Tuesday’s NCAA Championship game between Gonzaga and Baylor might have been watched by over 16 million people in the US, but when it comes to quality, the best in the NBL have both teams covered, says Shane Heal and Derek Rucker.
The debate continues to garner interest as players such as LaMelo Ball, RJ Hampton and Josh Giddey have decided to play in the NBL over the more established NCAA College Basketball tournament in the US.
“I believe a top NBL team would beat the NCAA champions by at least 8 to 12 points,” former NBL MVP winner Rucker said on The Basketball Show.
“We’ve already seen an NBL team on its night when it’s cooking, can go toe-to-toe with an NBA team.
“These NCAA teams can’t even think about playing against NBA teams. It’s ludicrous.”
Jalen Suggs, who was Gonzaga’s star in their campaign, which saw them go down in the final by 16 points, is expected to be a top-three pick in the upcoming NBA draft at the end of July.
However, the success of LaMelo Ball, who was drafted third by Charlotte Hornets last year after his time in the NBL, this season has meant even more scouts are keeping their eyes on Australia’s premier basketball competition.
With the NCAA tournament over, Adelaide 36ers prodigy Josh Giddey now has the full spotlight to showcase his skills to the scouts watching from NBA teams. He has a good chance to be a top 10 pick.
If he was to be selected in the top 10, many top high school prospects, both from Australia and overseas, might further consider the NBL as their best preparation for the physicality and Basketball IQ required to play in the NBA.
“I would say the top four teams in the NBL would most likely beat the NCAA champion,” Rucker said.
Shane Heal, an Australian basketball legend who played in both the NBA and NBL, doubled down on Rucker’s assertion.
“I agree. And we can speak from experience. Because back in the day, we used to go play against all the top NCAA teams. We played against Duke, we were at Rupp Arena playing against Kentucky and UCLA all of those teams, and we were able to beat the majority of them,” Heal said.
“Even though we were there playing nine games in 13 days and enjoying ourselves along the way.
“I say Melbourne United would beat Gonzaga by double figures. It’s men against boys. The Perth Wildcats would be as well.
“The thing about Melbourne United, though, is they’ve got men - they’ve got men that have the international experience.
“Those kids don’t know what it’s like to play against men yet. The very best of them will go on and play in the NBA, but as a team, they’re just not ready; they would get smashed right now.”
You can watch the NBL tonight on SBS On Demand when the Sydney Kings take on Perth Wildcats, and you can watch Josh Giddey in action on SBS VICELAND on Saturday afternoon when the Adelaide 36ers take on Perth.
Every game of the 2020-21 NBL season is LIVE, FREE, and in HD via SBS On Demand, with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
