NBL1 West MVP says he'll be even better this season

By Lachlan Everett for NBL1.com.au

The resume for Devondrick Walker in 2022 alone is something to marvel at.

With the NBL1 West Rockingham Flames, he walked away as the NBL1 West Scoring Champion, NBL1 West MVP, NBL1 West Champion, NBL1 West Finals MVP and as a result was picked up by the Brisbane Bullets to make his NBL return. 

When reflecting on his campaign, Walker explained to NBL media those accolades weren’t ones he set out to achieve, with his primary focus being to prove to himself he could be the best player he could be with Rockingham. 

“Those accolades weren't things that I was chasing, it was more so just proving things to myself,” Walker said.

“It was cool to accomplish those things, but I feel like it's very, very capable. As long as I stay within myself, challenge myself each and every day to get better in certain aspects.

“So in that regard, I think I'll be better than I was last year because I have different challenges and different goals that I want to achieve this year. But they all started within me.”

Devondrick Walker is the #NBL1West Finals MVP ??

The regular season MVP has added another MVP to his shelf with 26 points to secure his Flames the conference title ? pic.twitter.com/7NNrod3ckr

— NBL1 (@NBL1) September 3, 2022

Walker stated that his goals were improving on everything from last season, improving shooting percentages, better numbers and more wins.

“Everything weekly, how it accumulates to just be better,” Walker said.  

By being signed by the Bullets, Walker was one of many NBL players within the NBL1 missed out on the Coles Express NBL1 National Finals –  including Bullets teammates Jason Cadee, Tanner Krebs (Gold Coast Rollers) and Harry Froling (Hobart Chargers, now Ipswich Force). 

The Flames went on to win the entire National Finals, despite missing Walker.  He said he was confident they could do it after watching their first game, where they beat the NBL1 Central champions South Adelaide Panthers by 16 points. 

“It was tough (missing the National Finals), but once I watched that first game I was like, 'you know what we'll be alright without me',” Walker said.

“Yeah, I was very convinced having watched the first game and we had a really good chance. We have a good group of guys and we got the best coach in the country (Ryan Petrik). So yeah, I'm rolling with these boys for sure.” 

The Flames had a collection of fantastic leaders last season. Petrik is one of Australia’s most respected coaches while Perth Wildcats veterans like Tom Jervis and Greg Hire filled important roles alongside Walker.

But he said the team captain, Ryan Godfrey, is unlike any leader he’s had – stating Godfrey’s leadership has been just as effective as some of the NBL’s best captains Walker has played with, such as Adam Gibson, Jason Cadee and Damian Martin. 

“He's the exact opposite of all those guys. You can go maybe a week, a week and a half, two weeks maybe? And don't hear a word from him,” Walker said of Godfrey.

“He only speaks when something absolutely needs to be said. And he shows and leads us how he wants his team to play. Everybody else’s emotions get all over the place but he really does a fantastic job of keeping the ship where it's supposed to be. 

“It's a different leadership style I've been around, but it's definitely effective.”

Rockingham will have a significant target on their back, not only as the conference champions, but the entire champions of the NBL1. 

While Walker did say he’s not looking forward to the rematch against the West runners-up the Geraldton Buccaneers, citing them as a tough team with a great coach, he believes their biggest challenger to a repeat is themselves. 

“It may sound cliche, but I’m not looking to not play any team. I want to make sure that I'm the best that I can be and that the team is the best it can be,” Walker said.

“Hopefully we come in with that same mindset, that we are the champs but even more hungry to defend it. It's gonna be tougher to win this one than it was last year, so I'm looking forward to that.

“I don't really see any team that I'm afraid of. Let's worry about ourselves, what we do and what we do best. And I think it will take care of it.” 

The NBL1 West tips off on March 31. See the full NBL1 fixture here. 

Feature image via: Michael Farnell/Sports Imagery