Sydney's NBA-quality import shines in debut

After just one game in the NBL Derrick Walton Jr is already drawing comparisons to one of the league's most exciting import guards of the past half-decade - Scott Machado.

Machado lit up the league in his three seasons with the Cairns Taipans. He was named to the All-NBL First Team and won the league's Fan MVP award in 2020 while paired with future NBA forward Cam Oliver.

Although injuries curtailed his final season in the league, on his night he was one of the most lethal two-way offensive guards the league has ever seen.

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After his game-winning, 32-point, eight-assist effort against local rivals Illawarra, Walton Jr has hit the ground running in Kings colours.

Speaking on NBL Overtime, Corey Williams was full of praise for the point guard.

“I think he’s (Walton Jr) Scott Machado on steroids. That’s very difficult to say and I mean it in the most complimentary manner,” Williams said.

“This guy is no joke. He’s 100 per cent an NBA point guard … he didn’t go above third gear in this game and [Illawarra] had absolutely no answer for him.

“Left hand, right hand, his three ball was hitting. He literally could average a double-double this season with assists.”

Former NBL point guard Pete Hooley agreed with Williams’ sentiments on the Kings’ number 11.

“He’s the human yo-yo. He’s got the ball on a string and it’s so fun to watch,” Hooley said.

“Everyone who knows basketball should know about Derrick Walton Jr. I expected him to come in [and] lead the league in assists, but to have the game he did.

“There’s no reason he’s not in the MVP race because of how easily he looked to score … he just sliced them apart.”