League leaders - Who's topping the charts?

The NBL24 Finals are almost upon us, and with only Melbourne and Perth having clinched their places in the post-season so far, there is still plenty to play for for all 10 teams contesting the season. From here on out, every game matters.

These next three weeks of regular season action are do-or-die, sink or swim, and fly or fall for every team in the competition – so who can lead their teams to a fast finish and a Finals berth?

NBL media looks at the league leaders 17 rounds, into the campaign to see who’s been among the top performers in the regular season.

Bryce Cotton – 23.6
Mitch Creek – 21.1
Anthony Lamb – 20.1
Nathan Sobey – 20.0
Jaylen Adams – 19.3

Bryce Cotton’s dramatic turnaround in form since the Wildcats’ early-season slump has him in line to earn an incredible seventh career NBL scoring title, and push further ahead of third all-time leading winner Kirk Penney – who won three in his storied career.

Mitch Creek’s recent electric run of form in the absence of some of South East Melbourne’s stars has seen him rise into second place in the scoring charts – the question remains whether his increased output will be enough to pull this undermanned and injury-struck Phoenix side into the Finals places.

Anthony Lamb has gone from strength-to-strength since signing for the Breakers as an injury replacement and has established himself as one of the most potent offensive weapons in the NBL. With the Breakers currently outside the top six, can he help lead the side to a second consecutive post-season berth, for the first time since 2016.

Nathan Sobey has continued his stellar scoring run for the Bullets this season, and although he’s quietened since his electric start to the campaign, his output has helped solidify Brisbane as genuine Finals fancies.

Jaylen Adams has starred in his return to the NBL this season, and the former league MVP’s scoring burst against Melbourne in Round 17 has helped keep the Kings in the hunt for a top four finish and home-court advantage in the Play-In stage of Finals.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bryce Cotton doing Bryce Cotton things ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/H7eK2Gm1uP">pic.twitter.com/H7eK2Gm1uP</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1751194019382624373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alan Williams – 10.9
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr – 8.4
Sam Froling – 7.8
Luke Travers – 7.7
Jacob Wiley – 7.5

Alan Williams was a double-double machine prior to suffering the knee injury that currently has him sidelined, and he’s the only player in the NBL to be averaging a double-double per game this season.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr has endured an injury-stricken return to the competition this season, but has re-established himself as one of the NBL’s most potent rebounders when he’s been fit and firing for Melbourne this season.

Sam Froling has established himself as one of the key pillars for Illawarra in the Hawks’ resurgence towards Finals competition in NBL24, and he’s been part of one of the most lethal frontcourt one-two punches in the NBL this season alongside Gary Clark.

Luke Travers has continued his ability to contribute to every phase of play in the NBL in his debut season with Melbourne, and the victorious Summer League campaign, in which he was utilised as a small ball center for Cleveland seems to have positively influenced his ability and energy to crash the boards from the power forward position.

Jacob Wiley has been the barometer for Adelaide this season, and although Trey Kell, Isaac Humphries and DJ Vasiljevic have been the stars of the show in the 36ers’ attempted run towards Finals, Wiley has been ready, able and willing to do the dirty work for the side.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">? or ??<br><br>What a dime from the big fella, Alan Williams ?<br><br>Catch Williams and the <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEMelbPhoenix</a> in action tonight at 8pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/3v8w1q7IOJ">pic.twitter.com/3v8w1q7IOJ</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1740991105519534378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Matthew Dellavedova – 6.1
Patrick Miller – 6.0
Parker Jackson-Cartwright – 5.8
Tahjere McCall – 5.4
Jaylen Adams – 5.1

Matthew Dellavedova is one of Australian basketball’s great floor generals, and although he’s shown flashes of being utilised as more of a scorer than distributor, alongside Melbourne’s deep guard rotation he’s thrived when afforded the opportunity to find open teammates.

Patrick Miller has been a revelation among the Taipans’ young group in NBL24 and has provided a veteran calmness to a roster filled with young and hungry emerging stars.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright ably stepped into the role of pass-first guard for the Breakers this season whenever notorious passer Will McDowell-White has been unavailable, and has formed a deadly offensive punch for New Zealand alongside fellow import Anthony Lamb.

Tahjere McCall has picked up from where he left off at the end of the last season, and the Taipans star became the first player to register a 15-point, 15 assist game in the NBL’s 40-minute era when he did it against Adelaide in Round 10.

Jaylen Adams has been Sydney’s offensive linchpin in NBL24. The former MVP is the only player in the competition to be ranked in the top five for both points and assists per game this season so far.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matthew Dellavedova in the first half ??<br><br>10 points ?<br>4 rebounds ?<br>3 assists ?<br><br>Catch the second half live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/4aMmmddC8F">pic.twitter.com/4aMmmddC8F</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1742841557714358759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Will Magnay – 1.6
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr – 1.6
Ariel Hukporti – 1.5
Tyrell Harrison – 1.4
Alexandre Sarr – 1.4

Since returning from a pre-season injury, Will Magnay has locked down the paint for the Tasmania JackJumpers, and he’s been so effective on the defensive end that Damian Martin believes the former New Orleans Pelican is in contention for a Summer League spot.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Ariel Hukporti have formed a terrifying twin towers partnership for Melbourne United this season and have provided the backbone for the ladder-leading side to average a league-leading 4.8 blocks per game as a team.

Tyrell Harrison’s emergence as a genuine starting level NBL center this season has seen him forge the base of his stellar run on his rim protection and dominant paint presence.

Alexandre Sarr’s career-high five blocks against South East Melbourne in Round 17 showcased the Next Star's ability to be a genuine game-changer on the defensive end in a professional league, and he only stands to continue to improve as the campaign progresses.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Volleyball, or basketball? Either way, Will Magnay got ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/QyKxUYy9JK">pic.twitter.com/QyKxUYy9JK</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1748282876972392540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Parker Jackson-Cartwright – 2.0
Tahjere McCall – 2.0
Shannon Scott – 1.9
Keanu Pinder – 1.7
Bryce Cotton – 1.6

Parker Jackson-Cartwright registered six steals in his first ever game for the Breakers, and he’s continued in that rich vein over the entire campaign.

A change of team hasn’t altered Shannon Scott’s impact on the defensive end, and the point guard has formed the spearhead of Brisbane’s on-ball defence alongside Sam McDaniel.

Keanu Pinder’s ability to have active hands on defence is part of his game that separates him from other traditional centers, and he’s the only traditional non-guard to feature in the top 15 of eligible players.

John Rillie has often called for more praise around Bryce Cotton’s defensive work, and such is the import guard’s exceptional offence that the fact he’s in the top five for steals per game this season has flown far, far under the radar.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Parker Jackson-Cartwright is a catch and shoot specialist ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo | Sky Sport in NZ ? <a href="https://t.co/27bCQyB7bd">pic.twitter.com/27bCQyB7bd</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1750772453624746307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>