Even Alex McNaught will admit he wasn’t expecting to have the year he’s had.
McNaught played his third season with the Nelson Giants in the Sal’s NBL in 2022 and was a permanent member of the starting lineup, seeing his averages increase across the board. The 20-year-old turned heads with his play and earned nominations for Youth Player of the Year and Most Improved Player.
“It was a great year for us as a team. We came dead last in the 2020 showdown and in 2021 we were near the bottom of the pack – we just didn’t live up to our potential. The group we brought together this year was a talented group, but we had a great bond and that was one of the main reasons I think we did well,” said McNaught.
The Giants were one of the most consistent teams during the Sal’s NBL regular season and placed second on the ladder with a 12-6 record. Nelson possessed the best defence at the league, holding teams to 81.4 points per game.
Giants head coach Mike Fitchett was full of praise for McNaught.
“Alex is an awesome young man and is a pleasure to coach and be around. He is an extremely hard-working player and has one of the bigger motors I’ve seen come through the ranks,” said Fitchett.
“He bet on himself by moving to Nelson to follow his basketball dream, and that has paid off this year with a fantastic NZNBL season, signing on as Breakers Development Player and now his chance to wear the black singlet.”
McNaught called Coach Fitchett one of the most influential people in his life and credits him for helping in all areas, not just with basketball.
“Fitch is one of my more instrumental coaches for basketball and life. As someone that has gone from playing to coaching, he understands the struggles of what it’s like to be young and learning to play the game properly,” said McNaught.
“In that second year, Fitch took that as a year for me to understand how to live on my own and to understand what it’s like to truly be an adult. Without that I wouldn’t be where I am now. I’ve got to credit him for helping me get through my first year out of high school and first year playing professional, which is a lot more difficult that you think.”
At the conclusion of an impressive Sal’s NBL campaign, McNaught signed a developmental contract with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL. In the wake of an injury to long-time Breaker Tom Abercrombie, McNaught was thrust into the rotation early in the regular season and he made his mark with some tenacious defence and high IQ basketball.
McNaught received the call about signing with the Breakers while working a shift at Briscoes and had to contain his excitement.
“I was working at Briscoes midway through a shift when I got a call from my agent saying you’re going to be a Breaker.
“I was a season member for the Breakers two years ago and now I’m going to be training and playing with my idols and top tier talent from around the world. It was very surreal – I didn’t think, at this age at least, that I was going to get this opportunity,” said McNaught.
One of those that’s taken McNaught under their wing is Australian Cam Gliddon, who is playing in his 11th Australian NBL season.
“Cam Gliddon has been huge. He’s taken on a large leadership role with the team and helping me out as a young player. He knows what it’s like and has so much experience. He would talk me through how to deal with the nerves and that sort of stuff,” explained McNaught.
“The game that I first played in Cam ended up being sick, so I got a nice message from him before the game just wishing me luck and to play with confidence. I’d say it was probably my favourite game of basketball that I’ve ever played – that first one against South East Melbourne Phoenix. It was something pretty special for me.”
After already having a big year with the Giants and signing with the Breakers, there wasn’t a whole lot else that could top what McNaught had accomplished in 2022. The Tall Blacks call-up would then turn an already impressive year into an unreal one for the former Saint Kentigern College standout, who has now firmly put himself on the map.
There’s a lot that comes with representing New Zealand and putting on the Tall Blacks jersey, and McNaught says being named in the squad for the first time is a dream come true.
“It’s a dream come true for me, the privilege and pride that comes with representing tour country is immeasurable, so to do it on the national stage for the highest level is so exciting!
“The exposure to the international game is something I’m really looking forward to. I haven’t played at this level before. It’s all about learning about the different expectations, how the games are played, how they’re refereed etc.
“I’ve got to have some faith in myself to represent the country well. Offensively I’ll look to showcase what I’ve been working on, and defensively just bring the same energy that I’ve brough this year,” he said.
McNaught will have a familiar face in Giants coach Mike Fitchett with him for the Tall Blacks’ trip to the Middle East, serving as an assistant coach for Pero Cameron, and Fitchett says the experience playing for the Tall Blacks will help McNaught on and off the court.
“Being around his Kiwi peers and seeing how they operate will be a great chance for him to have another high-level basketball experience.
“Hopefully it will motivate him to want to be a regular in the Tall Blacks and push him along to keep improving,” said Fitchett.
So, what’s next for McNaught beyond this year?
“I was questioning myself early this year/late last year whether this is something I can genuinely do. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but at the time I didn’t know if I had a pathway. Since this Breakers opportunity, the pathway has become clear for me. I want to do this as long as I can.
“A Tom Abercrombie-like career would be something I’d definitely want to live for. I kind of want to see where it takes me,” concluded McNaught.
The Tall Blacks travel to the Middle East on 7-8 November, where they take on Lebanon on 10 Nov and Jordan on 13 Nov in a pair of FIBA World Cup Qualifier games. Both games will be shown live on Spark Sport.
