Rockingham Flames star Devondrick Walker wins second NBL1 West MVP to keep NBL dream alive

NBL1 West MVP Devondrick Walker hasn’t given up on his dream to return to the NBL, but admits his run of bad luck means he needs to find the correct environment to walk into. Walker won his second consecutive NBL1 West MVP award on Saturday night, polling 122 votes to dominate the count and finish 23 votes clear of Joe Cook-Green and Quintin Dove. Walker was rewarded for last season’s MVP award with a contract at the Brisbane Bullets, but he lost his place on the roster early in the season. Having previously had a short stint at South East Melbourne and been signed by Perth Wildcats before sustaining a season ending injury, the American said he’d love another NBL opportunity. “Playing NBL is always a goal because it keeps me here in Australia and I keep my family with me. It’s a very different situation to travelling to Europe so NBL would be ideal,” Walker said. “But the situation has to be correct. I’ve had bad luck here and there, but nobody should care about that. If the next situation comes, I will be ready for it and hopefully it’s a situation that embraces me as a player and what I bring.” Walker averaged 27 points per game for Rockingham Flames and his season included tallies of 50 points, 41 points and 41 points. But his average minutes per game fell during 2023 and Walker has spent just over 28 minutes on court each match since the start of June as the team increased its rotations. “I’m happy to do that. It’s the respect I have for the coaches and our system,” Walker said. “We are getting the job done and that’s a hats off to everyone else. It’s obviously a positive. To be here in this moment is amazing. I can look back and appreciate everything.” Walker’s dominance has seen him targeted by clubs overseas, but he said living in Australia remained his preferred option. “I’ve been playing for 11 years. Getting married in the last couple of years and having a kid, I can see what’s most important,” he said. “In the first seven or eight years of playing, it was about chasing the money and opportunities. Now, I want to see something that is solid and secure because there is no security in this game. As a travelling American athlete, you’ve got to find security for your family. That’s all it is about and this is a beautiful country.”