Isaac Davidson Signs Development Contract Ahead of Trip to Melbourne

A bloody gash on Isaac Davidson’s cheek from practice is all the evidence you need to realise that joining the Sky Sport Breakers as a Development Player is not the easiest job in the world.

However, the 23-year-old is wearing the “shiner” with pride.

“I just got a little bit of an elbow, I was late on a shot, and it’s karma,” says Davidson.

“I’m now playing alongside some of the people I’ve been idolising since I was younger – Tom Abercrombie, Rob Loe, Tai and Corey Webster – I feel like I’m one of the luckiest players to have come out of Covid.”

The Forward’s year is ending on a high following the disappointing end of his four-year stint at Sonoma State University in northern California being cut short because of Covid.

Davidson has signed a three-year deal with the Breakers; the first two years are as a development player and then the third year as a club option.

“So many people are not able to play anymore, here I am learning about how to be a better player, which is all I can ask for really,” he said.

Sky Sport Breakers General Manager Simon Edwards says Davidson has been rewarded for an outstanding campaign for the Franklin Bulls, and NZ NBL General Manager Justin Nelson can take some credit for creating the pathway.

“Our coaching staff and management didn’t know much about Isaac other than he went to Rangitoto College, and he’d been overseas for a few years,” said Edwards.

“During the Sal’s NBL Showdown, our coaches really saw what potential he could bring to the club, a fantastic kiwi for the future.”

Davidson played 15 games in the Sals’s NBL, averaging 16.1 points and 2.5 rebounds a game – including 27 points against the Taranaki Mountainairs in the elimination final.

He is committed to the Bulls for the foreseeable future.

“I will come back and play for them, which is pretty amazing of them to want to push me forward with this opportunity.”

Davidson will board a flight to Melbourne tomorrow with the rest of the Breakers' New Zealand based players and is relishing the opportunity to expand his basketball IQ under Dan Shamir. 

“I think right here is the biggest learning curve I’ve had to deal with, the most I’ve been able to learn in a short period of time,” he said.