Marshall declared a future NBL star

Feature image via: Tania Millard

Two NBL experts have praised NBL1 South star Nick Marshall ahead of his Preliminary Finals clash against the Knox Raiders. 

On the first episode of The Marketplace: Roster Round Table, Liam Santamaria declared Nick Marshall will be a star of the NBL at some stage of his career. 

“Don’t sleep on Nick Marshall, because Nick Marshall is going to be a star of this league,” he said on The Marketplace.

“Is that next year? I think we are going to see some further steps in that regard.” 

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Santamaria explained that in a warm-up game against the Overtime Elite last year, featuring NBA draft picks and current NBL Next-Star Alex Starr – Nick Marshall ended the game as the talking point.

He had 20 points and 10 rebounds, which Santamaria explained could be a glimpse into his future as a star of the NBL. 

Melbourne Tigers coach and basketball legend Andrew Gaze added that having to coach against Marshall has been a difficult task, as the go-to guy for the Mount Gambier Pioneers. 

“He plays a role that prepares him for that next step,” Gaze said. 

“When you are a roleplayer with your NBL team and trying to make that next step, because it is so cutthroat, the coach to give you the licence to take that next step is a challenge. 

“But when a coach sees you do that (at the NBL1 level), assume greater responsibility, be the man, and he is the man (for Mount Gambier). But he is the man playing 35 to 40 minutes per game.” 

Watch Marshall’s Mount Gambier Pioneers host the Knox Raiders on Friday night, streaming from 8:00pm AEST Live & Free via Kayo Freebies here.