Which Emerging Stars Are Setting NBL23 Alight?

As an NBL fan, there's nothing quite like watching a development player from your side thrive. Whether it be Melbourne's Chris Goulding turning out for both the Brisbane Bullets and Perth Wildcats, Sydney's Shaun Bruce earning valuable early minutes at the Cairns Taipans, or Kyle Adnam representing the Adelaide 36ers - a development player contract can often be the launching pad players need to kickstart long and successful NBL careers.

Often, though, these young and emerging stars of the game need luck on their side to be presented an opportunity to show what they can do - luck or a coach that has complete faith in them to get the job done.

David Okwera's emergence as a genuine threat for Melbourne United this season is the perfect roadmap for players coming off of development player contracts - and development players all around the league will be watching his improvement with heavy focus.

NBL Media looks at some of the top performing development players of NBL23 so far.

Chris Goulding looks to drive past New Zealand's Kirk Penney in 2008.

Biwali Bayles
After capably filling a backup role in Sydney’s championship success last season, Biwali Bayles has continued to be rewarded with consistent court time so far this season.

While his scoring column may not show it Bayles' ability to not become overawed by the big, strong bodies of opposition centres in the paint bodes well for his future within the league.

An explosive athlete with an unbelievably quick first step, Bayles has averaged a touch under ten minutes per game in his six appearances to date this season, with his best individual performance coming in the Kings’ win over Brisbane where he had seven points and three assists.

With a guard rotation that includes star import Derrick Walton Jr, sharpshooter DJ Vasiljevic, veteran Shaun Bruce and energy man Angus Glover, earning minutes in this Kings side is a tough ask for any development player, but Bayles is showing all the signs that he well and truly belongs at NBL-level.

NBL23 Statistics
9.8 minutes, 2.2 points, 0.5 assists, 0.8 rebounds per game.

Biwali Bayles defends star Brisbane import Tyler Johnson.

Lachlan Dent
For the uninitiated, Lachie Dent's 19-point performance to kickstart the season could look like it came out of nowhere - but in fact it was the perfect example of a development player biding his time and waiting for his opportunity.

That hot streak off the bench turned into a consistent starting role once Justin Robinson went down injured. After averaging under two minutes a game across just six appearances in NBL22, Dent has leapt to almost 20 minutes of court time per contest this season.

The signing of Peyton Siva has seen Dent return to bench role for the Hawks, however he’s still earning big minutes backing up both Siva and incumbent shooting guard Tyler Harvey.

He hasn’t reached the dizzying heights of his opening night performance again so far this season, but he’s carved out a crucial role for Illawarra across the first six weeks of NBL23, and his emergence has been one of the bright spots in what has been a dark season so far for the Hawks.

RELATED: HOT-HAND DENT READY FOR MORE

NBL23 Statistics:
19.8 minutes, 7.1 points, 2.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 0.3 steals per game

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LACHIE 2 HOTTY.<a href="https://twitter.com/lachlandent_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lachlandent_</a> is having himself a night ? <br><br>A career-high 19 and counting <br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo &amp; Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/P2WQVxJkmw">pic.twitter.com/P2WQVxJkmw</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1576176921695514625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Owen Foxwell
South East Melbourne were struggling to get bodies onto the court in the early part of the season – particularly in their guard rotation.

With Trey Kell, Gary Browne and Ryan Broekhoff all sidelined due to injury in the opening weeks of the campaign Simon Mitchell put his faith in development player Owen Foxwell, and that faith has paid off.

Much like Lachie Dent the return of key imports has seen Foxwell's court time diminish, but it’s worth noting Foxwell is currently averaging over two steals per game this season – a mark that’s good enough for third place across the entire league.

Foxwell is a traditional, pass-first point guard, but it’s his active hands and ability to stay in front of his man on defence where he provides the most value to his team.

No matter how his minutes pan out in the remainder of the season, Foxwell has carved out a niche as one of the Phoenix’s go to energy guys. Even with so much veteran talent on the roster Foxwell is often the player his side looks to when they need a defensive stop – and there can be no higher praise than that for a young player looking to make his mark.

RELATED: FLYING FOXWELL ALL IN ON NBL

NBL23 Statistics:
17.8 minutes, 2.2 points, 1.4 assists, 1.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals per game

Owen Foxwell drives the ball against Cairns.

Sean Macdonald
If anyone had been asked ‘which guard will the JackJumpers back down the stretch of tight games?’ the consensus answer would almost certainly have been ‘Josh Magette’. Earlier this season though, Scott Roth was benching the experienced floor general in favour of DP Sean Macdonald.

After averaging just four minutes a game in NBL22, Macdonald has embedded himself as a crucial part of Tasmania’s guard rotation, and he’s played monster minutes in some of their most tightly contested games of the season so far.

A return to form for Magette and the emergence of import Milton Doyle has seen those late game opportunities somewhat dry up, but he’s a genuinely high-scoring option as a part of the JackJumpers’ second unit.

Scott Roth’s use of sharpshooter Matt Kenyon bodes well for Macdonald’s future under the wily head coach. Those corner specialists who can lock-down opposition guards on defence are highly valued under the grit and grind mentality of the JackJumpers. While Tassie likely have the best proponent of that role in the league in Kenyon, they could argue Macdonald isn't far behind the former Bullet in that exact role.

NBL23 Statistics:
18.8 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds, 0.4 steals per game

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Young Macdonald had a half ?<a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a> DP Sean Macdonald stepped up in their first half of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> with 11 points off the bench.<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo &amp; Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/jZSgI0VRGD">pic.twitter.com/jZSgI0VRGD</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1576135616206491648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Isaac White
The journey of Isaac White on Tasmania’s roster this season has been unconventional to say the least.

The former Illawarra Hawk initially linked up with the JackJumpers as an injury replacement player for captain Clint Steindl. However, they loved what he provided both on and off the court so much they decided to reward him with their final development player slot.

White looks to be thriving in the culture of Tasmania. He’s often the most vocal and active supporter of his teammates on the bench, and when he’s afforded the opportunity to play his effort absolutely cannot be questioned.

His minutes have been fluctuating this season, but he’s shown glimpses of the high-quality shooting that made him such a highly-touted prospect in Illawarra last season.

NBL23 Statistics:
7.2 minutes, 2.4 points, 0.9 assists, 1.0 rebound per game

Isaac White looks for a pass ahead of Melbourne United's Jordan Caroline.