With the Adelaide 36ers facing a must-win clash against the Sydney Kings in Game Two of the NBL Finals this Friday, they now have another issue to manage, with star big man Isaac Humphries seemingly falling out of the rotation despite being one of the league’s most dominant centres when at his best.
Watch live coverage of the NBL Finals with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
In Game One of the NBL finals, Humphries started strongly with 10 points and 4 rebounds — shooting 5 from 5 from the field — but finished with just 16 minutes in the 44-point loss. Despite having only two fouls, Adelaide coach Mike Wells opted to sit his star big for most of the game.
It highlights an ongoing challenge for Wells in finding the right balance to maximise both Humphries and the broader rotation. Now in his seventh NBL season and second under Wells, Humphries has at times shown visible frustration, whether through limited touches or sudden spells on the bench.
He started all 38 games for Adelaide this season, though his minutes and output have dipped slightly. NBL commentator and former champion Peter Hooley believes several factors are behind the shift.
Adelaide 36ers and their coach under pressure as Cotton holds key to saving series — NBL Talking Pts
“I think it’s a little part of the system changing but mainly the new roles and additions to the team,” he said.
“Adding Troy Brown Jr, then [John] Jenkins and then bringing DJ [Dejan Vasiljevic] off the bench, their whole game style shifted to accommodate the rotations.”
During Brown Jr’s 13 appearances, Humphries played some of his best basketball, averaging 23.5 minutes and 14.6 points on 10.2 field goal attempts per game, close to a season-high, as the 36ers went on an 11–2 run.
Since Brown Jr’s departure and the arrival of John Jenkins, the rotation has shifted again. With one less wing defender, Adelaide has been forced into smaller line-ups, at times featuring Jenkins, Bryce Cotton, Isaac White and Matt Kenyon together, leaving them exposed defensively in the paint.
Despite Brown Jr’s limited offensive output, his defensive presence, length and NBA experience proved important. Following Jenkins’ arrival, through no fault of his own, Humphries’ production dipped.
His minutes fell to 18.5 per game, while his scoring dropped to 9.9 points on just 6.1 attempts, with the 36ers posting a 6–8 record across that stretch, including finals.
Is there a case for pairing Humphries with Nick Rakocevic? The duo shared less than 10 seconds on court in Game One, but Hooley believes it may be an option Adelaide has to explore.
“I’m not sure the two big line up works in this series against Sydney specifically. Not when their four man is going to be Xavier Cooks or Torrey Craig, because whatever advantage they may have offensively, they lose on the other end tenfold,” he said.
“Having said that, they are probably at a point where they need to try any wrinkle to see if they can get some momentum.”
Looking ahead to Game Two, Hooley expects adjustments, particularly in easing the burden on Cotton, who was held to 10 points in the opener.
“I’m not exactly sure what to expect from Adelaide on Friday. I think Mike Wells will have a bunch of different plans to throw at Sydney and see how they can make it easier to score the ball. Part of that should be running more action for Humphries and others as primary offensive threats every now and then,” he said.
“However, I still have major concerns about their inability to defend on the other side of the ball no matter what.”
THE ERIN PHILLIPS MENTORSHIP
Two-time WNBA champion and Australian Opals World Cup winner Erin Phillips joined the 36ers to help shape the club’s culture and provide mentorship, particularly for Humphries as he stepped into the captaincy for the first time in his career.
In a post-match press conference last year, after Humphries delivered one of his best performances with 24 points in a 98–89 win over Tasmania, he spoke about the impact Phillips had on his development as a leader.
“Mike [Wells] came to me and expressed that Erin’s involvement was going to happen. And I took it upon myself to reach out to her and start building a connection with her and start learning from her,” he said.
“And we met for coffees. I was just picking her brain on what I can do and how I can move this group forward positively in the culture aspect.”
“She gave me so many great, great things to do and she’s been a pretty good, amazing influence in our group… weekly catch-ups and check-ins, stuff like that… It’s my first time being in a captain role and I absolutely am leaning on her for advice and help in that space because I want to do the right things for the group.”
“I want to be the best leader I can for our group. And if that means seeking a bit of help and mentorship in that space, then who better than Erin Phillips? It’s been a pretty cool privilege for me to learn from her in that sort of way.”
Phillips has since departed the club to take on the role of General Manager of Women’s Football at the Gold Coast SUNS. While the exact timing of her exit from the 36ers is unclear, her absence has arguably been felt, particularly around Humphries, who leaned heavily on her guidance.
FUTURE WITH THE 36ERS
Humphries, who re-signed on a three-year deal ahead of the 2024–25 season, has one year remaining on his contract. However, there is a growing sense he could explore other opportunities despite being tied to the club for next season.
He is averaging 13.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and is still expected to see out his deal. That said, the recent re-signing of import big man Nick Rakocevic has raised questions, with some viewing it as a potential contingency if Humphries departs.