Watching Melbourne United's Casper Ware and Adelaide 36ers' Jerome Randle star in the NBL this season, many fans wonder: why aren't they in the NBA?
Not that there are any complaints, given that those players are two of the most dynamic scorers the league has seen in decades.
![Star turn: Melbourne United's Casper Ware is averaging 22 points per game and four assists.](/web/20170112220904im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/j/t/u/a/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtos6p.png/1484021655767.jpg)
Ware is averaging 22 points per game and four assists, while Randle is averaging 22 points per game and five assists.
Both guards are under six feet tall. Ware stands at 178 centimetres and Randle at 175cm, which partly explains why neither has had more than short stints in the NBA.
![Big impact: Adelaide's Jerome Randle is only 175 centimetres tall but is making his presence felt in the NBL.](/web/20170112220904im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/8/r/k/m/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtos6p.png/1484021655767.jpg)
Ware spent time with Philadelphia 76ers in 2014 and this past season was one of the last cuts from Washington Wizards' opening day roster, while Randle played with Dallas Mavericks in pre-season in 2011 before being cut and has made countless NBA Summer League appearances.
Both players have no doubt they could impress at NBA level and Randle used to have exciting battles in college against 175cm point guard Isaiah Thomas who is now an NBA all-star with the Boston Celtics.
The two point guards are likely sparring for the NBL's most valuable player award along with Casey Prather and Kevin Lisch and they will face off again when Melbourne United take on Adelaide at Adelaide Arena on Thursday night.
Ware joined Melbourne after the two clubs' first meeting and had the better of his duel with Randle when Melbourne thumped top-team Adelaide 104-73 on New Year's Day with Ware's 30 points and seven assists topping Randle's 21 points and seven assists.
Melbourne coach Dean Demopoulos, who coached in the NBA for 11 years, admitted it was always hard to explain why some players stay in the league and others miss out.
"As long as the basket is 10 feet in the air, the closer you start to it, the most advantage you have," Demopoulos said.
"There are exceptions to that and sometimes it's difficult for people to recognise the exceptions.
"Sometimes that limited size is a factor. It's almost something you learn after the fact. It's why these guys come out of nowhere from not being drafted to all of a sudden being great."
Demopoulos added there were always players capable of doing a job at the top level including Ware and Randle.
"It's so situational but it's situational for everyone in the NBA," Demopoulos said.
"It's such a closed society and there is X amount of spots and the world is your oyster [in who you can sign] and there are different factors involved from chemistry, team make-up and the kind of team each franchise wants and making money.
"In order to get to the NBA, except for a very select few, it's a challenge and the smaller you are the less obvious you are and the more you tend towards the exception then the harder it gets – it's just the way it is."
The Melbourne coach did admit he enjoyed having two such talented players in the NBL.
"They are two fine players and good guys," he said.
"I know it must be a great thing for NBL fans on TV and at the game to watch two prime time athletes, for this venue, go at one another in a clean, hard way."
Melbourne United will wait until game day to make a decision on whether Rio Olympian Chris Goulding will play as he continues to battle with an ankle injury.
With Melbourne fighting to secure a spot in the top four and a second game this round against Cairns Taipans at the State Netball and Hockey centre on Saturday night, Melbourne want to have Goulding for as much time as possible.
Goulding didn't train on Tuesday and import guard Ramone Moore was on limited duties too, but Melbourne continue to manage their players.
"Chris is coming along OK and it's something he has been managing for quite some time," Demopoulos said on Tuesday.
"We still have a few days. We will give it a look, and treating it is a job all in itself, then we will make a game-time decision."
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