McDaniel Warns League : "Anything Can Happen"

After their 0-3 start to NBL23, the Tasmania JackJumpers’ run to the NBL grand final last season was perhaps beginning to look like a one-off.

But just as the JackJumpers tend to do, they've proved the doubters wrong. Now, a 5-5 record six weeks into the season has them in the mix as genuine championship contenders once again. 

After losing key pieces Josh Adams and MiKyle McIntosh over the off-season, Tasmania took some time to pull together and get back to the staunch defence that they’ve become so famous for. As new signings Milton Doyle and Rashard Kelly have settled in, it looks like they’re back to the powerhouses they were in the second half of NBL22.

Sam McDaniel has played a crucial role of the JackJumpers since their entry into the competition, and the 26-year-old guard says this season’s slow start doesn’t limit their ambitions of another grand final appearance.

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“Anything can happen in this league,” McDaniel told SEN.

“Obviously we’ve got more than half our games to play, and as everyone saw last year starting 2-6 didn’t stop us from getting to a Grand Final. 

“Starting 0-3, it took us a while to get our chemistry right, but then also just the schedule we had … we’ve done a lot of travelling.

“It’s about getting better every day and every game. If we keep progressing that way I think that will be alright, and we’ll be in the running at the end of the year again.”

A stellar performance from Doyle was the boost the JackJumpers needed to get onto the winners' list for the first time this season. The import exploded for an exceptional 32 points in the narrow overtime win over Brisbane.

Since that game Doyle, alongside centre Kelly, have gone from strength to strength. The pair has played a massive role in Tasmania’s turnaround in form.

McDaniel says his teammates have been strong performers, some praise needs to be saved for the local contingent.

“The imports we’ve got this year are great, great guys and [are] very solid on the court,” he said.

“I think all the locals as well have improved. You see guys like Sean Macdonald even Fab Krslovic. All of our locals, I feel, have taken a step up and we’ve worked really hard.

“To see it paying off is incredible, and I think that’s going to help us in the back half of the season – to have some support in that depth.”

One unfortunate constant of Tasmania’s season so far has been the continued absence of Clint Steindl and Will Magnay.

While the pair continue to inch closer to a return to play Tasmania have found ways to get results in their absence and should only be stronger once they’re back on the court.

“I wouldn’t want to put it out there that they’re playing,” McDaniel added. “But whenever they’re back it’ll help us out a lot.

“Right now I think the boys are doing a good job of holding down the fort.”