Max Mackinnon: Future face of the League?

His father Sam is one of the Hungry Jack's NBL's greatest ever players and now Brisbane's Max Mackinnon is well and truly making a name for himself.

Through the first two games of the 2026-27 season, the 22-year-old has helped the Bullets win their opening two fixtures of the campaign for the first time since NBL24.

His most impressive of those performances came against Illawarra in Round 2, producing career-highs in points (31), rebounds (12), triples (6), assists (2) and steals (1).

His play has caught the eyes of the NBL Overtime panel, who believe the Australian Boomer could be a future face of the League.

"We didn't realise Max Mackinnon was gonna come on this quickly," Lowery said on NBL Overtime.

"We knew he was good. [But now] we will never refer to him and his dad in the same sentence again.

"I like what Max said. He had his time. It is my time now."

Fellow panellist Felix Von Hofe agreed, saying it feels like the former LSU star is playing beyond his years.

"The thing is when you see a player like this, and you see it when guys come in young, it's not just the stats and the points and the assists that they get, but it's the way they move and the way they handle themselves," he said.

"We loved his response in the media and I love how he's played in the big clutch moments of games.

"It's just a bit of a different level [to what we're used to]. He sort of feels two years ahead above the shoulders than you'd expect a player like that coming into the League."

Another impressed by the young Bullet is former Brisbane MVP Derek Rucker.

"I've watched Max play since he was a junior up in Queensland and he's always performed like this," Rucker added.

"[He] carries himself with a lot of confidence, always had great court vision, but the thing that separates him from his peer group right now is the ability to shoot the basketball, which has really developed in his time over in the States playing in the NCAA."

The 2-0 Bullets take on fellow undefeated side Sydney on Wednesday in an Ignite Cup fixture at Afterpay Arena from 7.30pm AEST, live on ESPN.