With the NBL Blitz starting this weekend, many NBL1 players coming off fantastic NBL1 campaigns will be ready for the pre-season tournament on the Gold Coast.
The Hungry Jack's NBL Blitz tips off on September 16. Watch every game live & free on Kayo Freebies.
Check out the must-watch players for this year's Blitz below:
The King of the North and 2023 conference MVP will be representing the Gold Coast Rollers in front of his fans at the Blitz.
Moving from Brisbane to Adelaide for NBL24, Cadee filled his offseason with an MVP season up North with the top of the ladder Rollers.
Averaging 24.8 points, 12.2 assists and 6.7 rebounds for the season, he was one of the best players in the entire competition. His statement for the league was a 52-point game to cement his case as the best men’s NBL1 player in the country.
NBL1 South All-Star Five member Gabe Hadley will be locked and loaded to join former Geelong United Supercats coach Justin Schueller with the Bullets.
Hadley averaged 24.7 points per game with a season-high of 42 points against the Keilor Thunder.
After dominating the NBL1 South, he should receive significant minutes in the Blitz as a trial for the season ahead.
#NBL1 superstar Gabe Hadley is headed to the @BrisbaneBullets for #NBL24 ?
— NBL1 (@NBL1) July 18, 2023
Read more via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? pic.twitter.com/LeaL66X8Lr
After an impressive NBL1 North season, Kian Dennis made an impression on Adam Forde and earned a development player slot for the Taipans.
The Southern Districts Spartans forward had 15 points and five rebounds against the Cairns Marlins back in May and was approached after the game with an opportunity.
“We played an NBL1 game in Cairns against the Marlins and he [Forde] came up to me after the game and was like ‘I want you in a Taipans uniform, I love the way you play’,” Dennis said.
“He spoke to me about one play where I had a rebound and just went down the other end and dunked it, ‘I love that, that’s what I want.'
“It was cool and just went straight from there, and I kept talking to him through the few weeks.
“Under 'Fordey' I believe I’ll be playing for Australia. The way he coaches really suits me, and I’m going to develop my body, develop my shot and in a few years, I reckon I’ll be playing for Australia.”
Dennis will get to test his talent against the rest of the NBL at the Blitz starting on Saturday.
Coming off a breakout NBL23 season, Will Hickey was one of the stars of the NBL1 East this past season.
Averaging 22.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists, Hickey finished the season with a triple-double and had a season-high of 45 points against the Indonesian national team.
Davo Hickey was ??? ??? for the Hawks against Indonesia ?
— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 21, 2023
He dropped a LUDICROUS 4??5?? point double-double along with 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.
Just a light night ?
Watch the #NBL1xIndonesia games via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/KIb89y6JeK
Staying in Illawarra for NBL24, the momentum from NBL1 should carry over into the Blitz with the Hawks.
Celebrating an 18th birthday with an NBL1 National Championship was a spectacular way to kick-start Austin Rapp's NBL career.
RELATED: "I did my best": Rapp's revelation on mercurial NBL1 rise
Signing on as a development player, the young center was crucial in Knox claiming the NBL1 South title and the National Title.
After averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds for the season, Rapp stepped up in the Championship Game with 14 points and 12 rebounds to secure Knox the National Title.
18th Birthday Buckets for Austin Rapp ?
— NBL1 (@NBL1) August 20, 2023
Watch the #NBL1NationalFinals men's Championship Game Live & Free via Kayo Freebies ? pic.twitter.com/XugGPjEPDx
The Blitz will be a perfect chance for Rapp to carry over his NBL1 success into his debut season.
