The NBL is laced with match-winning point guards but you won't find Adelaide coach Joey Wright looking beyond his own roster for the pick of the bunch.
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Jerome Randle drained a textbook three-pointer with 2.3 seconds on the clock to stave off the hard-charging NZ Breakers in Auckland on Sunday and complete a memorable week for the fourth-placed 36ers.
It was nothing new for the 32-year-old former league MVP, who was just as important with clutch plays in the 113-111 home win over South East Melbourne two days earlier.
The results lifted Adelaide from sixth to fourth ahead of a block of home games and invited further comparisons between Randle and the other import guards regarded as the league's best - Perth's Bryce Cotton and Sydney's Casper Ware.
The latter duo carry the scoring load for the two runaway leaders and both are averaging about two points per game more than Randle's 19.21 at Adelaide.
However, the latter edges his rivals in other areas, notably field goal percentage and assists.
Wright said the Chicago native is the ideal blend of team man and match-winner.
The final play option against the Breakers, with 23 seconds on the clock, was a no-brainer.
"We wanted it in his hands, with a little bit of movement. Get it back to him and just let him make a play," Wright said.
"He's a big time player and in the last couple of games he's made big-time plays down the stretch. We welcome that and we definitely enjoy it.
"He's out there playing his butt off. He's also doing a lot of things that don't show up on the scoresheet."
Wright was delighted with his tiring team's pluck after blowing a 20-point second quarter lead and trailing midway through the final quarter.
To regather themselves was something to cherish ahead of Friday's home game against Illawarra, he said.
"I liked the perseverance. Anyone who plays basketball will know what we went through."
Australian Associated Press
