Basketball: Recruit endorses Breakers' talents

By PETER JESSUP

The Tall Blacks' success was a factor in Brad Williams' decision to sign for the New Zealand Breakers.

He believes that with all the international talent they have, the Breakers will be to the forefront of the Australian national basketball league from day one.

"The Tall Blacks have shown how competitive the game is here now. I thought the NBL final was of a really good standard," he said after watching Wellington beat Waikato.

"I think we'll be right at the top. It's a matter of learning how to cope with the grind ... 33 games. You have to play on through injuries as any professional sportsperson does.

"But we've got depth behind all those internationals. I think it's going to be nice to compete for a championship."

The 2.02m forward has had three hard years at the Canberra Cannons, often wondering whether he would be paid. "Canberra basically folded twice in the three years I was there. It was important to me to come to a team that I knew was going to be solid off the court, too."

The 28-year-old grew up in Cronulla, Sydney, in a basketballing family. Both parents played, his older sister plays, mum is an official statistics-keeper who worked at the Olympics, and also does that job for the Kings.

Williams played from age nine and by 14 had dropped his other sporting pursuits, soccer and athletics.

He had his first year in the pro-league with the Kings in 1994 and was there until 1999.

He had 2000 off because he had lost his desire, but regained it playing second division in Hobart, then joined the Cannons.

He has played at state age-group level through the grades and has had plenty of association with former AIS coach and now assistant Breakers' coach Frank Arsego.

"I saw this move as a great opportunity. It's going to be exciting playing with all those Tall Blacks."

He signed for one year - "it's a test for both of us, it will keep me hungry."

He thinks the toughest aspect for the new team in the league will be learning to win on the road.

"You won't make finals just winning home games. We have to be ready to play whenever you get tossed the ball. It becomes a mental grind."

He has found the pre-season training with the Breakers refreshing.

He likes the fast-break style of coach Jeff Green: "It's the way my game has been developing. It suits me, it's exciting to play and exciting to watch, so I think I'm going to enjoy it here."

Williams is completing an accounting degree at Auckland University, but doesn't see an end to his basketball career any time soon, bar injury. The hunger for a championship ring is back.

The Breakers play their first pre-season game today against the West Sydney Razorbacks in a three-way tournament at Coffs Harbour, north of Sydney, with a match against the Hunter Pirates tomorrow. On Tuesday they play the Kings in Sydney.

They will have three weeks training with their eight Tall Black players before the season-opener against Adelaide at the North Shore Events centre on October 1.

Away with the national team are Pero Cameron, Dillon Boucher, Paul Henare, Paora Winitana, Lindsay Tait, Mike Homik, Aaron Olson and Phill Jones.