When most players move to new teams, in foreign leagues, their main focus is getting comfortable, getting to know the team, the area, the league, and understanding the ins and outs of their new environment. Not Xavier Munford. Munford has one priority, and one priority only: he’s here for the takeover.
Munford is the latest import signing for the South-East Melbourne Phoenix, a flashy combo guard cut from the same cloth as players such as Bryce Cotton and Tyler Harvey, last seasons MVP and MVP finalist, respectively. But this season will be different, as according to Munford, the hardware could be coming home with him.
“I got to, I got to go out there and compete [for MVP], if I didn’t try then what am I doing here, you know, definitely gotta try,” Munford said.
But trophies will not be needed in determining that Munford is one of the most talented players in the league, and one that fans of SEM in particular should be overjoyed about watching. However, according to the man himself, personal accolades come in a distant second to the main objective of his debut NBL season, and that's winning games.
“The goal is definitely building something with the team, getting to the championship, and winning as many games as possible, that's the whole goal, and I’m sure many guys on the team have the same goal,” Munford said.
“I just want to go out there and play hard on both ends of the floor, and like I said just do whatever I can, whether coach says to go out and play defence really hard, or dive on the floor, whatever I have to do to help my team win, it's all about winning this year. If we all have a common goal, it’ll be easier for us to reach success.
“Some may say it’s exciting to watch but I try to just go out there and get the job done in any way possible, and hopefully we can get together some wins and get to the championship,” Munford said.
SEM are coming off the back of a semi-final appearance, and Munford is keen to continue this winning spirit, believing that he and teammates such as Mitch Creek will take the league by storm.
“I played against [Mitch] in the G-League and I like his style of play, he can handle the ball, he can set up things, he’s a bigger body, so I feel like me and his game will compliment each other very well,” Munford said. Together, he is confident that the team has the pieces necessary to get the job done.
And getting the job done is something that Munford is extremely used to. In his extensive basketball career, he has seen stints in the NBA, the G-League, and in the Euroleague, most recently in Turkey with Bursaspor Basketbol. He enjoyed this time in Europe, but feels that he will be able to make himself at home in the NBL.
“The NBL is definitely higher scoring, the final scores are always higher than a typical game in Europe, whether that be more possessions, more fast paced games… I honestly feel like the NBL style fits my game better than the Europe style because it is more fast paced, it is more scoring and getting up and down and playing quick, which is my style,” Munford said.
But a high velocity offense is not all that Munford plans to bring to the table for the Phoenix.
“I definitely want to be in a leadership role, I’m coming in and playing the point guard so I have to naturally help lead the team and start the engine for the team,” Munford said.
Munford entered the squad to replace Keifer Sykes, who signed with the Indiana Pacers, following a strong showing in The Basketball Tournament, a 64-team single elimination tournament. While Sykes may have hit the biggest shot (a tournament winner), Munford put together a string of solid performances, including back to back 22 and 23 point performances in the second and third rounds.
He also said he was briefly able to speak to Sykes over the Summer, one of the many NBL players that he has a personal relationship with.
“I went to school with [Scott Machado], I also went to school with Lamar Patterson, we was on the same high school team, like I said I spoke to Keifer, I know Josh Magette, played against him for years, I know Dusty Hannahs, that’s one of my good friends, Jarrell Martin, I played with him in Memphis, there's a lot of familiarity in the league,” Munford said.
There is also Bryce Cotton, who as well as being the reigning MVP, attended Providence, the rival college of Munford’s University of Rhode Island. According to Munford, this is an added incentive to get one over him.
“We had some battles for sure, they always won, but maybe it’s my time to get him back now,” Munford chuckled lightheartedly.
But no matter who is on the other side of the court, one thing is for certain: Xavier Munford is not here to make up numbers. He’s coming for the throne.
Author:
Jed Wells