Breakers Beat Off Overseas Rivals and Tai Webster Stays for Two More Years

The Breakers' reputation as the best club in the world for kiwi basketballers outside of the NBA is further enhanced today.
 
Internationally sought after Point Guard Tai Webster is ignoring big offers from Australia and Europe to sign a new two-year deal with the Auckland-based club. 
 
Every indication had been the Tall Blacks wizard was returning to the Northern Hemisphere following the just-completed COVID ravaged NBL season in Australia.
 
However, the New Zealand club has an established reputation as a premier basketball organisation for the next generation of NBA Stars following RJ Hampton's success with the Orlando Magic.   The club is preparing for another NBA star of the future, 18-year-old French phenom Ousmane Dieng who arrives next month.
 
Webster says ultimately that reputation, and working under Head Coach Dan Shamir again, is the best path for his professional career.
 
"Dan Shamir is a mastermind," says Webster.
 
"There's a lot to be excited about. I get to play in front of my family again, I get to play alongside my brother and my friends, so it's a lot of different exciting stuff for me."
 
The 26-year-old also admits the signing of kiwi Centre Yanni Wetzell on a three-year deal, and Australian Will McDowell-White returning for a further year, played a significant role in him committing for two years.
 
"Will is scary talented, scary athletic, that boy is so talented, it's exciting to have another point guard with that ability," says Webster.
 
"I've known Yanni since we were little kids, we played soccer together when we were five, six years old, his parents used to take us to practice and stuff like that, that's one of my 'homies' for real."
 
Webster established himself as the most popular kiwi across the ditch last season.  Numerous Australian basketball fans were seen at games wearing his number zero jersey.
 
On the court over 29 games, he averaged 31 minutes, 17.7 points, and 5.0 rebounds.
 
The commitment of Webster and Wetzell is now proof the horrors of last season, where COVID forced the Breakers to relocate to Australia for five months, is fully behind the club.
 
"It is amazing to have both Yanni and now Tai on multi-year deals," says Shamir.
 
"Anyone who knows basketball knows a lot of places don't recover from seasons like that, but the faith from Tai, Yanni, and Will means a lot." 
 
It also means American Breakers owner Matt Walsh has beaten out the Australian competition to secure the two best free agency kiwis in the world for his New Zealand club.
 
"You see a lot of guys jump to another level after one year in the NBL," says Walsh.
 
"If we see that with Tai and Yanni then it's going to mean good days are ahead for the Breakers."