Herbert Cadbury
Two years ago
Breakers Sign Barry Brown Jr
Breakers Reveal Final Import to Complete NBL23 Roster
The Sky Sport Breakers have signed an American import with proven credentials in Europe and China to fill its final roster spot for NBL23.
Combo Guard Barry Brown flirted with the NBA, where the Minnesota Timberwolves signed him to their pre-season roster in 2019.
However, more recently, he has averaged 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists during his stint with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese League this year.
Last year he led points per minute in the German Bundesliga, averaging 12.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.
The signing of the 25-year-old completes the Breakers' roster for NBL23.
"Barry is exactly the player we need," said Head Coach Mody Maor.
“He is at the formative stage of his career, Barry can be proud of what he’s done, but he has the potential to achieve so much more.
“Barry’s decision to sign with us shows he has enormous faith in our ability to unlock his undeniable untapped potential.
“The last couple of seasons have proven that if you come to this club with the right mindset, like Will McDowell-White, Ousmane Dieng or Hugo Besson, you will become a better basketball player.”
Maor believes that signing an import with room to grow is better than signing a player who has reached the top of his game.
“We are in the business of maximising potential. If a 25-year-old is a finished product, then it’s an unfortunate turn of events,” he said.
“Barry is young, but he has the ability to impact the game in many ways.
“He is a lockdown defender and was such at college, he can score in a variety of ways, and he has the knack of helping his teams win.”
Brown had an impressive college career for Kansas State, averaging 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 139 games.
In his final year, he was named in the Big 12 Conference first team and singled out as the defensive player of the year.
Brown is the third American named to the Breakers’ roster after Centre Dererk Pardon and former Utah Jazz Power Forward Jarrell Brantley.
The talking point of the roster though is the strong kiwi core which includes Tom Abercrombie, Izayah Le’afa, Rob Loe, Sam Timmins, Tom Vodanovich and Dan Fotu.
The full roster is currently training in Auckland ahead of their first pre-season game against the Illawarra Hawks at the Stockyard in Pukekohe on September 10.
SKY SPORT BREAKERS ROSTER
PG
Izayah Le’afa
Will McDowell-White
SG
Cam Gliddon
Barry Brown Jnr (I)
Rayan Rupert (NS)
SF
Tom Abercrombie
Dan Fotu
PF
Tom Vodanovich
Jarrell Brantley (I)
C
Rob Loe
Sam Timmins
Dererk Pardon (I)
(I) = Import (NS) = Next Star
