Player Profile: Sean Macdonald
Sean Macdonald Overview
Sean came into this season looking to expand his role with the team, having grown significantly over the past 2 years as a development player. Sean’s growth through the year was rewarded by the NBL by winning the leagues most improved player award of the year. This year also saw Sean play in his 50th NBL and Club game becoming just the 5th player to achieve this honour.
Sean Macdonald Statistics
Sean started 2 games this season one in New Zealand when we were missing Milton Doyle then again in game 5 of the championship series, where he was also the player to score the final points for the JackJumpers season.
Sean recorded the third most assists on the season and equal fourth most points, Sean cemented himself into a 6th man role coming off the bench and providing crucial minutes through many key games. Sean averaged 21.38 minutes a game, scoring 7.43 points, 2.32 assists, and 2.18 rebounds along with averaging 0.61 steals as well.
Sean’s season high points total came in game 19 where we took on the New Zealand Breakers at MyState Bank Arena on New Year’s Day. Sean shot 66% from the field this game hitting 7 of his 9 three-point attempts to lead all scoring.
Sean pulled down his most rebounds in game 22 against Illawarra in a double overtime thriller where he grabbed 9 rebounds.
Sean recorded 6 assists in game 17 against Illawarra in game 17 of the season which included a huge lob pass to teammate Will Magnay
Sean got 2 steals in game 2 against the Sydney Kings and again in game 21 against the Brisbane Bullets and for a third time against Cairns in game 25.
Sean Macdonald Notable Regular Season Games
In what was a record-breaking win for the club against the Adelaide 36ers in the 13th game of the season, Sean was able to provide a scoring cameo alongside Milton Doyle where he scored 15 points on 9 shots as well as shooting 75% from 3.
Sean came on and made an immediate impact hitting a 3 pointer before pulling down an offensive rebound from a missed free throw. He only scored 2 points in the second the hit a 3 in the third. Before finishing off the game by scoring the last 5 points for the JackJumpers.
In the opening game of the new year we took on the New Zealand Breakers in a game where Sean Macdonald shone, scoring 23 points while shooting 7 of 9 from the 3-point line. Sean opened the second quarter of the game with a 3 pointer in the JackJumpers first possession. He then continued to hit 2 more 3’s during the quarter. He continued his shooting form in the third with another 2 3’s during the quarter.
Sean got us the lead in the fourth with another 3 and then extended it further with another 3 shortly afterwards.
This was a breakout game for Sean who showed the shooting threat he can be when shooting from deep averaging 44.3% from deep for the season.
Sean Macdonald During the Finals
Sean took on a major defensive role during the finals series where he was tasked with guarding Bryce Cotton for the Series. This is a tough task at the best of times as Bryce is and has been one of the league’s premier offensive threats since he joined the league. Sean was able to score 12 points in game 2 at home and while Bryce was able to score 26, he was held to 33% shooting from 3 and only managed to get to the line 5 times, which is down from his usual average of almost 8 per game.
He then followed this performance in game 3 where Bryce was held to 21 points, but was never able to get himself into a rhythm on the offensive end as he was also unable to register an assist during the match either, this shows the effort that Sean was doing to help deny the ball getting in to Cottons hands. Sean was then able to attack him on the other end of the floor where he scored 9 points of his own and dished out 5 assists.
Sean also played a huge role our games against Melbourne, Sean played a key defensive piece in guarding Matthew Dellavedova and at time Chris Goulding, 2 key offensive players for United.
Sean was able to stamp his authority on the series during game 3 of the series where he was able to score 13 points. Sean was able to keep us in the game in the first quarter where he subbed on and scored 6 of our final 8 points of the quarter and we entered the second quarter trailing by 5 points. He was also able to hit another crucial 3 late in the game which helped keep us in touch with Melbourne while Majok and Jack took over in the last quarter.
In game 5 of the championship series Sean Macdonald was called up into the starting lineup for just his second start of the season. The move which provided a different look forcing Melbourne to adjust as well as a larger scoring threat to help with spacing on the floor. Sean was able to add 6 points of his own to the scoring department and was able to help with holding Goulding and Dellavedova to just 13 points each. Sean also played a monumental role as the game was finishing, as the ball was passed down court to Will Magnay Sean was able to find space and get the ball in the open court. With a solid screen set by Jack McVeigh, Sean was able to drive to the basket and score the final points of the JackJumpers season.