Jarrell Brantley captured the world’s attention when a video of him interrupting New Zealand Breakers coach Mody Maor, moments after the team’s Grand Final loss to the Sydney Kings, went viral.
It seems more than this moment caught the attention of the Utah Jazz, who have since signed him to a 10-day contract.
Welcome 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, @jstuntbrantley 🖤https://t.co/VaKfbEvdGR#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/kaPphPdPLR
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 18, 2023
He has played for the club previously, having made 41 appearances in total (37 regular seasons and four in playoffs) during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
The Jazz have made the move to fill a roster spot created by signing guard Frank Jackson after two 10-day deals.
The 6-foot-7, 250-pound Brantley was the 50th pick of the 2019 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers but was traded to the Jazz on draft night. In two seasons with the Jazz, Brantley made 37 appearances and averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game.
Brantley was a key figure in the Breakers’ turnaround Australian NBL season in 2022-23, leading the club to the championship series against the Sydney Kings, which they lost 3-2.
The rugged forward started all 36 games for the Breakers as they went 18-10 in the regular season and only missed out on a fifth NBL title by falling short in the deciding fifth game of the series against Sydney last Wednesday, going down 77-69 after leading by 7 three minutes into the final period.
Brantley averaged 16.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for the Breakers in ‘22-23 and was named the club’s MVP. He had a strong game both inside and out and was the team’s most consistent performer throughout a bounceback season (they went 5-23 in ‘21-22) that very nearly took them from chumps to champs.
Brantley, who told media earlier in the year, he felt the NBL would help him return to the NBA and becomes yet another NBL product, following Sydney Kings forward Xavier Cooks, who signed a four-year deal to play with the Washington Wizards, to sign with an NBA this week.
“Those are things already written in the stars,” he said. “I will be where I’m supposed to be. I would love to be in that situation, and I know that time will come. But I also want to embrace the people I’m around daily, and that’s where my focus is.” said Brantley.
“Every day I step on court I’m trying to get 1% better. Six months ago I was playing for Charlotte’s G League team, then in Puerto Rico, then I did a bunch of NBA workouts, then I went to Summer League. I’ve been on a steady incline. I’ve been cutting fat every day for the last year and will be in my best form sooner or later. It’s not about the NBL – it’s about Jarrell Brantley for me.”
The ‘viral video’ captured Brantley interrupting coach Maor while answering a question after the Grand Final loss to tell all who were listening about the ‘special coach’ he is.
The future for Breakers & NZ basketball as a whole is looking bright 👊 #UNBREAKABLE pic.twitter.com/v4ZipoOY7O
— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) March 16, 2023
“That’s a good coach right there, man. That’s a special coach right there,” Brantley interjected.
“If he recruit you, man, he’s special. That’s a special coach, one of kind. I love you Mo.”
Brantley then apologised to Maor for the result before leaving the room, but not before Maor told him he loved him too.
Breakers owner Matt Walsh then reiterated the message with a hand on Maor’s shoulder, repeating the kind words from Brantley before letting Maor continue.
“That’s a good coach right there, man. That’s a special coach right there,” Brantley interjected.
“If he recruit you, man, he’s special. That’s a special coach, one of kind. I love you Mo.”
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.
