A new star is emerging in Brisbane and he goes by the name of Josh Bannan.
The 208cm forward produced a double double (10 points, 10 rebounds) in the Bullets’ 90-87 victory against the JackJumpers last weekend and then backed it up in Thursday’s giant slaying 108-92 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix with 17 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a huge block.
Bullets head coach Justin Schueller said Bannan was delivering as they’d hoped when they went after him.
“He’s really finding his feet in the league. He was our biggest target in recruitment,” Schueller said.
“We knew how important he would be to our offensive and defensive structures. Having him back in the line-up has allowed us more consistency in the way we play.”
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Bannan said every game he played he felt more comfortable asserting himself.
“My comfort level continues to increase as I get more games under my belt,” he said after a strong performance on Thursday night.
Big man Tyrell Harrison has also edged out Aron Baynes for the Bullets’ starting centre position, although Schueller said it didn’t matter who started.
“I’ve known Harrison for a long time, and I have felt his health was the only thing stopping him from being great in the league,” the coach said.
“What I love about him right now is his consistency is there and that is what we keep asking of him. We just need him to be great in his time.”
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Harrison will continue to start as the Bullets centre with Baynes and Rocco Zikarsky providing oomph off the bench that they got in Thursday’s win, with seven players recording double-digit-scoring, including Bannan, Nathan Sobey (13 points), Harrison (14 points, eight rebounds), Isaac White (13 points, six assists), Baynes (12 points), Chris Smith (14 points), and Mitch Norton (10 points).
“Having contributions, and seven guys in double figures is really pleasing,” Schueller said after his team turned four losses in a row into three consecutive victories.
“I see 50 points off the bench and that to me is what tonight was about. We got a real collective effort, and I couldn’t be happier.
“What I am seeing in the group is a growth in belief … When we do the right things and stick to our habits, things will go our way.”
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