Breakers lose Webster to China for the season
Money talks and in this case it has persuaded the Breakers to allow star shooting guard Corey Webster to prematurely end his Australian NBL season to take up a lucrative offer in China.
The Breakers announced yesterday that they have accepted a buyout offer on Webster’s contract from the Zhejiang Guangsha club in China – though the decision also came with a positive kicker.
The club confirmed Webster has penned a new two-year contract extension with the club that will see the 31-year-old rejoin them after his stint in China concludes in
April . Breakers owner
Matt Walsh said a
‘‘large’’ financial offer from Zhejiang
Guangsha had landed earlier this week and the paperwork was completed yesterday morning.
Webster will miss the rest of the ANBL season. Webster is the club’s leading active scorer with 19.5 points a game this season, but has been sidelined with ankle and back problems.
‘‘We didn’t anticipate an offer like this coming through, but this is a win for both the Breakers and Corey and his family,’’ Walsh said.
‘‘Obviously, we do not want Corey leaving midway through the current season when we have just got our full roster back, but that has to be balanced by what is the best decision for the club and for the player.
‘‘I gave Corey my word after I knocked back the Darussafaka [Turkey] offer in September that I would take any new offer seriously which had a positive business outcome for the club and Corey and his family.’’
Walsh said Webster’s commitment to sign a two-year extension at the Breakers was the most positive aspect of this situation.
Webster thanked Walsh for allowing him to take up an opportunity that was in his and his family’s best interests.
‘‘I thank Matt for his professionalism in assisting me to accept this life-changing opportunity,’’ Webster said.
‘‘It’s important that Breakers fans know that I’m not turning my back on the club.
‘‘I am just setting my family up for the future, and I have every intention of being back as soon as this short-term contract ends.’’
Webster’s new Chinese deal means he is unavailable to play against the Melbourne Phoenix in Christchurch this weekend.
To fill the hole vacated by Webster’s departure, Tall Blacks guard Ethan Rusbatch is promoted to a full roster spot.