Isaac
Years ago

Sam Mackinnon and the NBA

Brisbane Bullets captain Sam Mackinnon has told the Courier Mail he has not lost hope of playing in the World best basketball league the NBA.

Mackinnon, 30, is in career-best form and is one of the favourites to take out the NBL's Most Valuable Player award this season and the big-man has not ruled out playing in the NBA despite his age.

"I'm 30 now and if Andrew Gaze made it at 33, (it means) they're looking so all you can do is play," Mackinnon told the Courier Mail's Amy Harris.

He can compete on the international stage, he's strong, he is capable and is shooting from outside at a rate beaten by no one in the NBL this season. Could he make an NBA roster?

He's leading a stacked Bullets team with 20.1 PPG, 57.8% FG, 50.5% 3P, 9.4 RPG (top ten in NBL), leading the Bullets in APG with 4.5, and 1.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG.

Let me recap - he is leading the best team in the league in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, three point shooting and field goal percentage - that is incredible.

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DB5
Years ago

Wow, nice stats Sammy...
IMO, if the tosser (Heal) can get a guaranteed gig with his game then SURELY Sam has a chance!

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JohnnySack
Years ago

A poor mans Gerald Wallace... and i am not going to state the obvious - but i think he could cut it... without a shadow of a doubt...

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Glen
Years ago

Gerald Wallace is probably a decent comparison (as you say, NBL version anyway)

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Isaac
Years ago

For the NBA Hot/Not list the other day - basketball highlight videos with sentimental-type background music! Can't they pick a different soundtrack?

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Sween
Years ago

Amy goes "big-man" and my eyes light up. Maybe Sammy and Daniel Boone will be playing for the Southerners this year? Perfect preparation for the NBA for Sammy.

Fess Parker (acted as Daniel Boone i think) is on the other side of 70. Is that too old? Drewie looks 70.

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XY
Years ago

Anyone got a minutes-per-game for Sammy? I suspect that those stats are compiled in only about 35 mpg.

Everyone always knew that Sammy Mac was the real deal and could be the elite of the elite. But prior to the WC's he could never show it consistently enough. Since the WC's though he has been a different player. Like he finally stepped up and took some responsibility for his game.

Sammy could easily sit a bench in the NBA, but then again, lots of people could. I hope it works out for him.

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mark
Years ago

Sam is a better shooter than Gerald Wallace. Wallace is a PF in a SGs body.

I'm not convinced that Sam's ball handling and shooting range is NBA quality. His athletacism would only be average against NBA competition aswell, but I wouldn't count him out on making an NBA roster as a 3rd string SF.

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Anonymous
Years ago

There was one play in that mix where gerald wallace took about 5 steps before dunking!! On the minutes per game issue, last round sammy poured in 30pts 14 rebs and 6 assists in under 30 mins if i am not corrected.

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Nutwork
Years ago

I could sit on the bench in the NBA!

I am very good at sitting, playing basketball, however, is another question.

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Anonymous
Years ago

If you're going to come into the NBA as a mature age player, you have to bring a specialised skill. No NBA team is going to waste a roster spot on a 30 year old 3rd string, undersized small forward. There are too many good young players in the world these days. Mackinnon's skills and physical ability is a perfect fit for the NBL, but place him on the world stage and there is no one aspect to his game that, at this point in time, would warrant a spot on any roster in the league. If he had achieved this level of maturity in his game 5 years ago, he would have had an opportunity somewhere and possibly could've stuck, but at 30 the doors are shut. Sure, Gaze went at 33. But we're talking about Andrew Gaze, one of the worlds great shooters who was also a well-known entity in the states from his days at Seton Hall and his performances at the Olympics. All that said, Mackinnon is a hell of a player. Too bad he's 30.

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spectator
Years ago

I'd put my money on Sam hitting the NBA before Newley any

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twenty four
Years ago

Great post Anon. Your right in saying that, to be a veteran rookie, you have to be able to bring something special to the table.

Those who compared him to Gerald Wallace, I'd Sam is a VERY poor man's version of G-Dub.

A good example is CJ's try with Cleveland. He's doesn't have anything special in his game by NBA standards. In the end it came down to the Cavs drafting a couple of guards (Daniel Gibson and Shannon Brown) which left no place for CJ.

CJ probably is better than those two right now, but the Cavs can develop Gibson and Brown without giving them much time on the court. The same obviously can't be said for CJ.

Hence, I can't see Sam making a roster this late. I know by NBL standards Sam is somewhat of a freak, but the stuff he does here (some nice dunks, a block, etc.) isn't really that good if you compare it to what happens in the NBA.

Which NBA team would want a guy who is a (barely)6'6 3/4 man, with no real outstanding parts in their game, when they can get a young guy who has heap of room for improvement?

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xztatik
Years ago

yeah as much as i like the guy he would be too undersized for SF at 6'5". Hope he proves me wrong though.

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M Dizzle
Years ago

Sammy can get up no doubt, but G-Dub's athleticism is on another level

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Ricey
Years ago

big call Spectator... fair sure newley will hit nba next year, early 2nd round at the worst you would think

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Hoops

Sam Mackinnon and the NBA

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