Ugly Igley
Years ago
http://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2016/8/16/12441950/memphis-grizzlies-james-ennis-australia
Save to say, this is not entirely complimentary about the NBL.
proud
Years ago
Not entirely complimentary but they are biased and trying to build up the talent they have on their own roster and the mere mention of it becoming a viable option for young NBA hopefuls is hardly burying us either
RMQ
Years ago
IT wasn't that bad. I thought it was quite factual.
The NBL is beneath Ennis as he now has an NBA contract.
His defenders were slower and less athletic.
Doesn't mean the NBL is a terrible league.
Luuuc
Years ago
...though it reminded me that not only did Ennis finish behind Clarke in the MVP voting that year, but also Goulding. So now I'm angry all over again :p
Very Old
Years ago
Actually a well written and unusually fact-based for a club-based semi-fluff piece.
ME
(he/kangaroo)
Years ago
It was a fair article. Ennis was clearly above and beyond anyone we had in the league at that time but that is quickly changing with more athletic imports and top flight Aussies coming in. It also said we helped develop him and Australia is now a viable destination for NBA hopefuls. You can't complain too much when everything he said is true.
Isaac
Years ago
During his lone season in the NBL, "Ennis the Menace" also finished third in MVP voting (though that decision may have been politically motivated, as only coaches vote for the league's MVP and there was believed to be a bias against foreign products), and was awarded First-Team All-NBL honors.Yet the MVP was an import. Nothing political about it, just a particular voting system.
paul
Years ago
How easily people forget that when media folk did their MVP predictions that year most voted for Goulding, with Clarke and Ennis the other two to get votes. Those three were clear standouts that season from the rest of the league, but not from each other.
DaHuzyBru
Years ago
The thing is though - Ennis wasn't the Most Valuable Player. He was the best player by far, but he wasn't the most valuable. Take Ennis out of the Wildcats in 2013/14 and you'd still have a solid squad. Take Clarke or Goulding out of the Hawks and Tigers and they would be f**ked. The Hawks were fairly average *with* Clarke in 2013/14 - imagine them without him
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