American star Parker Jackson-Cartwright - an MVP candidate in his debut Aussie NBL season - has committed to NZ Breakers for another campaign.
At 1.75m, the shortest import ever recruited by the Auckland club, the point guard dazzled opponents with his speed and his change of pace during 2023/24, averaging 20.6 points and 5.8 assists, while leading the league in steals (1.9).
He and fellow import Anthony Lamb became only the sixth and seventh Breakers voted to the All NBL First Team, and the third tandem to achieve the feat in the same year, after Kirk Penney and CJ Bruton (2009), and Cedric Jackson and Tom Abercrombie (2012).
Jackson-Cartwright was 2022 German Bundesliga, after a season with Bonnn.
"I took great pride in wearing the No.6 jersey for the Breakers last season," he said. "I loved living in Auckland and there's nothing like wearing the Breakers pink at Spark Arena - it's really special.
"This club has won multiple championships, and when you bring a guy back like myself and you build a team, you think 'championship'. That’s why you sign, you sign to be part of something bigger than yourself."
The Breakers have only ever signed imports on one-year contracts, and often those stars use their success as steppingstones to bigger paydays offshore or, worse, opposition ANBL clubs. Jackson-Cartwright becomes only the fifth import to return for a second year.
After his Australian campaign ended, he signed with Turkish club Galatasaray for the remainder of 2023/24 and the 2024/25 season. He played just one game for the club, before returning to Los Angeles.
"Two weeks ago, when I was asked about the chances of Parker returning, I answered 'less than one percent'," said Breakers coach Mody Maor.
"From a basketball standpoint, this is as close to a home run as it gets. Our ownership group felt the connection between Parker and the community, and went above and beyond to bring him back for our fans.
"Thanks to their vision, I am now able to build a team around the player who was one of three finalists for NBL League MVP last month."
Jackson-Cartwright is only the third player confirmed for next season, with Kiwi Sam Menninga and Aussie centre Dane Pineau also on the books, as Maor rebuilds his roster.
"I'm going to come back and spend hundreds of thousands of hours going through the vintage stores in K-Road again, and eating at the great restaurants that they have,” says Jackson-Cartwright.
"I can't wait to return."
