Rucker: Bullets Add "Funk" & "Creativity"

NBL23 was a season to forget for Brisbane, but with a raft of changes, both to their playing and coaching personnel, it seems the Bullets’ fortunes may be on the up.

Justin Schueller has been secured as head coach, while Darryl McDonald brings immense experience in assistant role. Add to that, two key signings in the Free Agency period. 

Isaac White took significant strides in his development this year, and the 24-year-old has been backed to have a significant impact, alongside the likes of Nathan Sobey and Aron Baynes.

“I love him (White) as a player. I love his funk, I love his shooting ability, his offensive creativity, and his work ethic,” Brisbane legend Derek Rucker told The Marketplace. 

“I watched him closely during his time at Stanford and really admired the way he went about his business. 

“My only concern is, is he ready to be a 28-game productive player? That’s going to require a lift in his consistency. He’s going to have to be a really reliable shooter and he’ll have to defend regularly against high-powered guards.

“I think he’s capable of it, he just hasn’t proven it yet. We’re going to be watching him very closely.”

White also had interest from Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings, according to ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc, while the Tasmania JackJumpers were always keen to retain his services. 

“Over his first three seasons in the NBL he’s been part of winning programs. He’s had patchy minutes in rotations in those winning programs, and every time he’s had the opportunity he’s been able to produce,” Uluc said. 

“He now gets the opportunity to do that on a more consistent basis.

“The hope is he can become a 15, 20-minute guy, or even more than that.”

Sam McDaniel also provides valuable experience, as he looks to bounce back from an injury-riddled season. 

“He provides outside shooting … the query on him is going to be health,” Rucker said. 

“Can he stay healthy over the duration of a season? If he can, he could probably be a suitable replacement for Tanner Krebs, and Isaac White looks like he’s a replacement for Jason Cadee.”

Krebs and Cadee are both in-demand across the League as Free Agency heats up, but Rucker says the Bullets’ biggest focus this year is simply keeping its best players on the court.

Both Sobey and Baynes played the majority of games across NBL23, but it was rare for Brisbane to have its full roster available. 

“Nathan Sobey and Aron Baynes must have good health this year for this team to contend for a Play-In position,” Rucker added. 

“On the back of their good health, along with Tyrell Harrison … if they can get those three guys out on the court for 85 per cent of the time, they’ll be in decent shape.”

Rucker believes the Bullets should go after highlight machine Rayjon Tucker, as it looks to bounce back from a ninth-placed finish.  

White, McDaniel, Baynes, Sobey, Harrison and DJ Mitchell are signed for Brisbane's NBL24 campaign.