Sam Garriock

Julius Halaifonua = what we hoped Tai Wynyard would be. Plus some touch. Loved his size defensively in this tournament. Skillset incredibly tantalising but will have to get better in pick and roll on both ends to maximise his potential as a pro. Xanda Marsters = Everard Bartlett

Jackson Ball = Kirk Penney. Gorgeous shooting pocket. Leverages his shooting to punish top-locking. Hayden Jones = Reuben Te Rangi. Weird to say for the son of Phill but speeding up his release is the key to unlocking his greatness. Super underrated defensively.

JTB player comps: Oscar Goodman = Rich Man’s Jordan Ngatai. Smidge short to truly play the four. Clearly came up as a big so mashes in the post. Lachy Crate = Finn Delany. So many similarities. Back scratching dunks. Two footed leaper. Hopefully can develop his skills like Finn

Outstanding Hayden Jones on both ends. Deputised in ball handling duties with Tama Isaac in foul trouble. Very calm getting to his spots and his counters. Elite secondary rim protection on the defensive end with four blocks. JTBs had 17 OREB on 17 missed 2PAs through 3QT.

@trillybball Has been a pretty dominant start for NZ to my eyes. The 3s are all great shots. Only a matter of time until they fall and they begin to make their size advantage pay

some incredible home cooking from the refs for Switzerland to start off here #FIBAU19

JTBs G1 notes: - JTB size immense. Never seen a NZ basketball team at any level dominate via size and athleticism. - Scoreline flattered the Argentinians. NZ shot quality was significantly better. Ball, Hopoi, Jones missed great 3s. - Ball is the best player on the team at 17.

@GMJustinNelson @skysportnz @Kseefrank @nznbl @NBL Have had our differences Justin but you have been a giant net positive for our league. Best wishes heading back home

Last day behind the mic on @skysportnz and a very talented guy to finish the journey with - @Kseefrank A big thanks to everyone around the @nznbl - I appreciate your support for new innovations and embracing change. I hope to see you all again one day - next stop the @nbl 🙏

Zico Coronel 🥉HC Bay Hawks ‘18 14-4 (4-14 prior) 🥈HC Bay Hawks ‘19 14-4 🥇HC Wellington Saints ‘21 16-2 💹AC Shimane Magic ‘22 40-15 (team record, 28-32 prior) 💹AC Shimane Magic ‘23 48-12 📈 HC Wellington Saints ‘24 14-6 (9-9 prior) 🥇HC Utsunomiya Brex ‘25 48-12 The goat

@ButchNick Doesn't go til '26! Unless he has reclassified and I had missed it. I suppose we will find out more about how he stacks up at the u19 World Cup but seems unlikely he's not going to be ready to step in and play right away given he is giving grown men buckets already.

@Sam_Garriock How deep are the badgers at Guard? Chances he gets any kind of decent run this season?

What Jackson Ball has done this year has been very underplayed. Sure, he got plenty of press for the preseason MVP and the 40-piece in a glorified scrimmage, but there hasn't been that much coverage of THE 17 YEAR OLD KID being the most efficient high-volume scorer in the league.

@NBLPleb Lost to kiwi coach Zico Coronel's team with Isaac Fotu a member of the Brex roster.

Trevor Gleeson's Chiba Jets, who finished 5th in the standings, 42W | 18L, have been eliminated in the semi-finals of the B.League playoffs, losing the series 2-1 to Utsunomiya Brex. The likes of DJ Hogg, Chris Smith and John Mooney are now free agents. #NBL

@trillybball x.com/Sam_Garriock/s…

the entire nz basketball community has known about this for at least a month so I call bullshit lol

@ButchNick 💸

@Sam_Garriock Why is there so many out with Personal reasons?

The Indian Panthers had to take a player from the opposing team to make up the numbers #ClassicNBL

Taylor Britt vs Owen Foxwell tonight is the Spiderman Meme but if the Spidermen only had left hands

Judd Flavell such a great get for the Sky commentary team this season, brings an unmatched knowledge and understanding to of league to the viewer. As one would expect, a few first match jitters in round one but his combination with Nick Bewley this past week was elite.

Chasing Wellingtonian athletes all around the world

Another Wellingtonian King

The goat

@LucasAllen15 White and Cooks are primarily bigs imo. Lewis is a space cadet. Swaka and to a lesser extent Kuol are Lock His Ass Up type of guards/wings who don't really make as big of an impact on the scoreboard as the eye test would lead you to believe. Regardless, he is in great company.

@Sam_Garriock I guess it depends on what you classify as a wing. Malique Lewis, Bul Kuol, Jack White, Wani Swaka, Xavier Cooks - a quick list of what I’d consider to be wing defenders, that I’d argue are better than Toohey, at this moment in time.

Hot Take: Alex Toohey is a significantly better prospect than Rocco Zikarsky. Not sure that people have grasped how great Toohey is right now. Best wing defender in the NBL already and -- intra-racial comparisons I know -- very Franz Wagner-y w the long strides getting to the rim

@LucasAllen15 It is the positional size that sways it for him on D. There aren't really true wings that play in NBL -- the combo of length and fluidity typically lends itself to higher levels. His ability to protect the rim on the back line elevates him over the lock down smaller guys.

I love what Toohey already brings, and what his ceiling could be. For me, the 3rd most important player for Sydney at the moment. Best wing defender in the NBL is an extraordinary statement, but I do feel he’s got the tools to be great at both ends of the floor. The Franz Wagner comparison isn’t one I’d thought of l, but I like it.