinson's team. Sure, the likes of Thomas Abercrombie and Cedric Jackson are key contributors that scare the living daylights out of opponents and veterans like CJ Bruton and Mika Vukona are integral to the team's success, but the American from Salt Lake City, Utah, is the key to this operation in 2011/12. Already he has upped his averages from last season, despite understandable increased defensive focus thrown his way.
As the Breakers push for the Finals, expect Wilkinson to be front and centre in the MVP race.
Shawn Redhage, F / Kevin Lisch, G / Damian Martin, G, Perth Wildcats
Wow. Three guys? Yes, that is how hard it is to split the impact of these three men to the Perth Wildcats' fortunes. The deepest team in the league and favourites for the title, the Cats are fortunate enough to have three NBL superstars in naturalised American Redhage, import Lisch and Boomers star Martin. All three are equally as important to the team's success as each other -- in their own ways.
Redhage, who shared Wildcats team MVP honours last season with Lisch, has been voted the team's best performer from 2005-2011. Coming off an horrific hip injury, many expected the scoring forward to falter this season, if he came back to basketball at all. Instead, Redhage came out with a huge Round One performance, before going on to take out NBL Player of the Week honours for Round Two. Hardly what you would expect from a guy who couldn't walk not long ago. A dangerous scorer, Redhage averaged 18.0ppg and 5.8rpg last season, he is putting up similar numbers over three games so far this season, to go along with 4.0apg.
Meanwhile, 25-year old Lisch continues to go from strength to strength. Joining the Wildcats in 2009, straight out of St Louis University, the guard has an all-court game which includes dogged defence (a staple for the Wildcats), three-point shooting and the ability to get to the basket. Sharing the ball-handling duties with Martin and bench guard Brad Robbins, Lisch is a key cog in the team's offence, particularly as he attracts increasing attention from opposing defences. The 2009-10 Larry Sengstock Medal winner as the Grand Final MVP, Lisch consistently picks up his scoring numbers by a large percentage in the post-season, the true mark of an MVP candidate.
The heart-breaking news for Cats fans this week is that guard Martin may miss up to three months, the result of a foot injury sustained against the Melbourne Tigers. The feisty guard is well-respected as a floor general and absolute terror on the defensive end. With his full-court defence and great passing ability, perhaps the most surprising aspect of the 188cm guard's game is his half-a-dozen rebounds per game. Martin will never awe you with gaudy stat lines, instead he facilitates those numbers for his teammates with his well-rounded game which forms a key part of the title favourites. How they survive without him will be indicative of his worth.
Patty Mills, G, Melbourne Tigers
As the NBA lockout continues to wear on, with the ever-increasing likelihood that a significant amount (if not all) of the NBA season will be lost, Melbourne Tigers fans wring their hands with a bittersweet glee. The reality is, whilst Patty Cakes is a relatively small-time player in the NBA, he is definitely big time when it comes to the NBL.
The Tigers conducted a daylight robbery mission on the Grand Finalist Cairns Taipans in the off-season, snaring key players Ron Dorsey, Ayinde Ubaka and Daniel Dillon, along with Liam Rush who had been playing in Sweden, so the addition of Mills was the biggest layer of icing on the cake that Melbourne fans could ask for. Immediately stepping into the role of team leader, Mills took out the Round One NBL Player of the Week gong and currently ranks second in the league in scoring (22.0ppg), behind only Lisch. Whilst many will criticise his lack of assists thus far in Tigers colours, there is no doubting the Boomers guard's ability as a game-changing scorer and charismatic attraction for fans.
For as long as the Portland Trail Blazers do not come knocking, the Tigers will take advantage of Mills' lightning speed as they push to be included in the top four come Finals time.
Mark Worthington, F, Gold Coast Blaze
Despite a slow start to the season by his standards, both personally and from a team perspective, Wortho is as talented as they come in the NBL. A perennial All-NBL First Team candidate, who generally ranks in the top five in the league in rebounds, the 202cm Boomer forward has seen his share of teams. Coming out of Metro State College, Denver in 2005, Worthington took out the 2006 NBL Rookie of the Year award with the Sydney Kings. He then moved on to captain the South Dragons to the 2008/09 NBL championship before moving across town to the Melbourne Tigers when the Dragons folded. Along with club stints in Germany and Puerto Rico, the Blaze forward has represented Australia at Commonwealth Games, Olympics and World Championships.
Known for his diverse ability to do it all on the court, he will typically average about 17ppg and 7rpg whilst drawing the ire of opponents with his ability to ruffle feathers (just ask Perth Wildcats fans). Along with fellow Boomer Adam Gibson, Wortho is an integral component in the Blaze's attempts at success this season.
Do you have a different NBL MVP candidate in mind? Hit me up with your thoughts via twitter.
To read more of my thoughts on the 2011/12 iiNet Championship, keep on reading here weekly at NBL.com.au, or check out A Stern Warning. You can also follow me on twitter @ASternWarning.
