Isaac White thrives with new start

By Dan Woods for NBL1.com.au

A win is always the perfect way to start a new season with a new club. A win in which you drop 40 points and flirt with a triple-double? That’s just ridiculous.

That’s exactly how Mackay’s Isaac White began the new NBL1 North campaign though. The former Ipswich Force player and out-of-contract JackJumpers guard put an undermanned Mackay team on his back against a talented Rockhampton side to lead them to an impressive 16-point win to open the new season.

Thought Isaac White's first half was good? He finished the win over Rockhampton with a mind-boggling 4??0?? points ?

Watch #NBL1North via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/Fu92G98shX

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For his efforts, White was named as the NBL1 North Foot Locker Player of the Week, and he says the only way is up for his new side.

“It’s a really good start and I’m glad to have that award coming my way,” White told NBL Media.

“It was really good just to go and get a solid win, especially early on. We didn’t have one of our imports – Tyler Williams – and so with teams only having a week or two to prepare these earlier games can be hit or miss.

“I’m really pleased we could get the result we wanted without our full roster and against a team like Rockhampton who have proved to be super talented. They came out and were like five for five from three to start the game.

“I’m super pleased we got the result and we’re getting everyone together and everyone together for the rest of the year, so it’s looking good.”

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White made the decision to leave his former club ahead of the NBL1 season and cited a potentially more professional environment at the Meteors as a key reason for his departure.

His former side emerged from Round 1 with a hard-fought victory of their own and overcame the Red City Roar off the back of an immense third quarter where they restricted their opposition to just nine points.

The Force reloaded over the off-season, acquiring NBL talents Kyrin and Jaylin Galloway, Deng Deng and Olympic bronze medal winner Nathan Sobey.

White says although he’s just a few weeks into his experience with the Meteors he’s happy with his decision.

“The expectations have definitely been met,” White said of his new club.

“Our head coach Joel Kahlu works us out basically every day, and when we’re not working out we’re training or doing team activities and things like that. It’s kind of that holistic experience I was looking for and he hits the nail on the head with the culture piece too.

“He’s recruited guys similar to my situation at Tasmania, the guys all want to be there and they want to play team basketball, so I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the three weeks I’ve been here so far.”

While the Meteors and Force don’t lock horns until Round 11, White says the thought of facing his old side has crossed his mind.

“I’ve put a little bit of thought into it naturally. I went to the NBL1 [North] intro events in Brisbane the other weeks and I saw my old coaches and a couple of old teammates, so the thought has definitely crossed my mind,” he said.

“But I think that’s somewhere in the middle of June, so I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it."

For now though, White is just happy to be plying his trade at a high level of competition where there is the potential for his side to live and die by his performances. While he experienced good burn for the Tasmania JackJumpers across the NBL season – particularly towards the back end of the campaign – he says he’s looking forward to the tests that will come with being so heavily relied upon by his team.

“I think it heightens the overall experience of the game for me. I come into games knowing I’m going to have a significant impact on the result of the game, and I think anyone who takes it seriously – that’s why you play, you want to be one of those main guys,” White said.

“The NBL1 level has risen to a stage where most teams have some really respectable NBL players and some really high-level local talent.

“It feels like a legitimate league which is one part, and then I go in knowing I’m going to be tested physically to play 30+ minutes and have a significant impact on the result. For me, that just makes the whole game so much more fun and enjoyable.”

White and the Meteors take on the Townsville Heat in the upcoming round of NBL1 North action.  Catch the game live on Friday, March 31 at 8:30pm AEST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.

Feature image via: Kieron Place Art & Photography