BIO: Jarrell Brantley was born in Charleston, South Carolina (USA) and attended Notre Dame Preparatory [Fitchburg, Massachusetts]. He later went on to play college ball at the College of Charleston (2015-2019) in his home state.

FAMILY: Jarrell’s brother, Jamaal Brantley also played 2 games in the NBL.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jarrell Brantley made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 26 years of age. He scored 10 points in his first game.

With the departure of head coach Dan Shamir, assistant Mody Maor was promoted to lead the New Zealand Breakers into a new era. The 2022/23 season marked the team’s return to regular home games after two challenging seasons spent based in Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Breakers undertook a significant roster overhaul, losing six of their top eight players, including Yanni Wetzell, Hugo Besson, Peyton Siva, Finn Delany, Ousmane Dieng, and Chasson Randle. Returning to the squad were veterans Thomas Abercrombie, Robert Loe, and rising star William McDowell-White.

To rebuild, the Breakers signed Tom Vodanovich (via Sydney), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and Cameron Gliddon (both via South East Melbourne) for defensive depth and perimeter shooting. The core imports were reshaped with the arrivals of Dererk Pardon, Barry Brown Jr., and Jarrell Brantley, while French NBA prospect Rayan Rupert joined through the NBL Next Star Program.

The Breakers’ season began with a loss to Melbourne, as Abercrombie was sidelined with a torn retina, but the team quickly found its footing. Within four rounds, the Breakers equaled their total number of wins from the previous season. Their defensive dominance emerged during a 99-70 rout of Adelaide in Round 5, where Brantley contributed 22 points and 4 steals, forcing 18 turnovers. Two nights later, New Zealand recorded their largest-ever win at Spark Arena, crushing Tasmania 94-62 and briefly overtaking Sydney for the top spot on the ladder.

In Round 3, Jarrell’s brother Jamaal Brantley joined the Breakers as an injury replacement for Abercrombie, marking the first time in NBL history that a pair of import siblings played together. Although their stint as teammates was short-lived, it added a unique chapter to Breakers history.

Last night the Brantley bros became the first
pair of import siblings to take the floor in a NBL game
together!! ????#UNBREAKABLE pic.twitter.com/zHbIjlu5Rd

— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) October 18, 2022

A major highlight came in a top-of-the-table clash with Sydney. Although the Kings led for most of the game, a furious late comeback led by Barry Brown Jr. (22 points) fell just short as the Breakers lost 81-77. The game also saw Rupert sustain a broken wrist, sidelining him for two months. New Zealand rebounded with an 89-83 win over Adelaide, fueled by a 22-point fourth quarter from Brown Jr., with Pardon adding 19 points and 10 rebounds and Brantley contributing 17 points and 10 boards.

Brantley showcased his scoring prowess with a season-high 29 points in a 116-79 win over Brisbane. He followed that with an 18-point effort against South East Melbourne in a 110-84 victory, while Brown Jr. exploded for a career-high 31 points. Despite a brief setback in an 84-92 loss to Perth, New Zealand maintained momentum, finishing November with 11 wins in 13 games.

One of Brantley’s standout performances came against Cairns, where he tallied 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 steals, although the Breakers fell short, 85-83. Later, his clutch three-point bank shot sealed a 93-88 victory over Sydney, ending a four-game losing streak. Brantley’s hot streak continued with a 22-point outing in a 99-71 win over Brisbane, helping New Zealand secure a playoff spot. In the regular-season finale against Illawarra, Brantley’s 20 points and 6 rebounds led the Breakers to a 91-81 win, clinching second place with an 18-10 record.

Brantley finished the season as the Breakers’ MVP, averaging 16.2 points, 6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His contributions were instrumental in New Zealand’s first playoff appearance in five years.

In the semi-finals, the Breakers faced Tasmania. In Game 1, they cruised to an 88-68 win, with Pardon recording 15 points and 9 rebounds. Tasmania responded with an 89-78 victory in Game 2, despite Brantley’s 17 points and 9 rebounds. In the decisive Game 3, Brown Jr. scored 32 points, and Brantley added 14 points and 7 rebounds to secure a 92-77 win, advancing New Zealand to their first Grand Final since 2016.

Facing the Sydney Kings in the championship series, the Breakers shocked the Kings with a 95-87 win in Game 1, with Brantley contributing 16 points and 7 rebounds. Sydney evened the series with an 81-74 victory in Game 2, followed by a commanding 91-68 win in Game 3 in front of a record crowd of 18,049. The Breakers extended the series with an 80-70 win in Game 4, led by Brantley’s 23 points.

In the decisive Game 5, the Breakers held an 11-point lead in the first quarter and another late in the fourth, but Sydney mounted a stunning 14-0 run to claim a 77-69 victory and their second consecutive championship. Brantley finished the series averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds, while Sydney’s Derrick Walton Jr. was named Finals MVP.

Brantley and the Breakers captivated fans throughout a historic season, with the Grand Final series drawing a record-breaking 67,811 attendees. Despite falling short of the championship, Brantley’s contributions solidified his place as one of the league’s premier imports.

Jarrell Brantley played one season in the NBL. He averaged 16.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 35 NBL games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Jarrell Brantley shone on both ends of the court for us, so it’s no surprise he’s heading back to the Utah Jazz. Watch his best moments from the NBL23 season ????#UNBREAKABLE pic.twitter.com/qWyYGpfyQs

— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) March 18, 2023

Dan Boyce (823 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.