Basketball On The Internet.

THE NBL's newest franchise, the Tasmania Jack Jumpers has the Apple Isle loving basketball again and this week Brad Rosen and I caught up with one of the club's first and most significant signings, championship-winning guard Sam McDaniel for our Brad&Boti podcast.

Joining the Jack Jumpers gives Tasmania's club a connection with its former NBL entity, the Hobart Tassie Devils where Sam's father Wayne McDaniel was a superstar import from 1989-94.

Sam played in Adelaide with Southern Tigers and most expected he would one day be wearing an Adelaide 36ers singlet which, coincidentally, also was the first uniform Wayne McDaniel wore in the NBL.

And Wayne also started his local career in Adelaide at the Tigers, when they still were Noarlunga City.

Sam went the college route, then landed at Melbourne United where he eventually rose to a starter's status and was an integral part of the club's 2021 NBL championship.

A free agent post-season, Sam fielded a couple of offers but it wound down to trying his fortunes at Tasmania or staying with United for its title defence.

Born in Hobart, the attraction of the new program and its longer-term contract stability were factors for Sam, who also has a young family.

Initially heading down a soccer path as a youngster, he switched to a new way of dribbling and has never looked back, growing as a player every year.

Rashad Tucker, an NBL triple-double specialist, took a personal interest in Sam's career and it continued to flourish in the US.

To find out how and a lot more, click this link or go to your usual sources for podcasts at Apple or Spotify.