The 'biggest advantage' from Aussie's rollercoaster NBA ride ahead ...

19 Sep 2024

Fox Sports

It has been a whirlwind two years for Jack White.

From lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy as part of Denver’s first-ever championship winning roster to embracing the “grind” of playing in the G-League, bouncing around from team to team before getting a call-up to the NBA late last season with Memphis.

It would have been easy for White to lose himself in the process. To question whether he was still on the right path or if he would have any more moments like the one he had at the end of his season with the Nuggets, where coach Michael Malone put the ‘Defensive Player of the Game’ chain around his neck after a standout game against the Sacramento Kings.

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But amid all that change, when he was on the “fringe” of the NBA and the bright lights felt both so close and so far away at the same time, White found a way to appreciate every opportunity he was given – no matter how big or small.

To him, as much as playing in the NBA was and still remains his “dream”, stints with the Nuggets, Thunder, Lakers and Grizzlies over the past two years have taught him how to thrive in different environments – and now he is ready to take those lessons back to Melbourne United.

United teammate Chris Goulding told foxsports.com.au that White is “playing with more confidence” than when he was last at the team in 2022 while Matthew Dellavedova added he “looks stronger and more athletic”. That word “confidence” also came up again too.

“And it’s on us to instil that confidence in him because he’s a main guy for us,” said Goulding.

“We need him to be really good every night and the luxury in that for him is he affects the game in so many different ways. It’s not just about shooting, which he’s gotten better at his shooting and he’s more confident with his three ball.

“It’s everything he does defensively with his rebounding and blocking shots. He’s able to affect the game for us nightly and that’s important for us.”

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Jack White of United warms up prior to the 2024 NBL Blitz match between Melbourne United and Illawarra Hawks at Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre on September 12, 2024 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

It was important for the Nuggets too, the reason White got playing time with the eventual NBA champions near the end of the regular season as a reward for consistent form in the G-League.

White was particularly impressive in a 109-95 win against Sacramento to close out the season, recording eight rebounds and receiving plenty of praise from Malone, who highlighted the Australian’s hustle and tenacity on defence in one of his press conferences.

“That’s what you work for all year – those opportunities to get out on the biggest stage and perform,” White said.

“I was thankful I got the opportunity at the end (of the season) to showcase what I could do at that level. Obviously the defensive end of the floor is something I take a lot of pride in and, especially talking about how I can be effective in different roles, I’m not going into the NBA expecting I’m going to put up 20 points a game.

“It’s going to be my rebounding, it’s going to be my defence and it’s going to be being a good teammate and playing that role to the best of my ability. To get recognised for that meant a lot.

“That’s something that’s valued at a high level at that organisation. A lot of guys talk about the Nuggets with Joker, Murray and MPJ and these guys that can do a lot on the offensive end, but a big part of our success that season was actually our ability to defend and put different line-ups that could stop talented teams.

“That’s been my dream since I was a kid to go out there on the biggest stage and show that I belong and to get a taste of that and get recognition from a coach that I admire and respect a significant amount means a lot. It’s obviously something I’m never going to forget but it just makes me hungrier for even more at that level.”

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Jack White of United drives to the basket during the 2024 NBL Blitz match between Melbourne United and Illawarra Hawks at Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre on September 12, 2024 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

And that is something that White continually stressed when speaking to him ahead of United’s season-opener against Tasmania, that as much as he looks back fondly on his time in and around the NBA, he is still looking forward more than anything else with the confidence he can contribute at the highest level if given the opportunity.

So while White is back in the NBL for now, the hope is that an impressive season with United could catapult him back onto the NBA radar and if that does happen, he knows wherever he ends up he can draw on the experience of the last two years, which he said has given him a big “advantage”.

“That level was always something that I had aspired to get to and always believed I could get to and it’s still a level I firmly believed I can get back to,” White said.

“So, to be in that environment around those kinds of players and make those relationships and sort of get on the court with those guys and realise I can compete at that level and contribute to winning at that level, it gives me confidence coming back to the NBL.

“More than anything, being in different environments you need to work out how you can best contribute in that particular group and being on different teams and being in different cultures and gelling with different groups has given me a skill in that department to be able to adjust and be the best version of myself.

“I think that’s been the biggest advantage in being in those sort of environments. It helped me realise my dreams but also helped me realise that I’m able to adjust in different environments and perform at a high level wherever I am.”

NBL HOOPSFEST SCHEDULE

Thursday, 19 September

Melbourne vs. Tasmania – 8:30pm AEST (RAC)

Friday, 20 September

Perth vs. SEM – 8:30pm AEST (RAC)

Saturday, 21 September

New Zealand vs. Brisbane – 6:00pm AEST (HBF)

Cairns vs. Illawarra – 8:30pm AEST (HBF)

Sunday, 22 September

Adelaide vs. Sydney – 2:30pm AEST (RAC)