NBL22 Roster Breakdown – The Wings

Written by Matt McQuade for Kings Media 

 

We continue our series providing an in-depth look at the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings NBL22 roster with a run-down on the team’s wing depth; a position that features a newcomer who has the potential to go for serious numbers this season in what figures to be an up-tempo offence.

Last time we ran the rule over the Kings’ ball-handling group – you can check out that breakdown HERE.

So, how do you define a wing player?

Typically, it’s your team’s best athlete; a multi-faceted ballplayer who provides potent scoring, helps out the frontcourt with key rebounds; can make his teammates better with smart passing and plays intense defence from baseline to baseline.

It can also be someone that excels at a particular skill, be that a relentless attack on the rim, or stretch the floor perimeter range that can bust apart any halfcourt defence.

The truly great wings – and there have been many in the National Basketball League – are those all-around superstars who give their team a bit of everything. The top of the tree has featured legends like Leroy Loggins, Robert Rose, Sam Mackinnon, Glen Saville and Ian Davies.

And when you talk about the purple and gold, you immediately go to stars like Dwayne McClain, Isaac Burton, Ebi Ere, Brad Newley and Didi Louzada – all players who made a significant mark on the Kings and the league in one way or another.

Right now, there’s more than a few quality players across the NBL who’ll provide a serious challenge nightly on the wing.

From the incumbents like Melbourne’s Chris Goulding, New Zealand’s Tom Abercrombie, Perth’s Todd Blanchfield and South East Melbourne’s Ryan Broekhoff to talented newcomers like Cairns’ Tahjere McCall, Illawarra’s Antonius Cleveland, Melbourne’s Caleb Agada and New Zealand Next Star Ousmane Dieng – there’s a promise of many highlight plays from NBL wings this season.

As ever, the league is deep at the wing position across the board. But what of the players in the wing category who will suit up for the Sydney Kings in NBL22? Let’s take a look.

 

R.J. HUNTER

It’s almost redundant to call R.J. Hunter a scorer.

From the moment he steps on the court, you know buckets are in the forecast.

A three-season star in college at Georgia State University, he’s been blistering the nets for a decade at every level he’s played. He averaged a stellar 17.0 points and 5.1 rebounds a game as a freshman and upped his scoring numbers every season thereafter, to the point that when he left college after just three years to turn professional, he had set all-time records for the school in career points, free throws made, free throw percentage and three pointers made.

The Boston Celtics saw enough promise in the Ohio-born offensive machine that they took him with the 28^th pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft. Since then, he’s seen action for the Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, a number of NBA G-League teams and most recently played for powerhouse Turkish club Galatasaray, averaging close to 10 points a game and shooting the ball at 48% from the field and 91% from the free throw line in 21 appearances during the 2020/21 European campaign.

At 6’5”, R.J. can play either shooting guard or small forward, boasts a quick trigger on his release and has extreme range from the perimeter, to say the least. Like all born scorers, he’ll take any shot that’s presented, but he’ll also do his best work alongside a quality floor leader – which the Kings happen to have secured in one Jaylen Adams.

In fact, that budding partnership between Jaylen and R.J. should be fun to watch, especially when they begin to torment opposition defences in any kind of pick and roll or pick and pop situations. Defenders will be in a hell of a quandary when those guys start running two-man games in the halfcourt – who do they guard and who can they potentially help off of?

And look out in transition when Sydney decides to push the ball hard – the combination of Adams leading the break, Hunter spotting up on a wing and the other athletes on the roster running the lanes with speed and putting maximum pressure on the rim is going to be almost impossible to stop.

Count Chase Buford as one guy who is excited to unleash R.J. Hunter on the National Basketball League.

“He’s a big wing who can shoot and play multiple positions,” Coach Buford said.

“He’s a flame-thrower, and he can space the floor for us. He’s a guy that makes the game a lot easier for others around him.”

 

ANGUS GLOVER

It’s a case of fingers crossed for one of the most talented prospects in the country.

Angus appeared in just two games in NBL21 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Cairns; another unfortunate setback for a terrific kid who just needs a break.

Three ACL injuries and this latest wound might have been too much to bear for many other athletes in his position. But not this guy, whose positivity and determination despite suffering through so much adversity are nothing short of inspirational.

He’s raring to go in NBL22, and his comeback will give the purple and gold a tremendous boost.

The thing is, when he’s healthy, Angus is a weapon. Still blessed with next-level athleticism despite all the knee problems, he’s a terror on the fast break and can score in a variety of ways. He provides great energy and competitive spirit whenever he’s on the floor and his presence lifts the team emotionally.

Already, he’s impressed his new head coach.

“Angus is a high-level athlete who will provide some exciting plays from the perimeter this year,” said Chase Buford.

“It’s been fun to work with him.”

 

JAYLIN GALLOWAY

Sydney’s first development player signed this offseason – a three-year deal that will see him added to the contracted roster for at least one more season – is one of the most exciting prospects in the National Basketball League.

The 19-year-old has already shown flashes of his immense talent at NBL level, appearing in eight games for an injury-hit Kings’ squad in NBL21, yet not looking out of place at all, providing quality minutes at both ends of the court.

Alongside fellow King Biwali Bayles, he represented Australia in the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup held in Latvia, averaging just under ten points per game and providing the Emus with a reliable target offensively.

At 6’6” and blessed with excellent athleticism, Jaylin figures to build on what was a good debut campaign for the purple and gold last season. Even in a team as deep as the Kings, he’ll be pushing hard for minutes in NBL22.

Importantly, Jaylin’s new head coach sees great potential in the youngster.

“Jaylin has really impressed me so far in workouts,” Coach Buford stated.

“He’s a really talented kid who is starting to grow and really understand the physicality of the game. I’m excited to work with him over the next three years.”

 

WANI SWAKA LO BULUK

Anyone who saw Wani Swaka Lo Buluk play minutes for the Perth Wildcats last season, particularly during the Grand Final against Melbourne United, could not fail to have been impressed.

Getting significant burn thanks to a mounting Wildcat injury toll, the 6’6” reserve swingman was confident and aggressive in getting to the basket and played tough, physical defence, giving Perth a nice boost off the bench throughout the series.

He’s played a total of 52 games over the past three NBL seasons, and while he hasn’t always been given the type of opportunities that perhaps his talent and work ethic call for, he’s definitely shown that he’s more than capable at NBL level.

Sydney Kings CEO Chris Pongrass smartly added Wani to the organisation as a nominated injury replacement player for NBL22, meaning that he’ll fill in for Dejan Vasiljevic initially and when Dejan returns to the line-up, Wani will be available should any other player suffer an injury that would necessitate an enforced absence.

It’s a nice insurance policy to be sure. And Coach Buford is happy with the knowledge that he can call on Wani at any time.

“He’s another guy who can lock down defensively,” Coach Buford said.

“He’s also been really impressive when he drives the ball.”

 

 

UP NEXT: The Bigs. The deepest group on the Sydney Kings roster.