Australian basketball great Leroy Loggins has thrown down the gauntlet to Brisbane Bullets star James Batemon, and the way he responds could be what takes his side from the NBL doldrums to championship contention.
After a slow start in Australia, Batemon exploded three weeks ago to net 51 points for the Bullets against the Perth Wildcats – a club record in the 40-minute game era.
Perhaps the men on the receiving end were inspired. The American point guard’s counterpart that night has since bettered that milestone, with Bryce Cotton scoring 59 points two weeks later for one of three consecutive 40-plus-point personal hauls.
Brisbane Bullets legend Leroy Loggins has thrown down the gauntlet to James Batemon.Credit: Bradley Kanaris
“It’s like a mind game going on – ‘hey, I’m James and I scored 51. Then, uh oh, I’m Bryce Cotton, I scored 59’,” Loggins laughed.
“If it were me, and I was playing, I’d definitely be going for 60.”
The Bullets will need Batemon to fire to remain in the play-offs race, having found a small window of consistent form – defeating Adelaide and the ladder-leading Melbourne United – ahead of Thursday’s return home against the Phoenix.
While Loggins – who played in three straight NBL grand finals with Brisbane, including two titles – warned against Batemon making his Cotton-conquering mission a personal vendetta, he challenged him to use it as motivation to find something else within himself.
“Sometimes it takes a bit of adjustment to another country … it’s not an easy task,” Loggins said.
“But I think he’s coming along pretty nicely, I know he’s celebrated his anniversary with his missus and had that 51, but come on bro – what are you going to give me tonight?
“It just depends on what situation you’re in. You don’t just depend on one guy, and if you go out and say in your head I’m going to get 60 and be what we call a ball hog it’s not going to happen.
“You’ve got to incorporate your teammates into that 60, as you saw with what James did and what Bryce Cotton did. You have to know, as a fighter would say, when to stick and when to move, or pass the ball in our case.”
The Bullets’ mini form burst will give Brisbane pundits hope their premiership ambitions are not dead, and the imminent returns of Boomers stars Rocco Zikarsky, Mitch Norton and Josh Bannan could fuel those visions.
Zikarsky, 18, had started the season on restricted minutes, but was particularly impressive in his 55-minutes in the two games before the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers to finish with season-best points (13 in each), rebounds (seven and eight) and blocks (one and three).
Loggins, who featured for the Boomers at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, predicted the trio would return vastly different prospects, equipped with the tools to build towards ending a 17-year title drought.
“You’re playing against a different kettle of fish. When I played I just thought in my mind ‘am I good enough? Should I be here?’” Loggins said.
“But I learnt a lot playing international basketball, and that increased my knowledge so much. There’s so much you can learn here in the NBL, but then once you go outside that ring … you’re definitely going to learn.”
