United stars lord over listof league’s best players

United’s NBL24 roster build has been touted by many as one of the strongest collections of talent in recent memory.

This was evident in NewsCorp’s recent player ranking list, where Matt Logue and Michael Randall broke down the league’s top 30 stars.

Six United players, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, Matthew Dellavedova, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Ian Clark and Luke Travers, featured in the top 15 of the list, further emphasising the level of skill of Melbourne’s roster.

Read what Logue and Randall had to say about MU’s stars.

4. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr - The NBL22 MVP finalist and 2021 champion is back at Melbourne United following a productive season in China. Ended his last NBL campaign as undoubtedly the league’s most-dominant big man, ranking No.1 in blocks per game, top five in rebounding and top 10 in scoring.

10. Matthew Dellavedova - A fitter and focused Delly returns from the NBA to rejoin Melbourne United with a chip on his shoulder and unfinished business. Dellavedova is using his Boomers FIBA World Cup snub as fuel and, if his NBL Blitz form — 28 and 20-point outbursts — is any indicator, bring on the season proper.

11. Chris Goulding - Still the NBL’s most-devastating long-range assassin and the man who sets the standard at Melbourne United. Able to rip a game away in a matter of minutes with his silky shooting touch, United is never out of a contest when the 34-year-old is lurking. His 17.1 points per game in NBL23 was built on the back of nearly four three-point makes each contest — at an elite 38 per cent from deep.

13. Shea Ili - Known primarily as the premier defensive guard in the NBL, the Kiwi tyro has steadily improved his offensive game to the point where he’s among the most complete guards in the NBL. An intense Bulldog who is relentless on the defensive end and a terror at breaking down defenders one-on-one. Unselfish, smart and a guy everyone else in the league wants on their team.

14. Ian Clark - A player that has done it all. NBA champion, NBL champion with the Sydney Kings in 2021-22 and a player who has carved out a reputation as a consummate professional who is among the most efficient three-point shooters on the planet. Clark is a major signing for United as a veteran of 371 NBA games, which included the 2017 championship with the Golden State Warriors, who knows the league well after stints in Sydney and Adelaide. Will form a nightmare shooting duo with teammate Chris Goulding.

15. Luke Travers - The sixth and final Melbourne United player in the top-20, Travers’ early improvement might make him the best of the lot by season’s end — and give him a one-way ticket to the NBA. After four years in his Perth backyard with the Wildcats, the 22-year-old made the move to United and looks to have improved every facet of his game — and those facets are myriad.