A Blooming Point Guard Partnership

Heading into NBL24, Phoenix will have a different look to their roster and coaching staff, but during the off-season, a partnership in the backcourt is already taking shape.

After being elevated to a full roster spot for the upcoming season, Owen Foxwell and new teammate Ben Ayre, are starting to build their new relationship through off-season workouts with new head coach Mike Kelly.

“Ben’s a great talent. Getting to work on the floor with him and learn different things from him has been awesome,” Foxwell told Phoenix Media.

“We’re very similar personalities, very similar players on the court as well. But at the same time bring our own flavour to the game and our workouts,” Ayre commented.

(The start of something new is brewing for the backcourt with Ben Ayre and Owen Foxwell.)

Ayre and Foxwell are starting to see what they can both bring to the point guard position for the Phoenix. While they each bring their own strengths to the role, they are also able to learn from one another during this period.

“We are both high-energy guys, play defence and are smart point guards. There are similarities in that way but also a lot of differences. I think I have some things that I can share with and teach Owen and vice versa,” Ayre said. 

“We’re two guys that really like to get up and in on the defensive end and get downhill and score buckets, I think we bounce off each other well. We can both shift if we are playing together on the floor, he’s got the ability to switch to the 2 position and so do I,” Foxwell commented.

“I think the two types of games we play kind of work well together; we bounce off each other.” 

(Ayre and Foxwell are starting to learn how each other work for the upcoming season.)

Both players are taking the opportunity to also get to know coach Kelly on and off the court during the sessions. 

“These workouts allow us to get to know Mike’s style in the way he works us out individually, being able to pick up on different things and how he sees the game and how he wants us to play this year. It’s been really good getting to know him as a person and as a coach,” Ayre said.

“Just getting to know Mike, not even basketball-wise, getting to know a bit about himself, his background, and his family. It’s all the little things that I think are more important. The basketball will come as the season goes on, but just getting to know his personal life has been really good,” Foxwell said. 

(The off-season sessions are giving the chance for the players to get to know new head coach Mike Kelly.)

Along with the workouts, Ayre and Foxwell are playing in the NBL1 South, where both their teams are performing well. They even faced off against each other earlier in the season with Ayre and his Sandringham Sabres coming out on top over Foxwell’s Eltham Wildcats.

Both players are using their time at their respected NBL1 teams to fine-tune their craft before coming into the first day of pre-season. 

“The season is going great at Sandringham, it’s a great group of guys. It has given me tape for me and Mike to look at together. He can give me different things to reflect on and see what I need to work on to move into the NBL season,” Ayre said.

“I think overall sharpening my skills, and sharpening my mindset are the focus. Just working on what I think I need to work on and bring to Phoenix for NBL24.”

(The two players faced off against each other earlier in the NBL1 season. Photo: Travis Palmieri)

The Wildcats for Foxwell have dropped to second on the ladder but are still ‘flying’ in the NBL1 South league. Foxwell says he is loving playing with different players from across the NBL as he continues to develop his skills.

“NBL1 is allowing me to just work on my game, get a few shots up. It’s been really good to play with different guys, play a different system, get up and down the floor and stay in shape while in the off-season which is really important so I can come into NBL24 raring to go,” he said.

Ayre and Foxwell will continue their weekly workouts with Kelly while playing NBL1 ahead of pre-season with the Phoenix, which starts later this year.

NBL24 Memberships on Sale Now

Phoenix Media (09/06/23)