BIO: Dererk Pardon was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio (USA) where he attended Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Dererk Pardon made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 25 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.

With the departure of Dan Shamir, assistant Mody Maor was elevated to head coach as the Breakers prepared for their first full season of home games in two years. The team faced a major rebuild, losing six of their top eight players from the previous campaign, including Yanni Wetzell, Hugo Besson, and Finn Delany. Only Thomas Abercrombie, Robert Loe, and William McDowell-White returned.

The Breakers signed several key players, including Dererk Pardon, Jarrell Brantley, and Barry Brown Jr as imports. The roster was bolstered further with Tom Vodanovich (via Sydney), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and Cameron Gliddon (both via South East Melbourne) for defensive and perimeter depth, and French NBA prospect Rayan Rupert joined through the NBL Next Stars program.

The season began with a loss to Melbourne but showed little of the defensive dominance the Breakers would later become known for. Despite a slow start, the team matched their total wins from the previous season within just four rounds. A Round 5 demolition of the Adelaide 36ers (99-70) showcased their potential. Barry Brown Jr (22 points) and Jarrell Brantley (22 points, 4 steals) starred, while the Breakers forced 18 turnovers and hit 15 of 30 from deep. Two nights later, they posted a commanding 94-62 victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers. Dererk Pardon recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Brown Jr scored 24 points off the bench.

By December, the Breakers had established themselves as contenders, entering the month with an 11-2 record. Pardon continued to be a force on both ends of the floor. In a narrow 93-90 loss to Perth, he led all scorers with 28 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Later, against Illawarra, Pardon was relentless, tallying 19 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, though the Breakers lost to a dramatic Tyler Harvey buzzer-beater (78-76).

The Breakers rebounded with a convincing 99-71 win over Brisbane, where Pardon (17 points, 9 rebounds) and Brantley (22 points) powered the team. New Zealand clinched second place in the regular season with a 91-81 win over Illawarra. Despite a 16-point halftime deficit, they roared back with a dominant third quarter, outscoring the Hawks 29-9. Pardon’s defensive presence and consistent rebounding were critical throughout.

Pardon finished the regular season averaging 11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game, playing every game for the Breakers. He was named to the All-NBL Second Team alongside Barry Brown Jr (19.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists), who also won the league’s Best Sixth Man award. Jarrell Brantley (16.2 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 steals) was later named the Breakers’ club MVP.

In the semifinals against Tasmania, New Zealand dominated Game 1 with an 88-68 win. Pardon contributed 15 points and 9 rebounds as the Breakers exploded with a 49-31 second half. Game 2 saw the JackJumpers fight back, winning 89-78 behind a stellar performance from Milton Doyle. Pardon stood tall with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. In Game 3, Pardon delivered another double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds) as the Breakers closed out the series with a 92-77 victory to reach their first Championship Series since 2016.

The Championship Series saw New Zealand face the Sydney Kings. In Game 1, the Breakers stunned Sydney 95-87 on their home floor. Pardon’s defensive presence and rebounding helped anchor the team’s effort. However, Sydney responded in Game 2, winning 81-74 despite another strong showing from Pardon (12 points, 8 rebounds). The Kings dominated Game 3 in front of a record crowd of 18,049, defeating the Breakers 91-68. New Zealand extended the series with an 80-70 victory in Game 4, where Pardon (10 points, 10 rebounds) provided a key double-double.

In a thrilling Game 5, New Zealand built multiple leads but couldn’t hold off a late 14-0 run by Sydney, who clinched the championship with a 77-69 victory. Pardon (8 points, 12 rebounds) battled until the end, capping off an outstanding debut season.

Dererk Pardon’s impact as a dominant big man and defensive anchor was vital to the Breakers’ resurgence. His consistency on the glass and efficient scoring made him one of the league’s most valuable players in New Zealand’s memorable season.

Dererk Pardon played one season in the NBL. He averaged 11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 35 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (832 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.