MELBOURNE (Paulo Kennedy's View from Downunder) - This year's NBL has the best collection of internationals the league has seen in a long, long time, and it's not surprising those players have made a big impact in the opening fortnight.

Here are some of the best quotes from around the NBL about these quality Aussies, Kiwis, a Yank and even one 'Ukrainian', including some players who look set to make their international debuts soon.

Chris Goulding
The Rio Boomers bench man hasn’t quite caught fire yet this season, but after a poor home opening from the Melbourne United star, his coach Dean Demopoulos had his back.

"We're going to roll with him, for sure, he could be 0-for-Sunday, he's going to get shots and I want him to take the next one."

After that same game, Adelaide coach Joey Wright gave a great insight into his former player’s mindset when asked if he had Goulding figured out.

"Not at all, Chris don't even have Chris figured out. Since Chris was about 17 years old I've called him a mad scientist, he would come into the gym and work on his shot, and if that shot went in he would try and find a way to make it harder, he would do something crazy to make the shot harder and I would think why would you do that?"

Corey Webster
After he had placed Webster into the New Zealand Breakers second five, coach Paulie Henare was pleased with what he saw.

"I thought he showed a lot of maturity, it's something he takes pride in, being the starting two-guard for a couple of years and playing some great basketball, and for him to be humble enough to come out and not let it affect him, I thought he made some massive plays for us.

"I think he's already got his head around it. I wanted him to be ticked off that he wasn't starting but I wanted him to be ticked off in the right way."

Jerome Randle
Once again the pocket rocket is leading the NBL in scoring, and Joey Wright had this to say about making sure his Ukrainian representative doesn't defer to teammates too much.

"We've definitely had some conversations about him being aggressive. Even if those shots aren't going in we feel like we can clean up the boards."

David Andersen
The long-time European professional has struggled somewhat returning to the NBL after 18 years away, targeted defensively and rushed offensively in the quicker style of play, but Melbourne coach Demopoulos is backing him in.

"David's a pro, he's been around the world, a few times, and he's just trying to get his sea legs here in this league, trying to get an idea of how it's done."

Jason Cadee
After so many years of being labelled a "potential star" Cadee is finally delivering at senior level, not just scoring but finding open teammates and becoming a true leader, something not lost on new Sydney Kings coach Andrew Gaze.

"Jason has matured tremendously. When we were a point up with a minute-and-a-half to go, that baseline drive and floater that went in, that was a massive, massive play.

"The courage for him to take, the maturity for him to take it, the willingness of the other players to be happy for him to take it."

Terrance Ferguson
Former US junior rep and projected NBA first-round pick Terrance Ferguson has headed to the Adelaide 36ers, and while the 18 year-old is still finding his feet, he has impressed 36ers captain Mitch Creek.

"Terrance being 18 years old and developing him to the NBA is a goal of ours, but at the same time we need an import that will win us games as well.

"I believe he has the offensive arsenal to go out there a drop 20 in a game. He's had trainings where we’ve played a 10 minute scrimmage and he’s had 20 points - it's crazy."

Jarrod Kenny
The often reluctant Kiwi has become a much more assertive force this season afte realising playing against Damian Martin in training should prepare him for anything, with a little urging from Perth coach Trevor Gleeson.

"I love his confidence out there. He plays against Damo every day and he beats Damo to the rim, so we said why not do it under the bright lights , I want you to be aggressive...

"Damo came back after the first eight game and he went to the back seat and we said no, you’re a better player than that let’s be aggressive."

Todd Blanchfield
The athletic swingman has been putting on a shooting clinic this season as he continues to stake a claim for a Boomers berth, but he says his great form has a lot to do with teammates Chris Goulding, David Andersen and Cedric Jackson.

"When we've got guys like Chris and Dave on the court, and Cedric, they just draw so much attention. It's such a tough cover for the team and I'm fortunate enough to be on the end of that ball reversal, sitting in the corner, it’s such a luxury."

Meanwhile Illawarra forward Oscar Forman had this to say after watching Blanchfield shoot 8-of-9 from long range against the Hawks.

"Blanchfield shoots threes, he does it very well, we should know that."

Andrej Lemanis
After impressing so much with the Boomers in Rio, Lemanis is now guiding the re-entered Brisbane Bullets. Damian Martin has this to say about Lemanis’ player-friendly system that has lured the likes of Adam Gibson.

"(Andrej) does have structure that he likes to see executed, but within the offensive sets there’s a lot of room to make reads and just play.

"Someone like Gibbo who's played for Andrej for a number of years with the Australian team will have picked it up straight away, and a guy who can create really well from within an offensive structure is obviously Jermaine Beal.

"He's going to really thrive and enjoy playing for Andrej."

Rob Loe
The young veteran of the Tall Blacks frontcourt, Loe has moved back to Auckland to play his club ball with the Breakers, his debut game prompting this from coach Henare.

"I've coached Robbie a long time now with the national team, and been around him a long time, and I have probably the highest expectations of him than any other player because he’s smart, he knows the game, he knows who he is as a player, and you develop a level of trust because you just know what you’re going to get out of him."

Paulo Kennedy

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