Aliir's faith in little brother to star on the NBL stage

Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir is predicting a family member to rise to stardom and potential take over the mantle as the better-known athlete.

Aliir’s younger half-brother Akech Aliir, 23, was announced recently, along with Harvey White, Fraser Roxburgh and Keanu Rasmussen, as one of the Adelaide 36ers’ development players for the NBL24 season.

While the older Aliir sibling is regarded as one of the best defenders in the AFL, his younger brother has made a name for himself in the NBL1 Central competition this season at the North Adelaide Rockets.

Since making the move to Adelaide this year, Aliir is averaging 17.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per night for the Rockets, and his talent stood out during the club’s two-day development player tryout camp held last month.

Aliir Aliir said he has seen all the hard work and dedication put in by Akech to get to this point of his basketball journey.

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“It’s just a proud moment for myself and my family,” the Port Adelaide star said.

“To see the work he’s been able to put in. Obviously, he’s a development player but the work starts now for him.

“Already I’m on some days on his back to push him hard at training so hopefully he does that.”

The 122-game AFL defender said the game of basketball was and remains very popular within the Aliir family.

“From a young age, our whole family played basketball. Myself, our older brother,” Aliir said.

“There were times we had to give that up or go down a different path but he stuck at it with my younger brothers. Their goal is to make it to the NBA as is any young kid growing up.

“Just the work he’s put into his craft, his shooting. He’s a big man but can shoot outside.

“He has great skills and great hands so hopefully he keeps developing that and can make a great career out of it.”

Aliir expects Akech to be a standout in the NBL if he gets his opportunity.

“He probably will be (better known than me) to be honest,” Aliir said.

“The way he’s been able to develop his game. Basketball was my first love, the game I grew up playing. I was able to play (basketball) with him so hopefully he’s learned a few things off me when I was running around.

“With the way he’s going now hopefully he goes past me. That’s the plan.”

Akech said his older brother’s journey into elite sport has proven an inspiration he hopes to emulate with the 36ers in the NBL.

“It’s been great to see him play AFL and make it professionally in his sport of choice. It’s been inspirational and I just hope to do the same,” Akech said.

“I remember recently we were on holidays and he would make sure he got his workouts in before he could relax and seeing that, I can see what it takes.”