Derrick Walton Jr. in Australian NBL Finals
You might remember that Derrick Walton Jr. has been spending the winter playing in Australia's National Basketball League, and he's had a great season. He made the All-NBL first team, averaging 16.4 points and 6.4 assists per game.
And now his Sydney Kings team is in the best-of-three NBL finals, playing the hated New Zealand Breakers. The finals start tomorrow (Friday), and if you want to get up at 3:30 a.m. and pay to watch it online, there you go! The second game is March 5 and the third (if necessary) is March 10.
LINK.
One of the good guys. We are all Kings fans!
The hell with the New Zealand Breakers.
I watched him play at Macomb Dakota when Chandler Park came in for a tournament. He was obviously very good, had the ball on a string. I remember thinking to myself at the time, that one day this kid was going to play in the Australian NBL Finals.
Prescient.
(I've always wanted to call someone "prescient.")
I guess you have tunnel vision.
You win, Tunneler.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you all that Derick has been the Hard Yakka player of the game several times this year. Apparently Hard Yakka is the Carhartt of Australia.
Hard Yakka highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrpY3xzcc6o
No, you don't. But I don't mind being reminded--it never gets old.
How does it work, playing upside down down under?
Right handed shooters start using their left hand, and, instead of the ball going through the hoop “top to bottom”, you actually score by throwing the ball through the hoop in a “bottoms up” manner. The inside game is a lot tougher…
Great to hear. Really enjoyed Derrick's time and contribution to Michigan Basketball.
Go Kings !
It's a physical league. Those Aussie players have hops too.
Australia and Sydney in particular seems like a great place to land for a while. Glad to see him doing well.
Sydney is a great city.. Melbourne is nice. Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef. It’s a wonderful place to visit. And, they really welcome Americans.
One of the fun things is.. if you head to a bar, or out for dinner… YOU are the one with an accent.. and, it can be a LOT of fun…
I know his dad. He confirmed everyone loved Moe and Coach Beilein. I’m going to get in on DW’s summer pickup games, though I will get my ass swiftly kicked.
Really hoping he ends up on an episode of 'Bluey' thereby merging a couple major interests of mine: Bluey and Go Blue athletics!
Always good to hear how the guys are doing.