Adnam stars in NBL Select games

In their first trip since 2019, the NBL Select Team defeated the Japanese B.League United side 2-0, with Taipan Kyle Adnam taking a starring role.

Flying into the island country for a two-game series, both league’s put forward teams to compete in the fixtures, with Adnam joining the tour for his first trip to Japan on a side led by Simon Mitchell and Kerry Williams.

Working off the bench across both games, the guard led the Australians with 14 points on Saturday – with Angus Glover as the only other Australian to make it to double digits – before backing it 12 points, two assist and two steal performance on Sunday night.

In their first fixture, the NBL1 North’s leading scorer made his first appearance when the B.League side were starting to build a margin, with the guard helping turn the tide in favour of the visitors to gain a lead by the first break.

Shooting a perfect two of two from inside the arc alongside hitting all four free throws, Adnam showed off his scoring prowess whilst also draining two triples and drawing four fouls whilst only committing one himself.

Maintaining the lead throughout the night, the hosts were only able to equal the contest early in the third quarter before the NBL Select side launched onto a 12-0 run – enough to cruise to an 11-point win on the first night.

Returning on Sunday, the Australians looked to continue where they left off by working through the paint, before a Sam McDaniel triple built an early 2-9 lead.

However, the locals responded quickly by holding their visitors scoreless for two minutes whilst chipping away at the margin – swinging the lead in their favour before an Adnam triple tied the contest.

Continuing their momentum, the B.League side took control of the game until late in the second quarter when the Taipans guard kept piling on the points with his own 7-0 run to grab the lead before the main break.

Once play resumed the NBL team continued to build out the margin, before their hosts responded with a 10-0 to level the contest prior to the final quarter, with two late free throws from Josh Bannan nudging the Australians ahead.

Entering the final term of the fixtures, the momentum had well and truly swung in the direction of the visitors as they developed their lead and weren’t swayed by Adnam fouling out.

Only outscored by Bannan, who’s 23 points was the highest individual performance across the weekend, the Taipan led the rest of his teammates with 12 points to his name.

NBL Select Team Heach Coach Simon Mitchell:

“This B.League team is very good and was very physical and really took it to us – it was a great workout for us – but it was an honour to come to Japan and represent our league.
“I have so much admiration for B.League United. To have so much youth and to be down 9-2, you turned that game around quick.
“There was so much fight, and the coaching staff has done an amazing job with them. I’m proud of our guys, but I’m in awe of what B.League United were able to do.”

B.LEAGUE GLOBAL INVITATIONAL 2025 – GAME 1

NBL SELECT TEAM 75 (Adnam 14, Glover 13, Dech 9)

B.LEAGUE UNITED 64 (Tobin 17, Hosokawa 12, Nakamura 12)

BOX SCORE

B.LEAGUE GLOBAL INVITATIONAL 2025 – GAME 2

NBL SELECT TEAM 78 (Bannan 23, Adnam 12, Glover 10)

B.LEAGUE UNITED 69 (Inamura 13, Smith 11, Murphy Jr 11, Nakamura 11)

BOX SCORE