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Defensive ace Shea Ili has taken his offensive game to a new level over the off-season in a boost to NBL title-chasing Melbourne United's scoring options.
Shea Ili, the NBL's best defensive player, is set to feature as an offensive weapon for Melbourne United after giving NBA superstar Luka Doncic a first-hand view of his scoring capabilities.
Ili was a shining light in New Zealand's failed Olympic qualifying campaign in July, rattling off 28 points in an eye-catching display during a loss to Doncic's Slovenia.
The fiery 31-year-old guard also took on a greater scoring load during his NBL1 South stint with the Sandringham Sabres this year.
It gives Ili another string to his bow - and coach Dean Vickerman another scoring option - as Melbourne seek to mount a fresh NBL title bid when the season tips off on September 19.
"He had a great Tall Blacks campaign and came off that one (game) with that scoring edge," United coach Dean Vickerman said on Thursday ahead of the NBL Blitz pre-season tournament.
"He's definitely added a few extra moves to his bag and everybody's trying to find him in transition to allow his pace to be a great advantage for us.
"Then his connection at the defensive end and getting into the basketball and creating havoc is at a really high level as well."
Ili averaged a career-best 10.7 points per game while winning the Damian Martin Trophy as the league's best defensive player when Melbourne finished runners-up to the Tasmania JackJumpers last season.
It was the first time in a decade-long NBL career Ili had averaged double figures, and Vickerman only sees that scoring rate heading north.
"There comes a point with guards where you can lose a bit of speed or different things, but he just hasn't," Vickerman said.
"He's still the quickest player on our squad and we haven't seen any decline in that one.
"He's in his absolute peak right now for the next few years and it will be great to see what he can do scoring the basketball and having the ball in his hands in key moments this year."
Ili enters his 11th NBL season free of the shoulder injury and concussion issues that plagued him over the past two years.
"I'm feeling good. The shoulder's come right, touch wood, and I've had some decent hits, but they haven't brought on any (concussion) symptoms, which is good for me," he said.
"My game is mostly defensive end and bringing the energy on that side of the floor, so this year I'm trying to push the pace for the team and bring that energy on the offensive end as well."
For all the talk of his own scoring ability, Ili still lights up brightest when asked about stopping the league's most prolific guards.
Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (NZ Breakers), Derrick Walton Jr (SEM Phoenix) and Jaylen Adams (Sydney Kings) are among those posing a threat to Melbourne's title ambitions.
But United's hard-nosed defence, led by Ili alongside Boomers veteran Matthew Dellavedova and import sixth-man Ian Clark, is up for the fight.
"It's always good to go out and guard the best player out there to see where you're at," Ili said.
"I don't know if I can keep up with these quick point guards, but it's a good test for myself and Delly.
"It's good to have someone by my side where we can interchange whenever we need, and IC's out there as well."
