BIO: Everard Bartlett was born in Hawkes Bay (New Zealand). Between 2006-2016, Bartlett had various stints in the NBL for the New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers

NBL EXPERIENCE

Everard Bartlett made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Everard Bartlett began his NBL career as a development player with the New Zealand Breakers during the 2006/07 season. He saw limited action on the court, appearing in just two games, as the Breakers finished in tenth place with an 11-22 record. However, Bartlett made a name for himself by winning the 2006 NBL Slam Dunk Competition at the All-Star weekend, showcasing his athleticism and potential despite limited playing opportunities.

PERTH WILDCATS
2012/13
The Perth Wildcats began the 2012/13 season with excitement, as the newly built Perth Arena became their new home, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of 13,500 seats. Coming off off-season shoulder surgery, Matthew Knight was expected to be the team’s anchor in the paint. Knight did not disappoint, opening the season with a stellar 20-point, nine-rebound performance against the New Zealand Breakers, which earned him the NBL’s Player of the Week award.

Perth’s roster celebrated other milestones early on, including Kevin Lisch’s 100th consecutive NBL game and coach Rob Beveridge’s 100th game at the helm during a victory over Townsville on October 14. However, Knight (13.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists) was soon sidelined with another injury, missing four games, and the Wildcats brought in import Michael Dunigan (13.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks) as a temporary replacement. Dunigan quickly became a fan favorite with his dynamic play before leaving when Knight returned.

Ten games into the season, co-captain Brad Robbins unexpectedly retired, citing a loss of passion for the game. Perth then signed Rhys Carter (6.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals) from Sweden to replace Robbins for the remainder of the season. This change saw Damian Martin (6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists) elevated to co-captain alongside Shawn Redhage (14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists). Soon after, Cameron Tovey (1.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists) announced his plans to retire at season’s end.

Despite these roster changes, the Wildcats continued to perform strongly, finishing the season in second place with a 22-6 record. Both Lisch and Knight were named to the All-NBL First Team, and the Wildcats advanced to the playoffs, where they swept Wollongong in the semifinals (2-0), setting up a Grand Final rematch against the Breakers. Ahead of the finals, Martin won his third consecutive Best Defensive Player award but was ruled out of the Grand Final series due to an Achilles injury. In an emergency measure, the Wildcats brought Robbins out of retirement, though they ultimately fell to the Breakers in two games. Redhage averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists over 32 games.

In May, Lisch and coach Beveridge parted ways with the Wildcats, with Lisch leaving to pursue a career in Europe. Lisch concluded his tenure with career averages of 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. This season also saw Redhage honored as a member of the Wildcats’ 30th Anniversary All-Star team. Bartlett, meanwhile, appeared in 32 games, averaging 5.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2015/16
Returning to the New Zealand Breakers in 2015/16, Bartlett joined a Breakers squad aiming for consecutive titles but dealing with significant off-court challenges. New Zealand’s preseason was turbulent, with Alex Pledger recovering from foot surgery, Thomas Abercrombie managing a hamstring injury, and Corey Webster trialing with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. As Webster’s replacement, Bartlett initially signed as a short-term injury cover but was retained after Webster’s return.

The Breakers began the season with a disappointing 71-90 loss to Adelaide, facing an early halftime deficit that marked one of the lowest-scoring halves in team history. With a 1-3 start, Webster (19.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists) rejoined the squad, prompting the release of Duane Bailey and Bartlett’s permanent addition. The Breakers then enjoyed a nine-out-of-eleven game winning streak to sit comfortably at 10-5 by Round 10, positioning themselves as title contenders. However, a midseason slump saw them lose five of six games, pushing them out of the top four by Round 15 with an 11-10 record.

Despite injuries plaguing key players, the Breakers rallied late, closing the season on a five-game winning streak and clinching the fourth playoff spot (16-12). In the semifinals, New Zealand swept first-placed Melbourne (2-0), advancing to a Grand Final showdown with the Perth Wildcats. Game 1 saw Perth win 82-76, relying on Nathan Jawai’s presence inside and Casey Prather’s defensive intensity. Back home in New Zealand for Game 2, the Breakers tied the series (1-1) behind Cedric Jackson’s near triple-double (13 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists).

In a thrilling Game 3 decider in Perth, Damian Martin’s defensive heroics shined as he held Jackson scoreless on five attempts and forced an early foul-out, leading Perth to a 75-52 blowout victory. The win secured Perth’s seventh NBL championship and marked the Breakers’ first-ever loss in a Grand Final series. Jackson’s and Bartlett’s efforts (4.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists) helped New Zealand reach the finals, with Webster earning All-NBL Second Team honors.

Everard Bartlett played five seasons in the NBL. He averaged 5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1 assists in 87 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (815 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.