Hamish Bidwell The trips back to Perth will become slightly more infrequent now that Hawks star Adrian Majstrovich has signed up with the New Zealand Breakers.
The star 0800 Easy LPG Hawks forward and 2004 National Basketball League MVP, agreed to terms last week with the Auckland-based ANBL franchise and immediately headed back to Perth to collect a few things.
After living most of his life in Western Australia, being based in New Zealand will be quite a departure for the Turangi-born player. Apart from a season with the Brisbane Bullets, he has spent all of his seven-year ANBL career with the Perth Wildcats, but now that he is an established member of the Hawks, it just made sense to leave his adopted home goodbye.
"I'm very excited," said the former Australian Junior team player of his recent signing.
"It's a two year deal, which is pretty good, and gives me a bit of stability. Andrej Lemanis seems a very reputable coach and he's obviously enthused about getting his first head coaching job."
Majstrovich hasn't been told if he is likely to be a starter with the Breakers, but says gaining a spot will be one of his major goals once the team assembles in a few months time.
But all that is in the future, with the 25-year old looking to add the 2005 Primo-NBL crown to the MVP, outstanding forward and outstanding New Zealand forward awards he picked up last season.
And after a sluggish start to the season, he says the Hawks are finally starting to exhibit the kind of form that will make them a real threat this year.
"As the weeks wear on, I think we're starting to get a bit better," Majstrovich said.
"We're still not playing as well as we're capable of, but we're doing enough to win. Hopefully that means we'll peak at the right time and be able to go deep into the play-offs."
He says the patchy form is purely a combination, rather than any lack of ability.
"We'd be one of the top two or three, if not the most talented team in the league. The best part is that although we're all talented, everyone on the team is unselfish."
Especially Majstrovich, who has adapted his game this season due to a challenge from coach Shawn Dennis and the arrival of imports Dusty Rychart and Derek Moore.
"At the start of the season, coach and I sat down and spoke about defence as one of the weaknesses in my game and I feel like I've improved a lot."
The five and three Hawks host the Auckland Stars at Pettigrew-Green Arena on Sunday afternoon in what looms as a crucial match.
Thanks to some unusual scheduling teams have played anywhere between 11 and eight matches, with both the Hawks and Stars among the four teams who have had just three losses.
BASKETBALL: Majstrovich to see more of Kiwi life
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