Batemon's 51 "other-worldly'

He had a slow start and took time to find his feet, but James Batemon has all of a sudden become one of the most impactful players in the NBL.

When the Bullets play well as a unit, Batemon playing well is a common theme, and that incredible 51-point display against Perth was no exception.

Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker has had his own fair share of high-scoring games, but this stood out as one of the best he’s seen.

“We’ve seen him show flashes of being able to shoot the basketball at a very high level ... but yesterday was otherworldly,” Rucker said on the Moments That Mattered.

Rucker said it was a game the Bullets desperately needed to win.

Coming in with with a 3-6 record and a loss to Tasmania on Friday, Brisbane was the clear underdog against the Wildcats. But with Batemon playing one of the all-time great games, they got the job done.

“I like the fact that they needed that game,” Rucker said.

“They needed a star performance and he (Batemon) delivered exactly that.”

Based in Queensland, Rucker has seen Batemon in person for many games this season, seeing him “go through it emotionally”.

“He shows a lot of resilience in being able to knock down that many points ... when he scores well, they win.”

Echoing Rucker’s point, Batemon averages 28.3 points per game in Brisbane’s wins this season, a start contrast to his 7.7 in six losses.

The Bullets simply need to get the 27-year-old the ball, and let him do his thing. 

After the FIBA Break, the Bullets will once again face the Wildcats, this time in Perth on Friday November 29, live on ESPN.