Aussie Hoopla International Player of the Week
Matt Nielsen
Each week the AussieHoopla.com Player of the Week award goes to the Aussie who has had the greatest impact both on the stat sheet and their teams record. This weeks winner is….
Hometown: Penrith, NSW
Current Team: Khimky (Russia – VTB United League/PBL)
Former Teams: Sydney Kings (NBL), Lietuvos Rytas (ULEB)
Whilst other Aussie’s may have had stronger games this week, we had to make Matt Nielsen our International Player of the Week. In an amazing seven day stretch he registered 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in a victory against Nathan Jawai’s Unics Kazan. He played vital minutes in a semi-final win against Spartak SP where he had 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block. Lastly he added 2 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists whilst being an integral part of the defence in the final moments of the Eurocup Championship where his current team Khimky defeated his former team Valencia 77-68 for his second Eurocup Championship. Nielsens 2011/12 averages are 3.5ppg, 2.7rpg and 1.8apg.
Honourable Mentions
David Andersen
Hometown: Carlton, VIC
Current Team: Montepaschi Siena (Italy – Euroleague/Serie A)
Former Teams: Wollongong Hawks (NBL), CSKA Moscow (Euroleague), Houston Rockets (NBA), Toronto Raptors (NBA), New Orleans Hornets (NBA)
David Andersen continued to show he is one of the best big men in the world by putting up 15 points, which included 3/4 from long distance in 28 minutes without committing a single turnover in the Italian Serie A this week. Unfortunately his performance didn’t quite deliver the victory for top ranked Montepaschi Siena (19-7) who lost in an overtime nail-biter 95-94 to Bennet Cantu (18-10). Andersen is currently ninth in the league’s scoring leaders with 15.5ppg. He is also averaging 5.7rpg, 1.5apg and 45.0% from the three-point line.
|
MIN |
FG |
3PT |
FT |
PTS |
REBS |
AST |
STL |
BLKS |
TO |
|
28 |
5-9 |
3-4 |
2-2 |
15 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Patty Mills
Hometown: Canberra, ACT
Current Team: San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
Former Teams: Portland Trailblazers (NBA), St Mary’s (NCAA)
Mills brilliant guard play for the Spurs continues with San Antonio currently on a four game winning streak. His best game this week came against the Utah Jazz where he achieved his first ever start in the NBA and added 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal in 24 minutes. The Spurs, who were without their ‘Big Three’ (Duncan, Ginobilli and Parker) were unable to defeat the Jazz, losing 84-91. Mills is proving himself quite productive in the Spurs run home to the finals averaging 8.8ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.0apg, while shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc.
|
MIN |
FG |
3PT |
FT |
PTS |
REBS |
AST |
STL |
BLKS |
TO |
|
24 |
4-10 |
1-5 |
0-0 |
9 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Ater Majok
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Current Team: BK SPU Nitra (Slovakia – Extraliga)
Former Teams: Connecticut (NCAA), Perth Wildcats (NBL), Gold Coast Blaze (NBL)
Ater Majok is playing extremely well as of late. as he was also a part of last weeks nominees for the International POTW. This week Majok led Nitra (21-11) to a two point victory over Svit (17-15) 72-70 with a double-double performance scoring 24 points and getting 13 rebounds. Majok also added 3 assists and 3 blocks in 37 minutes, a very impressive performance. Majok is currently sitting fifth in the league in rebounding and averaging 11.3ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.4apg and 2.7bpg across 40 games for Nitra.
|
MIN |
FG |
3PT |
FT |
PTS |
REBS |
AST |
STL |
BLKS |
TO |
|
37 |
10-15 |
0-0 |
4-6 |
24 |
13 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
Past Players of the Week
2nd – 8th April, 2012 – Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs – NBA)
26th March – 1st April, 2012 – Daniel Kickert PGE Turow (Poland – Polish PLK)
19th-25th March, 2012 – David Andersen (Montepaschi Siena)
12th-18th March, 2012 – Nathan Jawai (Unics Kazan)
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
