Feature image via: Kieron Place Art & Photography
NBL1 North First Team member and Mackay superstar Isaac White says he’s excited to bring the Grand Finals Series to his home fans.
With a regional home court advantage, the Meteors will host all three games (if required) in front of their home fans, coming off a club record crowd number of 1,200 in the Semi Finals.
“I'm excited that we get the opportunity to have three games in three days in front of a home crowd. It’s just another opportunity to battle it out with the team,” White told NBL Media.
“We get a large percentage of the community around our game, which is an advantage in itself. It probably means a little bit more, you get to know the community on more of an intimate level. So being able to play in front of those familiar faces is really exciting.
“And I guess on the flip side of that, we consider our home court quite an advantage.”
Mackay's home crowd
Going head-to-head with the NBL1 North MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Sam McDaniel in this series, White explained he’s looking forward to going up against his NBL teammate this weekend.
“Sam McDaniel is an amazing player, obviously. We're both from Adelaide, so I've been familiar with him for a while,” he said.
“I see a lot of him and I have a ton of respect for the way he goes about it. But I don't really get in my own head about that sort of stuff. I know what I'm capable of at that level and whether it's a direct matchup or not.
“I'm definitely gonna be aware of him being on the other side of it… But I definitely won't be losing sleep over one individual.”
On the other hand, the Capitals will be defending a group stacked with talent. Featuring the likes of White, Todd Blanchfield and 2021 Finals MVP Jerron Jamerson – the captain explained his bench will be the x-factor in this series.
“I have a lot of faith in our bench and I think over a three-game series, we're gonna need our depth,” he said.
“(Kye) Medhurst has been really good. Amarco Doyle, is another young local who has been really good for us in stints. So all of those guys have the ability to be an extra factor for us.
“I think Aiden Kraus is someone who probably flies under the radar a little bit. He's very much a barometer for our group. He does a really good job with defensive assignments. So when he's at his best, I think it allows us to be at our best.”
In his four seasons in the NBL1 across the Ipswich Force and Mackay Meteors, White has progressed from a high-level scorer to an elite playmaker and MVP candidate.
He explained his growth under coach Joel Khalu has allowed him to develop parts of his game that build on his NBL seasons – progressing from an injury-replacement player in Tasmania to a full-rostered bench scorer for Brisbane.
“I think it's played a huge percentage (in his development). It's probably not everything because if I didn't play, I'd still be in the gym getting better, but there's no denying that playing basketball is the best way to get better at it,” he said.
“And the unique part of NBL1 is I get to take on a larger role, it allows me to work on things that I need to get better at for the NBL level. To be specific, last year I had the ball in my hands almost every possession from Mackay. And so I think I saw my greatest development in the pick and roll and decision-making off the bounce and stuff like that.
“Whereas this year, I've had a lot more of a role off the ball and moving and trying to get my three-point shot off. And I've already seen, whilst being back in Brisbane for my preseason, I've taken some strides in being that two guard again and being able to get tougher three balls off, off the move. I'm very grateful that I'm allowed to have that dual season.”
With the Mitsubishi Motors NBL1 National Finals around the corner, White said the concept of the tournament is outstanding. If Mackay qualifies, he explained that he would love to represent his club on the highest level.
“I think it's an amazing idea,” he said.
“I think that still needs to be a bit of looking into the timing of it all… But I think it's an amazing idea and I'd love to be a part of it. I think I can't speak highly enough of my Mackay group this year. I have a ton of fun every day at practice and every week in our games. So I would love an opportunity to go and represent Mackay again on an even greater scale.”
The NBL1 North Grand Finals Series starts on Friday night, from 7:30pm AEST live and free via Kayo Freebies. The series continues on Saturday from 7:00pm, and if required, 1:00pm on Sunday.
