NBL1 Team of the Week (November 24/25 2024)

There were six NBL D1 men's contests to run the rule over at the weekend.

Justin Hopkins had his best game of the campaign for Reading Rockets to claim POTW honours - and four more names joined him in the Team of the Week.

Have your say on this week's choices and give a shout-out to the players you think deserve one using the hashtag #NBL2425. Don't forget to tag us!    

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How it works 

We'll pick a Player of the Week and four other selections to round out the Team of the Week, paying attention to the following criteria:

  • Efficiency  
  • Stats  
  • Team and opposition strength  
  • Periods of influence in the game 
  • Being on a winning team (exceptional performances from players on losing teams will be considered for TOTW)

Other players will also receive a shout out as honourable mentions at the bottom of the piece.

The Team of the Week

PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

Justin Hopkins – Reading Rockets, forward 

33PTS/6REB/7STL/37EFF 

Hopkins headlines this week’s Team of the Week as his sublime performance earned him the Player of the Week award. 

He put Milton Keynes Breakers to the sword with 33 points on an impressive 14/20 shooting, only missing three attempts inside the arc, constantly finding the right shot, never rushing and looking to get to his spot. 

Hopkins also was a pest on the defensive end as well, with seven steals along with six rebounds as Reading scored a 92-78 win on the road. 

Sam Newman – Hemel Storm, guard 

17PTS/10AST/7STL/29EFF 

Last season’s Playoff final MVP, Newman has constantly shown fans up and down the country why he is one of the best point guards in NBL1 - and he showcased that against the Hoods. 

Joining his team-mate Nelson-Henry on this list, the British guard added 17 points and 10 assists in what is becoming a trademark double-double for him, but he also brought his defensive prowess to the table, taking the ball away seven times. 

Jules Dang Akodo – Bristol Hurricanes, guard 

17PTS/4AST/21EFF

Dang Akodo was the very definition of a perfect game on Saturday night against City of Birmingham Rockets. 

The veteran guard didn’t miss from the field, and hit all five of his three-pointers, as he went for 17 points and four assists in Bristol’s deserved 95-71 win over the Rockets. 

Dang Akodo also got two steals but to add, his tenacious defence, suffocating the Birmingham guards, and doing the things that don’t show on the stats was also key in his selection this week. 

Darien Nelson-Henry – Hemel Storm, forward 

33PTS/7REB/32EFF 

Nelson-Henry only needed 28 minutes and a bit of change to score 33 points in Hemel Storm’s 99-88 win over Nottingham Hoods on Saturday. 

The American shot a staggering 86% from the field, only missing two attempts from the floor and went 7/9 from the free throw line in an all-around display of dominance.to earn a second consecutive appearance in the Team of the Week. 

Darien Nelson-Henry stood out for Hemel. Image: Nicola C Creative

Daniel Edozie – Bristol Hurricanes, centre 

14PTS/18REBS/7AST/2STLS/EFF29 

Another Hurricanes veteran, Daniel Edozie completes the starting five for this week as he pulled down a monster double-double against Birmingham. 

The former Bristol Flyers man shot 43% from the floor for 14 points, pulled down a mammoth 18 rebounds, got his team-mates involved with seven assists and helped himself to two steals. 

His body control and how he reads where the ball will go once it misses the rim is exemplary, averaging 12 rebounds a game before Saturday. 

Team basketball

DOWN BUT NOT OUT 

You can sense that the elusive win for the Bradford Dragons is coming. They were seconds away from victory and a last shot away from forcing overtime at home to the Thames Valley Cavaliers, but TVC held on for a 76-73 win. 

Milton Keynes Breakers are currently in no-man’s land at the moment having lost four games in a row for the first time in franchise history. It doesn’t get any easier as they host the league champions Derby Trailblazers next. 

Worthing Thunder enjoyed a weekend off this week but will return to the task at hand with their longest away trip of the season to Newcastle, hoping to build on their promising form to climb up the standings. 

Honourable mentions

Leighton Elliott-Sewell (DER) 28PTS/10REBS 28EFF 
Rob Marsden (DER) 17PTS/6REBS/6AST 23EFF 
Victor Ndoukou (LOU) 27PTS/5REBS 26EFF 
Matt Ellis (HEM) 20PTS/12REBS 24EFF 
Greg Skoric (NOT) 22PTS/10REBS 23EFF 

 

 

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Main image credit - Charlie Dodd