Can Prather Bullet back to best?

He’s a three-time NBL champion and an All NBL First-Team member, but it’s hard to ignore Casey Prather’s best form in Australia now dates back at least six years.

There's no doubting the 33-year-old is an incredible talent though, and according to Pete Hooley and Brad Rosen, looms as the barometer for Brisbane’s success in NBL25.

“Casey Prather … if you can get the Casey Prather we saw win championships, Brisbane makes the playoffs,” Rosen said on NBL Media’s The Roundtable. 

“Whether they’re scraping into the top six or comfortably in the top six, to me, comes down to Casey Prather,” Hooley continued.

That leaves a huge level of expectation on the shoulders of Prather, who outside of seven games with the Bullets in the back of NBL24, has barely played since 2021 due to back-to-back serious knee injuries. 

According to Hooley, Brisbane is all-in on getting the former Melbourne United and Perth Wildcats' star back to his best.

“I think they’ve put a lot of eggs in the Casey Prather basket, which they had to ... if they get 2017, 2018 Casey Prather back, if they get 80 per cent of that, they’re going to do some damage,” he said. 

“Talking to the Bullets, they need Casey to step up and have a massive impact.

“We still see him trying to get off this knee injury ... he sat out for two years. Last year was an audition, but what Casey Prather are we going to get in Round 1 I think is going to determine what happens for the Bullets.”

NBL Media’s experts highlighted Prather and import signing James Batemon as key to the Bullets’ Finals hopes. 

According to Rosen though, there’s simply too many question marks for Brisbane to take a significant step forward.

“I’m worried. I’m not convinced with what I’ve seen at the moment,” he said. 

“I’ve watched a couple of pre-season games … I think James Batemon has the potential to be good, but I’m worried I’m seeing up and down on this. Some minutes he’s good, some quarters he’s good, but others he’s not.

“The big one is Deng Adel. He has been really dynamic in the games they’ve played. The guy’s played NBA, he’s been playing in France and he’s be able to do it.

“If we see the Illawarra Deng Adel (2020/21 season), I don’t like what they’re going to do, because I think the ball’s going to have to go through him.

“I like Tyrell Harrison, Josh Bannan, we know Rocco’s (Zikarsky) going to even improve more, but that’s not enough in my opinion to take you to that top four, top two. I don’t have them in my six at the moment … they could surprise me, but they worry me.”

Rosen highlighted recent championship rosters having multiple go-to players, with the likes of Jack McVeigh, Jordon Crawford and Milton Doyle at Tasmania, and Xavier Cooks, Derrick Walton Jr and Tim Soares the year prior in Sydney. 

“I don’t know if James Batemon can be that name, but let’s say he is … who’s the next guy and the next guy?

“I think all of these players are great role players and they are fantastic, but I’m just not sure who’s that next two and three guy? Maybe it is Deng Adel and if Casey Prather can do that, but geez it’s a lot to ask.

“If you’re not as talented as other teams, what are you going to do it out of? Energy and grit. 

“Cairns are going to come with that every day of the week … it does worry me.” 

Hooley was more optimistic on the Bullets, backing Batemon to have a big impact, alongside a solid core and strong bench.

“I’m really high on what James Batemon can do. I think in this pre-season he’s kind of reserving himself to figure out ‘where do I fit?’,” Hooley added. 

“I think he’ll have a conversation with Justin Schueller and he’ll be like, ‘you’re our guy’. ‘Yes Casey’s here, yes Deng Adel, Josh Bannan, but you are our guy’. 

“He’s another elite playmaker and if he does that and Casey shows health and gets up and about, then I think Brisbane can do some damage ... until then, wait and see.

“I think we’re going to see a much better Brisbane team and club than we saw last year and will continue to take those strides forward.”

The Bullets take on South East Melbourne on Thursday night from 7.30pm AEST.

Watch every pre-season game live & free via NBL+ on the NBL App.