BIO: Colton Iverson was born in Yankton, South Dakota (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Colton Iverson made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 31 years of age. He scored one point in his first NBL game.

After finishing sixth with a 15-13 record and missing the playoffs in 2019/20, New Zealand entered Dan Shamir’s second season as head coach without Scotty Hopson (to Melbourne), RJ Hampton (to Denver), Sek Henry (to Turkey) and Jordan Ngatai (to Cairns), while Brandon Ashley and Ater Majok were not retained. Tai Webster (via Galatasaray), Lamar Patterson (via Brisbane), Dan Trist (via South East Melbourne) and Rasmus Bach (via Randers) were added, while Colton Iverson (via Zenit Saint Petersburg) signed as the Breakers’ second import following a season in Russia’s EuroLeague. “Colton’s a system guy… we’re looking for a piece that can make our systems work,” said Shamir. COVID-19 delayed the season until January and forced New Zealand to relocate to Australia, with the Breakers playing their first 29 games outside New Zealand and staging several designated home games in Tasmania.

New Zealand opened its season against Adelaide at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 22, where Iverson (1 point and 6 rebounds) came off the bench in his NBL debut, while Tai Webster (34 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Delany (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Breakers. Isaac Humphries (24 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks) led Adelaide to a 94-91 overtime win.

Iverson (8.8 points and 8.6 rebounds across 36 games) became New Zealand’s starting centre after beginning the season off the bench and did not miss a game through injury, appearing in all 36 games. The Breakers won only one of their first eight games, but Iverson became increasingly productive as the season progressed, particularly after Rob Loe returned to New Zealand for personal reasons.

On March 27, Iverson (10 points, 20 rebounds, and 2 blocks) tied Ben Pepper’s Breakers franchise record for rebounds in a game as New Zealand defeated Brisbane 81-76 in overtime and ended a four-game losing streak. Tai Webster (27 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals) and Delany (17 points and 9 rebounds) led the scoring, while Anthony Drmic (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals) was Brisbane’s best.

His best game came against South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on April 4, where Iverson (26 points, 22 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) made 9-of-14 shots from the field and broke the Breakers’ single-game rebounding record. His 22 rebounds were also the highest total in a 40-minute NBL game and made him the first player since Mark Bradtke in 1997 to record 20 rebounds in consecutive games. Tai Webster (16 points and 7 assists) and Delany (15 points) provided support, but Mitchell Creek (24 points and 8 rebounds) led South East Melbourne to a 92-85 win. “Incredible player,” Phoenix centre Yanni Wetzell said of Iverson.The Breakers’ roster changed significantly during the season. Patterson (10.8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 6 Breakers games) struggled to reach full fitness after arriving only 12 days before the opening game and suffered a knee injury against Illawarra on February 22 before being released (to Brisbane) on March 16. Jeremy Kendle (5.3 points across 4 Breakers games) was brought in on a short-term deal and New Zealand won three of its next four games, while William McDowell-White (7.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists across 20 games) joined as a nominated replacement player for the injured Corey Webster and Levi Randolph (14.8 points and 3.4 rebounds across 15 games) arrived (via Canton Charge) as Patterson’s replacement. The Breakers were 4-9 after 13 games before losing five of their next six.

Injuries and personal issues continued throughout the season, although Iverson remained available for every game. Corey Webster (13.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3 assists across 28 games) underwent hand surgery before the season and later missed time with a knee injury, Tai Webster (17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.2 steals across 29 games) missed seven games with an Achilles injury, while Abercrombie (10.6 points and 3.4 rebounds across 27 games) suffered a hamstring injury which ended his season with nine games remaining. Loe (6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds across 17 games) returned home for personal reasons.

Tai Webster led New Zealand in scoring, while Delany (16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds across 36 games) joined Iverson in appearing in every game, was named the Breakers’ club MVP and earned All-NBL Second Team honours. Abercrombie was named the club’s Best Defensive Player and finished runner-up for the Damian Martin Trophy, while also passing Kirk Penney as New Zealand’s all-time leader in three-pointers and Mika Vukona as the club’s games record holder. Iverson provided the Breakers with their most consistent interior presence throughout the season and led the team in rebounding.

After playing their first 29 games outside New Zealand, the Breakers returned home for their final seven games and went 3-4. New Zealand closed the season against South East Melbourne at Trusts Arena on June 5, where Iverson (10 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Tai Webster (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Delany (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Breakers, while Keifer Sykes (29 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) carried the Phoenix to an 83-78 win as New Zealand finished eighth with a 12-24 record.

Colton Iverson played one season in the NBL. He averaged 8.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 36 NBL games.