Basketball On The Internet.

THE battles have been fought and won. The awards declared. Few would dispute the NBL's regular season has been one of its most outstanding, crowd and viewership numbers all at recent record highs. But on the eve of the grand final, OOPS, "Championship Series," here's the five guys who were always worth tuning in to see.

Now we're NOT talking five superstars such as the NBL All Star Five First Team of Derrick Walton Jr, Bryce Cotton, Milton Doyle, Mitch Creek and MVP Xavier Cooks.

They rightly have been amply recognised for the seasons they had and gave us some of the year's biggest highlight moments.

So too Dejan Vasiljevic, Keanu Pinder, Dererk Pardon, Barry Brown Jr, Chris Goulding and DJ Hogg.

No wait. Actually, Hogg DOES fall into the category of player under discussion here. Guys that stood up in the clutch or just brought so much "Energizer Bunny" attitude and aptitude that you had to love watching them.

Not always the biggest, or the fastest, or the most athletic, these were the guys I always tuned in to view because the way they went about their basketball was the way I love seeing it played.

PG: William McDowell-White: Skilled and smart, a great decision-maker and the not-so-secret ingredient which has made those NZ Breakers tick. Watching him outsmart opponents is always entertaining and fun to behold. At a time the nation boasts great PGs, WMW is right among them.

2G: Bul Kuol: This young man just - in the traditional wordage - "busts his arse" every game. He plays defence all over the court, is selective offensively and deadly from the arc when he's rolling. He has a huge upside but he's already mesmerising when you focus in on all he does.

SF: Antonius Cleveland: Anytime you see an import, in his first season at a club, throwing himself on the floor in pursuit of a loose ball, you know you've landed someone special. AC can be tenacious at the defensive end but his open floor athleticism is off the chart.

PF: DJ Hogg: On his way to the highest individual score by a Taipan, Hogg was one of the season's revelations. His cool demeanour belied the potential match-winner lurking in his long-range missiles and ability to make the right play at the right time. Had his quiet nights - but don't we all?

C: Fabijan Krslovic: Effort, energy, second effort, enthusiasm, third effort - just loved the way Fabulous Fabijan was value for minutes. Plays within his limitations while chasing down rebounds, hustling on the floor, blocking a shot, the guy is all heart. Love that.

Honourary mentions to my Second Team (Yeah. There's a few more guys to tune in for, for sure.)

Ben Ayre. Come on. You don't have to be a Taipans fan to love what this bundle of energy brings. He's tiny but he's tenacious, smart, skilled and has an air of cockiness you can truly embrace.

Isaac White. Cut from similar cloth to Ayre and another exceptional young player who compensates his lack of height with outrageous tenacity. When asked to step up, he delivers.

Tanner Krebs. There was not much to enjoy from Brisbane this season but when he wasn't hurt, Krebs showed exciting promise of what is yet to come. Only tuned in to Bullets for him.

Tahjere McCall. He's crazy. But crazy like a fox. Does some wild things and some breath-taking stuff, while there's also an air of mischief about him. And he is a very smart baller.

Jack McVeigh. Always showed potential in Adelaide but blossomed in Tasmania as a genuine scoring option and wildly enthusiastic. Truly, when he misses a three, I am genuinely surprised.

Wow. In looking back now, it stands out how many players from the third and fourth-placed finishers, Cairns and Tasmania, were among the reasons I rarely missed one of their games. These teams gave honest efforts every night.

Imagine if they hadn't been down key men when the semi finals rolled around.