A STRONG leader, two impressive bigs, two well-rounded imports, a star coming off the bench and some good young talent on the rise give Nik Lackovic the Perth Redbacks team he was after in 2016, but he knows their character and commitment is what's most important.

The Redbacks went close to a Grand Final appearance in 2014 only losing to the eventual champion East Perth Eagles in the semi finals.

It was a similar group back again in 2015 and there was the inclusion of league MVP Ray Turner, but things just didn’t click and it was a year that Lackovic learned plenty from and knew that things had to be done a little differently in 2016.

Most important was to pull a group together where character was the No. 1 factor and he wanted a group who had the sole goal of trying to be as successful as possible together, and who would be 100 per cent committed to doing everything for their teammates and putting their team first.

While Turner might have been a remarkable individual player last year, the Redbacks did only win 10 games as a team and missed the playoffs.

That's not to say he was the blame, but Lackovic wanted to put together a much more well-rounded team in 2016. That is exactly what he has done and the results are obvious with the Redbacks having still won nine of their last 11 games despite a disappointing loss to the Willetton Tigers last Saturday.

There have been hurdles along the way including Michael Vigor being unavailable for the first eight games, Lewis Thomas missing three through injury and captain Joel Wagner currently out with an ankle injury.

But when the team was fully together they were playing as well as anyone in the SBL and Lackovic sees no reason that can't happen again in the run to the playoffs particularly when Wagner returns.

It is a strong, well-rounded group he has put together with Vigor and Thomas providing as good a big men combination as there is in the league.

Imports Jourdan DeMuynck and Reed McConnell both work hard at both ends of the floor, with DeMuynck's all-round abilities and McConnell's three-point shooting making them standout.

Both in terms of leadership and running the team, Wagner was playing as well as he has ever has this season while Ben Smith is providing plenty off the bench and now as a starter while the skipper is out.

There is also exciting young talent who are making the most of their opportunities including Jack Wagner, Jamieson Lewis, Tyler Viskovich, Isaac Gattorna-Hargrave and Logan Viskovich.

Lackovic is delighted with the group he has at his disposal, but more so for the way they have come together as a team and for their commitment to the grow as a group rather than rely individual abilities.

"I'm really pleased for the group because they put in such hard work. We got together in November, we worked hard through the pre-season in December and January, and we stuck to what our identity is, and what we wanted to be known as, as a group," Lackovic said.

"We are blessed because we've got two guys of high character as imports firstly and then their skill set is what helps us on the floor. Jourdan could probably score 40 every night in this league but he does a tremendous job sharing the ball. Reed's a pure shooter and Michael is our glue guy. He has come back with a great amount of point of poise and a great basketball IQ.

"They all complement each other really well. Lewis and Mike are a great four-five combination punch that can stretch the floor and work off the bounce. They play both ways and they are both such smart guys, and they put the team first.

"Mike could demand the ball a lot more and Lewis gets the toughest assignments on the opposition's best four or five man most times, but he never complains or asks for the ball. He just runs hard and plays hard, and competes hard.

"I'm really proud of the way the guys have come together but we've still got four weeks to go and we want to finish as high and as well as we can. We've certainly got momentum now but it's been a just reward for the work they've put in."

The Redbacks are well on track to return to the playoffs in 2016 and their best basketball could very well see them emerge as championship contenders. But it hasn’t been an easy ride along the way.

That's why Lackovic is so impressed with the strength of character shown by his whole squad and that includes the young players he isn’t afraid to give important minutes to.

"The group has great resilience and their commitment to each other and the group is exceptional. One of the things I learned with this group when we were undermanned and playing 18, 19-year-olds is that they have great fight," he said.

"As a coach you want your team to have that and even when we lost early on, we didn’t get blown out and they fought hard on the road against good teams.

"They are starting to find the rewards of it here because the confidence and belief they have in each other is really pleasing to watch and as a coach it makes your job a lot easier because they are composed."

While Lackovic has the stars at the top of his group in Wagner, DeMuynck, McConnell, Vigor, Thomas and Smith, there is signs that the future is strong at the Redbacks.

That includes earning college careers for players like Kyle Bowen and Marshall Nelson, and for giving Jack Wagner and company exposure to the SBL so they can develop their games and learn the level they need to get to.

"The No. 1 thing we want to do is build a program that young players aspire to want to play for, and then get an opportunity to play. Some of the things I'm most proud of is that I've had an opportunity to send three guys to college," Lackovic said.

"Two are on full four-year scholarships and another one is going this week to have another look. Kyle Bowen has made the Australian team, we've got a couple of guys who made the under-18s team and they are all getting exposure now in the state league.

"We have some real quality people in our program who help develop and nurture them to become long-term players and contributors to our club. That's one of the things I'm most proud of.

"We play Friday and Saturday nights, but on Saturday morning I have individuals at 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30 with us still having a game to prepare. Those guys still put in the extra and those are the things that people don't get to see away from the court and game. It's a testament to the guys who want to get better."

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Serene-Elise Photography