Summer Shootout: Who picks who?

Excitement is beginning to grow ahead of the NBL’s Summer Shootout in January, but just which opponent will your team pick?

As a reminder of how it all works, here’s how the Summer Shootout benefits teams and fans alike.

At first glance, you’d have to think the teams with the best home records would be ones to avoid. But dig a little deeper, and the stats speak a little differently.

Why? Because the Summer Shootout is all about scoring the most points, and some teams are defensively stronger than others.

On Thursday, teams will reveal their nominated away games via a very special edition of Overtime at 7.30pm AEDT on ESPN.

For context, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane have conceded the most points at home to date, making them prime targets for nomination.

Meanwhile, New Zealand, Sydney, and Tasmania have been the stingiest defensive units this season.

Currently, Melbourne United boasts the biggest score away from home, with 120 in Round 8, followed by the Breakers, with 113 in Melbourne, and Illawarra with 105 against Perth.

Of the top 10 scores in away games this year, Adelaide boasts two, alongside the Hawks and United, while the Breakers, Bullets, Taipans and Wildcats all have one.

Conversely, United has conceded three of the top 10 scores to visiting opponents across NBL25, albeit having already played nine home games, with the Hawks and Wildcats two apiece, and Sydney, Cairns and Brisbane one each.

It’s clear it’s a wide open race for the Summer Shootout, and there’s simply no easy-beats. The selections, announced live on ESPN on Thursday night, will be fascinating.