Breakers sign Ex-Israeli League MVP
The Breakers remake is complete and comprehensive with the addition of former Israeli League MVP Sek Henry the standout feature of the final three roster spots announced yesterday.
The Auckland-based Australian NBL club wrapped up its 13-man roster for 2019-20 with the signing of Henry, 32, and Nigerian shot-blocking centre Chris Obekpa as the final two imports and Sudan-born dual Lebabon-Australia citizen Ater Majok in the last ‘‘local’’ spot.
For the first time since the early years, when journeyman Aussies littered the landscape, the Breakers have more non-New Zealanders than Kiwis in their extended squad. There are also six new players and seven who were not part of the setup last season to assimilate under new head coach Dan Shamir from Israel.
Just Kiwis Tom Abercrombie, Corey Webster, Finn Delany, Jordan Ngatai and Tom Vodanovich (upgraded from his development player status) and Aussie Jarrad Weeks return from the 2018-19 campaign while Tall Black big man Rob Loe is back at the club after a year away in Cairns.
The new faces include imports Henry, Obekpa (the club’s second Nigerian) and Scottie Hopson, 18-year-old American NBA prospect RJ Hampton (under the league’s Next Stars programme), Majok as a local via his Australian passport and Chinese teenager Terry Li who is a development player for the next two seasons.
It is often said that continuity is the key ingredient in professional sport. Well, the Breakers are taking the opposite tack, with a complete overhaul of their trio of imports making it the fourth straight season they have changed their entire contingent of restricted players.
There are high hopes that American shooting guard Henry will form a lethal backcourt alongside Hampton, who it is understood has been promised the starting point guard’s spot.
Shamir knows Henry from his 2017-18 season in the Israeli league where he was named regular season MVP after averaging 17.2 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds for Maccabi Ashod. He shot a solid 46 per cent from the floor and 40 from beyond the arc.
Most recently Henry, who played his college hoops at Nebraska, spent the 2018-19 season with Pinar Karsiyaka in Turkey where he returned 13.8 ppg, 4.4apg and 2.8rpg while again running at a respectable 40 per cent clip from three-point land.
Henry will likely compete with Webster for the primary minutes at shooting guard, though either is capable of slotting into the ball-handling role if required.
The Breakers are also hoping the 2.06m Obekpa, who followed a college career at St John’s with pro stints in the NBA’s D-league as well as Turkey, Lebanon and Italy, will be a difference-maker around the rim.
‘‘He’s a rim protector, a great rebounder, great interior defender, and then he’s a Clint Capela-like offensive player who will bring some excitement on lobs and screen dives,’’ Coronel said.
Obekpa, 25, does not shape as a prime-time scorer (averaging just 11 points in Lebanon) but his rebounding and shot-blocking numbers are excellent. He once blocked 11 shots in a game while at St John’s and led the NCAA in swats his freshman year.
Majok will be a familiar addition to the Breakers’ Tall Blacks contingent. He played against them in Fiba World Cup qualifying as starting centre for Lebanon where he averaged 13 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2 blocks over the two games against the Kiwis. He will add to the club’s frontcourt depth and potentially allow Loe to slide into the four spot for some minutes.