Adnam Stars in Lead Role

Despite injuries to key players Ryan Broekhoff, Trey Kell and Gary Browne the South East Melbourne Phoenix have gotten off to a hot start in NBL23 with a tight win over Tasmania, largely thanks to the hot hand of Kyle Adnam.

Adnam stepped into the starting point guard position in the absence of Puerto Rican international Browne and dropped 30 points on eight of 15 shooting, including making six of nine attempted threes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">? A career best night for Kyle. ?<br><br>? Tickets for Round 2 ?? <a href="https://t.co/NjBqkDW2Ix">https://t.co/NjBqkDW2Ix</a> <a href="https://t.co/vmiAjTNDwU">pic.twitter.com/vmiAjTNDwU</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1576400163945345025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite being the star man for the Phoenix on the night, Adnam was quick to praise his supporting cast in the victory.

“To have the boys out there supporting you the way Alan (Williams), ‘Creeky’ (Mitch Creek) and Dane (Pineau) screen, roll and create space. Yes I was able to put the ball in the basket but those guys clear so much space and they’re so good at reading what my defender’s doing,” Adnam said.

“Those one-percenters, there’s no screen assists on the stat sheet and I think Dane Pineau has been setting screens for me for four years unbelievably and just rolls to the basket and sometimes doesn’t get the ball. You add ‘Sauce’ (Williams), and ‘Creeky’ is always doing what he does.

“Having that chemistry in a pick and roll is so important and credit to them. It’s nice individually to be rewarded for some of the things you push yourself forward with."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The man is UNSTOPPABLE!!<br><br>The crowd are going NUTS!<br><br>? Tune in on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/Foxtel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foxtel</a> <a href="https://t.co/Thlm6nON1z">pic.twitter.com/Thlm6nON1z</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1576145833329762304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While most NBL players got their basketball fix this off-season by playing in the NBA Summer League or NBL1, Adnam packed his suitcase for Canada to play for the Fraser Valley Bandits.

He’s returned to Australian shores high on confidence and playing some of the best basketball of his career. He also showed out during the NBL Blitz pre-season tournament and led an undermanned Phoenix side in Darwin.

“Individually you put in a lot of work on things, going away, getting a new experience in the off-season,” he said.

“You dedicate a lot of time to the sport – stuff people probably don’t see so on game night when things tend to work out for you, it’s an awesome feeling.

The round one victory could act as something of a watershed moment for South East Melbourne. The Phoenix were notorious last season for their inability to close out games, especially in the back half of the season. It was an issue that cost them a playoff spot.

Adnam says he and fellow co-captain Mitch Creek took it upon themselves to pull the team over the line against the JackJumpers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ICYMI 3?? ?3???? <a href="https://t.co/lhmY1Nb7jh">pic.twitter.com/lhmY1Nb7jh</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1576139780668071937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Looking up at the scoreboard with the clock winding down, we’ve (Adnam and Simon Mitchll) often had conversations about closing games and how important it is," Adnam said.

"I grabbed ‘Creeky’ in a huddle and said ‘we have to try and get into some action, we have to get us home’, just going to the well and what’s working for us.

“Creek and I were capitalising on that pick and roll in different times and we just wanted to get back to something that was solid for us.”

While Adnam may have his minutes cut due to the impending return of import duo Browne and Kell, Phoenix head coach Simon Mitchell backs the guard to thrive in whatever role he carves out this season.

“He’s a captain,” Mitchell said. “We’ve seen this before and I’ve seen this at two clubs now where he gets the opportunity and he takes it on his shoulders.

“He’s a very high level player in our league and he was excellent tonight. I’m really proud of him.”