The Match-Winners: Who's Stepped Up Most For Your Team?

How do you define an ‘influential’ performance? Does it come down to pure numbers, or is it who stood up when the win was on the line? Can a 30-point performance in a loss be justified as being more influential than a steadying and classy 20 points in a narrow win?

The current FIBA break offers a chance to reflect on the season that has been NBL23 so far, and each team has had a power of players just about snatch victories from the opposition with their own two hands.

Even at this early stage of the season there have been ups and downs. Highs and lows. Game-winning shots and season-defining performances.

As NBL Media reflects on the first six weeks of the season, we look at some of the most influential performances to date in what has been one of the most exciting early season stages in NBL history.

Daniel Johnson vs Sydney

17 points, eight rebounds, two assists

If there’s one thing that’s become obvious in the NBL over the last decade and a half, it’s that DJ’s gonna DJ.

Even at the age of 34 Daniel Johnson is Adelaide’s go-to man when they need a spark. Whether it be hitting early threes against the Phoenix Suns to settle the side, clunking big offensive boards when the game is on the line, or hitting crucial threes down the stretch – he’s the man at the 36ers.

After suffering an opening game hiding to the Tasmania JackJumpers before grinding out an unconvincing win over Illawarra, a not quite fully fit Johnson proved to be the difference for the side.

Craig Randall top-scored in this game with 24 points, but Johnson changed the game in his slightly limited game time– racking up 17 points and eight boards in just under 27 minutes on-court.

The defining aspect of his performance were the four offensive rebounds and the second chance points they created. In such narrow games metrics like second chance points quickly become crucial to overcoming an opponent, and Johnson was a more than handy provider of those opportunities.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ht" dir="ltr">DJ gonna DJ.<br><br>? - ESPN + Kayo Sports <a href="https://t.co/PdLEgMKQBv">pic.twitter.com/PdLEgMKQBv</a></p>&mdash; Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers/status/1583392228621578240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Honourable mention: Daniel Johnson vs Illawarra - 28 points, seven rebounds, four assists

Aron Baynes vs Tasmania

16 points, nine rebounds, two blocks

Much like the Brisbane Bullets the Big Banger Aron Baynes took a bit of time to get up to speed in NBL23, but both he and his side are absolutely rolling as we roll into the FIBA break.

Coming off of such a serious injury makes it understandable that Baynes took a few weeks to re-gain his match fitness, and throughout his time at the Bullets he’d shown flashes of his strength, finesse and intelligence – however it’s been since Brisbane started winning games that he’s really thrived, and that can't be a coincidence.

Back-to-back wins against the bottom-placed Hawks eased the pressure on the then bottom-placed Bullets, but their two-point win over the JackJumpers has answered some difficult questions around the make-up and ability of the side.

Baynes starred with 16 points in the low scoring affair, while also gathering a team-high nine rebounds.

It was on the defensive end where he really shone though, keeping the JackJumpers’ dangerous import Rashard Kelly to just six points on 2-12 shooting. His rim protection and ability to set up his team’s defence proved crucial in the nail-biting victory.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That’s just nasty Bangers ?‍?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIVERCITYSTRONG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIVERCITYSTRONG</a> <a href="https://t.co/2YBda1poqW">pic.twitter.com/2YBda1poqW</a></p>&mdash; Brisbane Bullets (@BrisbaneBullets) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrisbaneBullets/status/1584472489773568000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Honourable mention: Nathan Sobey vs Illawarra - 22 points, five assists, two steals

Keanu Pinder vs Melbourne

26 points, 10 rebounds, three steals

Keanu Pinder has become a different beast in NBL23. After winning last season’s Most Improved Player award he’s now launched himself into the MVP conversation.

Gone is the streaky shooting and poor decision-making that plagued his time in Adelaide. Under Adam Forde Pinder has developed into one of the best and most versatile big men in the league.

His vast array of talents, both offensive and defensive was on full show against Melbourne United in the Taipans’ tight four-point win.

He dropped a game-high 26 points on 50 per cent shooting, knocked down six of his seven free throws, pulled in an equal game-high 10 boards – five of which were offensive, while also finishing with three assists and three steals.

Stat sheet stuffed.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keanu took FLIGHT ??<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/YUBeWTVn2i">pic.twitter.com/YUBeWTVn2i</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1583034220456210433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Honourable mention: Shannon Scott vs Melbourne - 19 points, nine assists, five rebounds

Tyler Harvey vs South East Melbourne

22 points, five rebounds, two assists

The Hawks’ struggles have been there for all to see this season. While they looked like a potential force to be reckoned with at the Blitz, a season ending knee injury to primary ball-handler Justin Robinson curtailed the side’s start to the season.

Tyler Harvey has been forced to take up a more unfamiliar point guard role in the early stages of the season, however the signing of Peyton Siva has eased the load on the Hawks’ co-captain. In their sole win of the season though, the sharpshooter was at his best.

While a dominant third quarter set the Hawks up for the win, Harvey was a consistent scoring threat across the whole contest for Illawarra, dropping 22 points on good shooting splits.

Honourable mention: Sam Froling vs Melbourne - 27 points, 15 rebounds, 76 per cent FG

Xavier Rathan-Mayes vs Illawarra

32 points, seven rebounds, four assists

After finishing as runner-up in NBL22’s Sixth Man of the Year voting, everyone thought Xavier Rathan-Mayes was a known quantity in the NBL. From his first game in Melbourne United colours though, it showed that we all may just have been underrating him.

Melbourne and Illawarra have a history of playing out overtime thrillers, and United's 2OT win against the Hawks has undoubtedly been the game of the season so far.

With starting point guard Shea Ili still out Rathan-Mayes continued to take primary ball-handling duties, and with stars like Chris Goulding and Rayjon Tucker struggling to find consistency with their offensive games he took on the brunt of the scoring load as well.

It seemed that every shot he hit in the second half, plus overtime periods, came out of nowhere. Every time the Hawks hit back or hit the front, it was Rathan-Mayes who stepped up to hit the big shot for United.

The emotion on his face was clear after the hard-fought victory against his old side as he struggled to hold back tears in his post-game interview.

‘XRM’ has proved himself to be a genuine number one option on offence for United this season, and while his ability to score has never been questioned, his ability to score while also surrounded by offensively-minded stars has been a welcome addition to the side this season.

Is his three to send the game to double-overtime the shot of the season so far?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LET&#39;S KEEP THIS ONE GOING ?????<br><br>Sam Froling misses the free throw, XRM hits an insane three, Isaac Humphries gets the clutch block ?<br><br>Anyone else can&#39;t breathe? ?<br><br>Catch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/5lthyZNYQT">pic.twitter.com/5lthyZNYQT</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1586276733501652992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Honourable mention: Xavier Rathan-Mayes vs New Zealand - 33 points, five rebounds, nine assists

Barry Brown Jr vs Cairns

24 points, three rebounds

New Zealand has been the surprise packet of the season. In fact, after just six weeks they’ve already won more games than they did in the entirety of NBL22 – and a large part of that has been the scoring of import guard Barry Brown Jr.

The Breakers’ Round 4 clash with Cairns was, quite simply, a grindfest. In a game where the teams scored a combined 132 points, Brown starred with 24 points off the bench.

What makes this performance all the more remarkable was that it came in Brown’s return game from a minor hamstring issue, but he didn’t look at all affected by it as he used his explosiveness to score from all parts of the court.

While he did chip in with a few rebounds, it was Brown’s pure shooting in a game where it looked like the rims were covered in cling-wrap that saw him drag his side over the line.

Honourable mention: Will McDowell-White vs Illawarra - 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists

Bryce Cotton vs Brisbane

23 points, 12 rebounds, six assists

Every time Bryce Cotton steps onto the court for the Perth Wildcats he plays an influential role, and it was no different in Perth's recent clash with the Bullets.

Perth came up against a Brisbane side that was riding the hype train of their off-season signings, and a second-quarter blowout set the Wildcats up for the win in what was an otherwise tight game.

Cottons fingerprints were all over the success of the Wildcats in that second quarter – much like they have been on the success of the Wildcats over the last six seasons.

In that term alone he finished with three assists, three rebounds, four points and three steals. He was a massive influence on Perth breaking the game open at both ends of the floor.

He went on the finish the game with 23 points, 12 boards, six assists and an incredible six steals.

Honourable mention: Brady Manek vs Adelaide - 25 points, one rebound, two assists

Mitch Creek vs Perth

22 points, six rebounds, two assists

The franchise player putting the team on his back to win the game with two late free throws away from home? You love to see it.

Despite being under the cloud of a niggling foot injury for the entirety of NBL23 so far Mitch Creek has continued to play at his best – he’s currently averaging 21.1 points per game, good enough for third in the competition.

Against the Wildcats we saw flashes of all the best parts of Creek’s game. The efficient shot-making, the power at the rim, the active hands on defence, the clutch, example-setting leadership.

After losing four straight the win over Perth represented the Phoenix’s second consecutive one-point win. If Creek hadn’t clutched up on those free throws the, quite possibly, wouldn’t even be in the top six.

However, such is the tightness of the ladder at the moment, they sit fourth.

Honourable mention: Trey Kell vs Adelaide - 24 points, five rebounds, four assists 

Derrick Walton Jr vs Illawarra

32 points, four rebounds, eight assists

If there were any worries over how Sydney was going to replace Jaylen Adams in the line-up in NBL23, those worries were quickly put to bed in the Kings’ first game of the season.

Taking on local rivals Illawarra, Derrick Walton Jr put on an absolute offensive masterclass with 32 points and eight assists – and the Hawks had zero answers for the exciting point guard.

The game was far from a walkover – a six-point final quarter deficit saw the Hawks go down by only nine points.

Walton showed the early signs of what’s become a dangerous partnership with star forward Xavier Cooks in his first game, and his shooting splits were deadly efficient.

Teams have started trying to limit the damage Walton can do with the ball in his hands, and have placed emphasis on restricting his shooting attempts – and his debut performance in purple and gold shows exactly why.

Honourable mention: Xavier Cooks vs Melbourne - 23 points, nine rebounds, two assists 

Milton Doyle vs Brisbane

32 points, six rebounds, four assists

The JackJumpers have built their identity on a grittiness and a dirty work mentality that’s endeared them to the Australian sporting public. While Milton Doyle certainly possesses the defensive and culture characteristics Scott Roth values so highly, his abilities on offence are something Tasmania has never possessed before.

Doyle and fellow import Rashard Kelly endured a stuttering start to the season, as did the rest of the Tassie lineup, but since the import pair have fouind their groove the JackJumpers have been one of the teams to beat once again this season.

Doyle played a monster role in ending the JackJumpers’ three-game losing skid to open the season. His 32 points lifted the side to a much-needed overtime win against the Bullets.

While it was Kelly who hit the dagger three to win the game, it was Doyle who single-handedly kept the JackJumpers within touching distance in the first half, before his teammates followed him into the fray to mount a second half comeback.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Milton Doyle is getting things moving for the <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a> - he&#39;s getting them back in this one on both ends ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on 10 Peach and 10play <a href="https://t.co/DIWaS8z6fG">pic.twitter.com/DIWaS8z6fG</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1578954812544405505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Honourable mention: Josh Magette vs Wildcats - 11 points, 10 assists, two steals