For the uninitiated, Mitch McCarron’s 16 assist performance against the Phoenix Suns on Monday might have come as a surprise.

For those who are well acquainted with the abilities of the level-headed point guard the first of Adelaide’s NBLxNBA clash was just a reminder of how good he really is.

It’s been some off-season for McCarron. After leading the Boomers to FIBA Asia Cup glory he’s now led the 36ers to the first win by an NBL team over NBA opposition in history.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Still not over this Mitch McCarron dime to Kai Sotto in the 36ers win over the Suns ?<a href="https://t.co/NQwrk1D1DH">pic.twitter.com/NQwrk1D1DH</a></p>&mdash; ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/status/1576814676830146560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Adelaie head coach CJ Bruton has gone as far as comparing the guard to one of his opposite numbers from Monday’s win.

“He’s like CP3 (Chris Paul),” Bruton told 36ers Media.

“That’s normal for Mitch. He’s a very good leader and a catalyst.

“He’s been doing this for quite a while and I love what he brings to our team, and I think this year we put enough pieces around him to showcase that more consistently.

“That’s what he did in the past when they won that championship in Melbourne.

Only star import duo Craig Randall and Robert Franks played more minutes against the Suns than McCarron, who was on court for just under 37 minutes of the game.

Along with his 16 assists McCarron also racked up four points and nine rebounds – a total dangerously close to triple-double territory.

Bruton says he hopes to expect more of the same from McCarron.

“I think going forward I’d like to see him continue to stay in that areas and play these types of minutes.”

For the full story head to >> 'A very good leader and catalyst': Bruton on McCarron