With Round 7 of NBL26 underway, there’s no shortage of storylines and teams facing big questions. Is this the opportunity the Illawarra Hawks and Brisbane Bullets have been waiting for to spark a mid-season surge?
Do the Sydney Kings need a major shake-up in their rotation to reignite their struggling roster? And can the Perth Wildcats back up their huge comeback win over the Tasmania JackJumpers with another statement victory to close out the round?
Here’s this week’s instalment of NBL Burning Questions – diving into the key narratives shaping Round 7.
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CAN THE ILLAWARRA HAWKS GO ON A RUN?
Coming off a gritty one-point road win over the Perth Wildcats – and with key reinforcements on the way – Round 7 could mark a turning point for the Illawarra Hawks.
Will Hickey is expected to make his long-awaited NBL26 debut after recovering from a nasty eye injury, while newly signed import Q.J. Peterson could also be cleared to suit up, though the club has yet to officially confirm his status.
The Hawks currently sit at 2-4 on the season, but with JaVale McGee dominating the paint and Tyler Harvey rediscovering his scoring touch, the addition of Hickey and Peterson could unlock a faster, more dynamic brand of basketball. Their arrival will give Illawarra something they’ve lacked so far this season – the ability to push the pace and play up-tempo.
Last season, that high-speed, attacking style made the Hawks one of the toughest teams in the league to face. Their blend of isolation offence, fast-break execution, and structured half-court sets carried them to a championship. This year, the team has leaned more heavily on McGee’s interior game, but the injection of speed and scoring from Hickey and Peterson could restore that trademark flow.
This weekend shapes as a season-defining one for the Hawks, with a home clash against the New Zealand Breakers on Friday night followed by a road trip to face the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday. A 1-1 weekend would be a solid return – but if they can pull off back-to-back wins, Illawarra could suddenly find themselves right back in the playoff conversation heading into the second half of the season.
Ice-cold Reaves wins it at the buzzer! | 00:44
IS THIS BRISBANE’S BIG CHANCE?
After all the criticism and early-season doubts, one thing has become clear – this Brisbane Bullets team is better than many expected. Despite injuries mounting and import changes disrupting their rhythm, the Bullets have managed to stay competitive, sitting at 3-6 while only being outscored by a total of 42 points across nine games.
For the most part, Brisbane has been in every contest right until the final minutes. However, a lack of late-game experience has often proved costly. Their key contributors, Casey Prather and Tyrell Harrison, have been outstanding to start the season, but finding consistent production beyond that duo has been a challenge.
Help may finally be on the way, though. New signing Dakota Mathias is expected to make his debut this round and could provide an immediate spark on both ends of the floor. With two games on deck – against the Cairns Taipans and Sydney Kings – the Bullets have a real opportunity to climb back toward .500.
If Brisbane can hit their outside shots against a gritty Taipans outfit and capitalise on their athleticism in transition against the Kings, a 2-0 weekend isn’t out of the question.
The question now is: after weeks of scrutiny, is this finally the moment the Brisbane Bullets prove they belong among the NBL’s contenders?
IS IT TIME FOR COOKS AND DELLAVEDOVA TO COME OFF THE BENCH?
Just like last season, the Sydney Kings find themselves with plenty of talent – but very little cohesion. Despite boasting one of the most gifted rosters in the NBL, their early-season performances have been plagued by inconsistency and a lack of clear identity.
New recruits Kendric Davis and Matthew Dellavedova were expected to form one of the league’s best backcourts, but their on-court chemistry hasn’t developed as hoped. With Dellavedova often controlling the ball, Davis has been forced to shift from his natural role as a dynamic, facilitating scorer into more of a pure scorer – limiting what made him so dangerous in college and early in his professional career.
When Dellavedova is on the floor, the Kings’ offence can look stagnant and overly structured. That has also affected Xavier Cooks, who has struggled to find rhythm or confidence in his usual free-flowing, playmaking style. A player who thrives when allowed to attack and create from the four-spot, Cooks now appears restricted – both mentally and within the system.
The Kings’ most effective lineup so far has been one built around pace, spacing, and versatility: Kendric Davis, Bul Kuol, Jaylin Galloway, Kouat Noi, and Tim Soares. That group pushes the tempo, defends multiple positions, and creates mismatches all over the floor. Leaving veterans like Dellavedova, Cooks, and Shaun Bruce to come off the bench could allow them to impact games without the weight of carrying the offence.
If the Kings are serious about chasing another title, change needs to happen – and fast. The pieces are there, the talent is undeniable, but Brian Goorjian and his staff must find the right balance before the season slips away just as it did a year ago.
CAN THE PERTH WILDCATS BUILD ON THEIR WIN OVER THE JACKJUMPERS?
The Perth Wildcats sit at 5-4 on the season, and heading into Wednesday night’s clash in Tasmania, few gave them much chance to beat the JackJumpers on their home floor. But after a sluggish first quarter – where they trailed by as many as 17 – Perth rallied to pull off an impressive comeback victory.
That result came despite the continued absence of key wing Dylan Windler (ankle injury) and new import David Duke Jr., who is still yet to make his Wildcats debut. While it remains uncertain if either will suit up this round, the win over Tasmania proved that this Perth team is capable of causing real headaches for opponents – even when shorthanded.
On the glass, the Wildcats were outstanding, dominating the offensive boards and creating a steady stream of second-chance points. Offensively, they also made a conscious effort to run their sets through their star big man – a strategy that broke down Tasmania’s defence and could prove equally effective against their next opponent, the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
The Phoenix, however, present a serious challenge. They’re one of the league’s most balanced teams – efficient offensively and disciplined defensively — and they won’t be easily rattled. For Perth to go 2-0 on the round, they’ll need to push the pace in transition, stay locked in defensively, and win the rebounding battle once again.
It’s a tough task ahead – but after toppling Tasmania in Tasmania, the Wildcats have shown they’re more than capable of defying expectations.
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