League Legends announce Mid-Season Awards Picks

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As we close to the halfway stage of what has been an unimaginable British Basketball League season to this point, we sat down with some legends of the League to get their picks for Mid-Season Awards!

Everyone knows the large prizes are handed out on the finish of the yr, however we sat the legendary trio of Ant Rowe, Drew Lasker and Mike Tuck down and requested them for his or her decisions primarily based on the season to this point for Participant of the Season, Most Improved Participant, Coach of the Season and Second of the Season. Learn on to search out their choices!

Anthony Rowe

Participant of the Season – Sam Dekker

Sam Dekker was my pre-season prediction for the BBL MVP and he’s not solely met however has surpassed my expectations to this point. For those who may design a star participant in your staff (and the league) you then would create a man like Sam Dekker, who’s equally as optimistic off court docket as he’s on court docket.

He’s extremely proficient, extraordinarily versatile, and for my part is NBA calibre. The flexibility he brings on the offensive finish is borderline scary and at this level within the season I’m coming to the realisation that the one factor that may cease Sam Dekker is Sam Dekker.

A particular point out must be acknowledged for Kosta Koufos, who has transitioned seamlessly into the British sport as he continues to dominate each within the UK and Europe.

Most Improved Participant – Elvisi Dusha

Dusha has been among the finest surprises of the season to this point. I performed towards Dusha for years and keep in mind him effectively, which is testomony to his longevity within the BBL. I don’t keep in mind too many gamers bettering a lot over one offseason.

Whenever you take a look at his performances final yr, averaging 5 factors and 5 assists per sport, to now the place he’s averaging 14 factors and 7 assists a sport, in addition to bringing management qualities, the development in his manufacturing has been astronomical!

He has gone from being among the finest back-up level guards within the league to being among the finest level guards within the league full cease, and he has performed an enormous function within the Patriot’s sturdy begin to this point this yr.

Coach of the Season – Ryan Schmidt

I assumed it was more cash, extra issues!?! It’s been fairly the opposite for Coach Schmidt who has navigated his staff to the highest of the BBL and a robust place in EuroCup competitors. Professional sports activities is a outcomes pushed trade and Coach Schmidt is hitting his KPIs, but it surely’s the way in which during which he has went about it that has most impressed me.

The staff chemistry has strengthened every week, the staff defence has been ferocious, and I’ve been a fan of the manner of the Lions. There’s no entitlement mentality and as an alternative Schmidt is instilling a optimistic tradition that has been refreshing to comply with. The ambitions are excessive, together with creating for the long run, and the Lions are practising what they preach; Coach Schmidt has given alternatives to younger British gamers comparable to Kareem Queeley, Bradley Koboza, Jonathan Komagum, and Zam Weluche-Ume, who’ve all performed significant minutes within the marketing campaign.

Second of the Season – Tajh Inexperienced

It must be the ‘throw-off-the-backboard’ Dunk by Tajh Inexperienced. It’s uncommon that you just see issues like that, and it was enjoyable to have the ability to act like a crazed fan whereas on commentary!

This in fact was simply the beginning of numerous miraculous highlights from Inexperienced to this point this season! This was the kind of ‘Know Our Title’ play that I feel we’ll keep in mind and discuss for years to come back.

Drew Lasker

Participant of the Season – Ryan Schmidt

Sam Dekker! Let’s not get cute with this choice and also you don’t have to dig out analytics for this one. I’ve watched each staff play – he’s the very best participant and it’s not even shut and at 6’9″ he has been higher than marketed!

I can’t consider any participant over my 18 years concerned in British Basketball with a participant of his measurement together with his talent. Sam can rating in any respect three ranges and is a mismatch nightmare on this league! He’s too fast and expert to place a put up participant on him and he can choose a protection aside together with his measurement and imaginative and prescient in case you throw a guard at him.

I don’t envision this occurring but when we do see a slip-up from London within the second half of the yr, Patrick Whelan could be subsequent up for me. Nobody scored it higher in 2022 as Patrick completed with 697 factors!

Most Improved Participant – Elvisi Dusha

Elvisi Dusha has impressed me this season. Earlier this season, I coined him the very best back-up quarterback within the BBL. He has been the very best backup level guard for a number of years. Nonetheless, this season he has proved he’s rather more than that.

After Plymouth’s Star Antonio Williams missed prolonged time, Elvisi held down the fort by scooping the Molten BBL Participant of the Month Award in November. By no means averaging double digit factors in his total profession, in yr 9 he’s doubled his earlier profession excessive with 14ppg this season. Traditionally referred to as a pass-first guard, he’s developed right into a dual-threat lead guard!

Jamell Anderson is a detailed second as he’s seen a surge in his scoring this season. The Commonwealth Video games Gold Medallist sometimes referred to as a lockdown defender has stretched his scoring common to an all-time excessive in yr 13, whereas additionally enjoying essentially the most minutes for the Phoenix on the tender age of 32!

Coach of the Season – Andreas Kapoulas

Andreas Kapoulas will get the nod right here for me … and this isn’t a make-up name for my preseason choose. That is effectively deserved! Expertise and continuity wins within the BBL and Coach Kapoulas has led the Bristol Flyers staff to turn out to be a contender with just one participant over the age of 26!

They play onerous, defend and crash the glass. These are traits of a staff which are effectively coached. The long run is vibrant for the Flyers and with a brand new enviornment on the horizon, Andreas is starting to put his identify among the many finest within the British Basketball League!

Operating shut behind Coach Ok is London Lions Head Coach Ryan Schmidt. I do know what you’re pondering.. How when London has a lot expertise? I’m right here to let you know that teaching a staff of high-level expertise may be simply as troublesome as a talentless squad. Cool as a cucumber, Ryan has carried out an exceptional job because the first-placed Lions have additionally picked up 4 wins in Europe. 

Second of the Season – The Vitality of British Hoops

There was a plethora of moments that we should always rejoice within the first few months of the season. Let’s start with the visibility of our league. Each time I make my every day rounds of Twitter, Instagram, and Fb, I see a graphic, video or spotlight from our league. We have now even gone viral with Tajh Inexperienced’s Dunk Stay on Sky Sports activities! “Have you ever Ever Seen Something Like It!”  Or how about London’s first European win from a British Group in 18 years?!

What trumps all of them for me are the CROWDS! They’ve been constant all season, but it surely was actually evident over the vacations. It started with the sellout crowd on the Copper Field of their EuroCup matchup on December 21!  The momentum continued all through the league all the way in which to the New Yr’s Day double header. They are going to ALL KNOW OUR NAME quickly!

Mike Tuck

Participant of the Season – Sam Dekker

It’s no shock that that is my participant of the season to this point. Sam Dekker is the very best participant on the present finest staff within the league. Sam is 6’9 however hones the talent set that mirrors that of a guard with the power to maneuver, dribble, shoot and end from nearly wherever on the ground. Sam’s NBA and worldwide expertise has translated effectively for the London Lions each within the BBL and EuroCup.

Most Improved Participant – Zach Jackson

A well-known face to Riders followers, Zach Jackson has persistently upped his sport in his tenure particularly into his third season with the membership. The small ahead produced 10.6 ppg in 2021-22 however now leaping as much as 15.6 ppg within the present marketing campaign. Main this star studded roster in scoring

Coach of the Season – Andreas Kapoulas

Proving all of the doubters mistaken! Coach Kapoulas has actually stepped up his sport this season. Usually a staff that scrapes into the playoffs, the Flyers have discovered a approach to win yr.

The Head Coach is boasting a 13-6 report that presently retains them 2nd within the BBL Championship desk. If Kapoulas can hold this up, he can be on path to the Flyers most profitable season since they entered the league.

Second of the Season – Tajh Inexperienced

Certainly the second of the season must be the off the backboard cross from Tajh Inexperienced to himself vs the Cheshire Phoenix stay on Sky Sports activities. A defence breakdown result in Tajh having a “what the hell” second and he delivered with a monster two hand slam! I used to be fortunate sufficient to see this in individual as I used to be doing court-side commentary on the sport.

Get your tickets to observe the BBL LIVE this season by clicking right here, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to comply with all the finest content material from the league.



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