It's with a heavy heart that we bring you this week's Hoops Heaven's Basketball Hustle as we pay our respects to co-host Cody Ellis' Warwick Senators NBL1 West teammate Alier Riak, but we also have all our latest recap, preview, awards, thoughts and views on what's happening in #NBL22.

Before we get to #NBL22 on this week's Hoops Heaven's Basketball Hustle, Cody Ellis gives an update to testing positive to COVID and then we have the tragic death of 23-year-old emerging basketball star Alier Riak to cover. Cody was his captain with the Warwick Senators in NBL1 West and we do our best to pay our respects to him after his life was so senselessly taken.

We then turn our attention back to #NBL22 and discuss the dynamic Perth Wildcats duo of Vic Law and Bryce Cotton ahead of their return to RAC Arena, the Tasmania JackJumpers putting themselves in the playoff hunt, MiKyle McIntosh's press break attempt, Mitch Creek's ejection, precarious positions for South East Melbourne Phoenix and Illawarra Hawks, and why the Cairns Taipans and Hawks should be using Stephen Zimmerman and Duop Reath more.

It's then time for our awards from #NBL22 Round 15 with Damian Martin updating #TheDamo Best Defensive Player thanks to Everlast Beverages, Shawn Redhage giving his votes in Redhage Basketball Player of the Year and then we announce the latest winner of #TheGalen as the Best Team Man while Cody Ellis debates who belongs in the All-NBL First Team.

We keep rolling on Hoops Heaven's Basketball Hustle by discussing the struggles the Cairns Taipans and Adelaide 36ers are going through as we wrap up the show with a full preview of what appears a season-defining Round 16 in the NBL.

Made possible thanks to the support of Hoops Heaven (www.hoopsheaven.com.au) and TABtouch (www.tabtouch.com.au).