"Favourite adventure": How import was sold on Breakers

Earlier in the week, the impact of the New Zealand Breakers' culture was highlighted by star guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who is entering his fourth year with the club.

The US guard, who is working through the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen, said:

"I'm around great people, and when a club wants you back like this, and I love it already, it's just a perfect reunion during these times.

"I'm just highly blessed and filled with gratitude that the Breakers love me this much, because I love them right back."

Now, Breakers recruit Josiah-Jordan James has opened up about how two former Breakers, Anthony Lamb and Dan Shamir, whom he crossed paths with at Hapoel Jerusalem, encouraged the forward to sign with the club.

"Before the opportunity even presented itself, just getting to know him [Anthony Lamb] and talking to him. New Zealand and the NBL were by far his favourite adventure professionally. He spoke highly of it. That was even before the opportunity. This was while we were in season," James said to Fox Sports.

"It [signing in New Zealand] actually came about because my general manager with Hapoel Jerusalem, Dan Shamir, used to be a coach here. So he still has ties to the club.

"With the war and everything that happened over in Israel that's going on right now. We just decided to part ways, but he [Shamir] put in a good word for me, and honestly, when I was in talks about coming here, I called Anthony, and he was so excited. He thought it'd be a perfect fit for me. That was really icing on the cake. That's how the whole thing came about through Dan Shamir."

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The defensive forward, who played for the University of Tennessee and the Indiana Mad Ants in the NBA G League previously, has now arrived in Auckland for the first time.

The 25-year-old has hit the ground running, as Gordon Herbert's side aim to get the Breakers back to their glory days.

"My personal accolades are tied in specifically to the team accolades. I know the Breakers haven't made the Playoffs in a few years consecutively, so obviously, wanting to win as many games, [get] in the Playoffs and have a fighting chance for the championship is obviously goal number one," he said.

The Breakers open their Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season on Sunday, September 20 against Illawarra at Spark Arena.

‍Read the full story here >> Parker Jackson-Cartwright eyes Tall Blacks future as new Breakers import opens up on his decision to join the NBL