Can Jack be Melbourne’s White knight?

Just how good can Jack White be after returning from the USA? That’s the question on everyone’s lips, and ponders an answer that could make-or-break Melbourne United’s championship hopes.

White last played in the NBL at the age of 24 and two years later has gained a wealth of experience in the NBA and G-League. 

He lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in Denver, was the number one overall pick in the G-League barely a few months later and even spent time in Memphis. But just how good will he be in his third NBL stint?

NBL’s media experts have mixed views.

“I think the sky’s the limit for Jack White,” WNBL and Opals star Alice Kunek said on NBL Media’s The Roundtable. 

“He’s got the body, he’s got the physicality. He’s had a couple of years away and got that wealth of experience. 

“I’m sure he’ll be playing with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder this off-season, after missing the Boomers' team for the Paris Olympics. 

“He can get downhill. He’s a menace on the boards. 

“I think a healthy Jack White could almost be the MVP of this league.” 

Liam Santamaria said White still had plenty to prove in the NBL, despite his success overseas. 

“I love Jack White ... I feel like he’s maybe coming into the season slightly overrated,” Santamaria said.

“I saw the votes recently in the ‘Way Too Early Predictions’ that he was a consensus All-NBL First Team guy ... I don’t know, we’ll see.”

White averaged 9.5 points and 6.4 rebounds in his most recent NBL campaign, before amassing 19.6 points and 9.3 rebounds in the G-League in 2022/2023. 

“We haven’t seen that level of Jack White in the NBL before,” Santamaria said of those MVP suggestions.

“Yep, he went to the NBA and he was fantastic during his time there and in the G-League ... one of the really cool things over there was he started to improve his three-point shooting. It started to happen at Melbourne United, it started to happen in the green and gold (Australia) for a little minute and all of a sudden he’s at the Summer League knocking down shots and he’s an NBA player.

“If he continues to do that at a high level, Melbourne will have something at that four spot they didn’t have last year and he could play himself up to that type of level.

“If he’s not shooting it at a really high clip, I think that all-league, MVP stuff is maybe a little capped. 

“I think he’s a big focus for me on this team. Can he come in and be almost an import-level producer and an upgrade on what they got from Luke Travers? If he provides that, then they’ll love what they’re getting from him.” 

White and United will be in action on Saturday night against the South East Melbourne Phoenix, in a preview of the Throwdown scheduled for Round 2, on September 26. 

All pre-season games will be streamed live and free on NBL+ via the NBL App.