Hampton hoping to be a trailblazer
It’s not easy for any 18-year-old to move away from home, let alone move halfway around the world.
Now more than three months into his life in New Zealand, Breakers guard RJ Hampton said he stands by his decision to bring his talents to the Australian NBL, rather than the traditional US college route – and is loving life off the court too.
‘‘I’m an outlier in everything I do, whether it’s my clothing or whatever, and I wanted to show that there was another path with basketball too, Hampton told Stuff.
‘‘I want to be that trailblazer, [and] prove you can make it without doing the whole college thing. It was a tough decision for sure, at the time, but now that I’m here I’m loving it.’’
The Kiwi slang took some getting used to, but Hampton’s experience in New Zealand to date had been a fun one, he said.
‘‘Off the court, look at this place, it’s beautiful,’’ he said.
‘‘The biggest culture shock was definitely the slang, people saying ‘you reckon’ and ‘sweet as’. Nobody talks like that in the States – but now I’m talking like a Kiwi and all my friends back home are like ‘what are you saying’. I wouldn’t change anything.’’
Hampton wouldn’t go as far to say New Zealand cuisine was better than that of his native Texas, but said he had a soft spot for the local burger joint.
‘‘I love me some Burger Fuel. And I’ll give New Zealand this one, best Thai food in the world. hands down,’’ he said.
‘‘But come on man, Texas best food in the world. For sure.’’
On the court, while the Breakers have had an up and down start to their 2019 campaign including a tight loss to
Melbourne United on Thursday, Hampton’s development has been a shining light for the Kiwi franchise.
‘‘As a team we just need to improve our communication and get back to what we do well,’’ Hampton said.
‘‘I knew coming down here it would be a physical game and it has been. But I’m getting used to it and that comes with age and experience.
‘‘I’m loving playing with these guys, but we haven’t played to our potential yet. I can be more aggressive too, I know that.
His time in New Zealand will not be for long, the young point guard projected to be a tope 10 NBA draft pick in 2020.
Though even long after he departs New Zealand for the bright lights of the NBA, Hampton said he won’t forget the club that gave him his start – and hopes his legacy will see more young players take a chance on the ANBL.
‘‘Hopefully more guys from the States see what some of us have done by coming down here to play as an alternative path. And more guys make the call to give it a try.’’