DJ Newbill
February 2, 2021
Paul Carter
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 2/06/87
- Place of Birth: Little Rock, Arkansas (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 91
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Minnesota (2008–2010) / Illinois-Chicago (2010–2011)
- NBL DEBUT: 30/12/16
- AGE AT DEBUT: 29
- LAST NBL GAME: 10/02/17
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 29
- NBL History: New Zealand 2017
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Paul Carter was born in Little Rock, Arkansas (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Paul Carter made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 29 years of age. He scored 14 points in his first game.
Following New Zealand’s 2016 Grand Final loss to Perth, chief executive Richard Clarke and coach Dean Vickerman departed, with Paul Henare promoted from assistant to head coach and Dillon Boucher taking over as general manager. Cedric Jackson (to Melbourne) and Tai Wesley (to Melbourne) also left, while Thomas Abercrombie, Corey Webster, Alex Pledger and captain Mika Vukona returned. Kirk Penney (via Illawarra), Robert Loe (via Limburg United), Ben Woodside (via Türk Telekom) and Akil Mitchell (via Antibes) were added, while Finn Delany, Shea Ili and Jordan Ngatai were elevated from development player roles.
Injuries continued to disrupt New Zealand during the first half of the season, with Woodside suffering a serious foot injury, Webster battling an ongoing hip problem and Abercrombie breaking his hand. Paul Carter (via Alba Berlin) arrived on Boxing Day and was signed on December 28 as Webster’s injury replacement while also providing cover for Abercrombie. Carter had been playing on a short-term injury replacement contract in Germany and his friendship with former Antibes teammate Mitchell helped bring him to New Zealand. “Akil Mitchell is a good friend of mine,” Carter said, explaining that the opportunity developed after injuries opened a place in the Breakers roster.
Carter made his NBL debut against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on December 30, coming from the bench for 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Penney (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Delany (11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) provided the other major contributions for New Zealand, while Jason Cadee (22 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) led Sydney to an 85-80 victory.
Carter (9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds across 11 games) played every remaining game after joining the Breakers, making five starts and hitting 19-of-38 three-pointers for the season. He suffered a knee injury in his second appearance against Cairns on January 6, where Carter (3 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks) limped from the court after clashing knees with Stephen Weigh. Penney (21 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Loe (11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) led New Zealand, while Mitchell McCarron (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) was Cairns’ best as the Taipans won 65-63. Carter was evaluated after the game but recovered without missing a game and returned against Adelaide two days later.
Carter’s best game came against Sydney at Vector Arena on January 13, where he made 9-of-13 shots and five of six three-pointers to finish with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Dillard (19 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 1 block) and Penney (15 points) provided support, while Cadee (18 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led Sydney as New Zealand outscored the Kings 32-13 in the fourth quarter to win 92-74 and improve to 9-12.
New Zealand’s import rotation continued to change around Carter. Woodside (8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals across 6 games) remained sidelined after rupturing the plantar fascia in his right foot and David Stockton (via Cedevita Zagreb) had initially arrived as his injury replacement. Stockton (8.3 points and 4.2 assists across 10 games) later battled a lower-back injury and was released alongside Woodside, with Kevin Dillard (via Pınar Karşıyaka) signed for the final nine games. Webster (11.7 points across 15 games) was also shut down for season-ending hip surgery, while Abercrombie (11.7 points and 5.2 rebounds across 21 games) returned late in the season from his broken hand.
Dillard’s arrival helped New Zealand recover from an 8-12 record, with the Breakers winning four consecutive games to return to 12-12. Carter was part of the run and produced another strong performance against defending champion Perth on January 22, where Carter (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist) made seven of ten shots. Penney (25 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist) and Dillard (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led New Zealand, while Bryce Cotton (26 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) was Perth’s best as the Breakers won 86-82.
The four-game winning streak was followed by losses to Cairns and Sydney. Carter’s frustration boiled over during the 84-57 loss at Qudos Bank Arena on January 29, where Carter (6 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal) was ejected late in the third quarter after receiving consecutive technical fouls for protesting a no-call. Penney (13 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist) and Abercrombie (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals) led New Zealand, while Greg Whittington (16 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) led Sydney. Carter was subsequently charged with excessive disputing of a game official’s decision and accepted an early guilty plea, receiving a $375 fine with no suspension.
Penney (17.4 points and 3.4 rebounds across 28 games) led New Zealand in scoring and was named the Breakers’ club MVP, while Dillard (18.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals across 9 games) provided the spark during the late-season playoff push. Mitchell (9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds across 25 games) led the team in rebounding average before suffering his season-ending eye injury, while Pledger (8.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 28 games), Loe (7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds across 26 games) and Vukona (6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds across 27 games) provided the other major contributions.
Carter played in New Zealand’s final game against Melbourne at Vector Arena on February 10, finishing with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks while making three of five three-pointers. Dillard (16 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Penney (15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led New Zealand, while Casper Ware (23 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) was Melbourne’s best as the Breakers won 88-70 and finished fifth with a 14-14 record.
Paul Carter played one season in the NBL. He averaged 9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 11 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 29 | New Zealand | 14-14 (5) | 11 | 242 | 100 | 49 | 10 | 11 | 38 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 33 | 36 | 81 | 44% | 19 | 38 | 50% | 9 | 14 | 64% | 57% | 56% | 23 | Totals | 11 | 242 | 100 | 49 | 10 | 11 | 38 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 33 | 36 | 81 | 44.4% | 19 | 38 | 50.0% | 9 | 14 | 64.3% | 0.5736576411 | 0.5617283951 | 23 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 29 | New Zealand | 14-14 (5) | 11 | 22.0 | 9.1 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 7.4 | 44% | 1.7 | 3.5 | 50% | 0.8 | 1.3 | 64% | 57% | 56% | 23 | Total | 11 | 22.0 | 9.1 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 3.272727273 | 7.363636364 | 44.4% | 0.0404040404 | 50.0% | 1.727272727 | 3.454545455 | 64.3% | 0.5736576411 | 0.5617283951 | 23 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 23 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Mexico - Halcones (2013–2014) | Uruguay - Defensor Sporting (2014) | Qatar - Al Ahli (2015–2016) | Japan - Bambitious (2016–2017)
Carter joined Halcones de Xalapa for the 2013–14 Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional season, playing his first season in Mexico and averaging 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds across 28 games while shooting 48.5% from the field and 36.2% from three-point range.
He then signed with Defensor Sporting for the 2014 Liga Uruguaya season in Uruguay, where he averaged 19.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 24 appearances and helped the club reach the playoff semifinals.
For the 2015–16 season, Carter joined Al Ahli in the Qatari Basketball League, averaging 21.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in league play while leading the team in scoring and helping secure a top-four regular-season finish.
Carter later played in Japan for Bambitious Nara during the 2016–17 B.League Division 2 season, appearing in 46 games and averaging 14.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 44.1% from the field and 34.8% from three-point range.
COLLEGE
Carter played college basketball at Minnesota during the 2008–09 season before transferring to Illinois-Chicago, where he competed in 2010–11 after being granted immediate eligibility via an NCAA waiver in late September 2010.
Carter joined Tubby Smith’s Minnesota program ahead of 2008–09, and in that season he averaged 5.3 points and a team-high 4.5 rebounds per game while Minnesota finished 22–11 overall and 9–9 in Big Ten play, reaching the NCAA Tournament.
On February 10, 2009, Carter set a Minnesota career high with 22 points against Indiana, going 7-for-13 from the field, 6-for-11 on three-pointers, and 7-for-8 at the free-throw line, while also recording six rebounds plus two assists and two steals in 29 minutes.
Carter played again for Minnesota in 2009–10, appearing in all 35 games and averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game as the Golden Gophers finished 21–14, went 9–9 in Big Ten play, reached the Big Ten Tournament final, and earned another NCAA Tournament berth.
In December 2009, Carter began considering a transfer to be closer to his younger sister in Chicago during her treatment after an osteosarcoma diagnosis, and Minnesota players shaved their heads in support during the February 19, 2010 game against Wisconsin.
UIC announced on May 6, 2010 that Carter would transfer to the Flames with one year of eligibility remaining, and the program pursued a hardship waiver so he could play right away in 2010–11.
In 2010–11 at Illinois-Chicago, Carter played in all 31 games and started 30, totaling 1,010 minutes (32.6 per game) while averaging 14.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, and shooting 156-for-382 from the field (40.8%), 29-for-97 on three-pointers (29.9%), and 115-for-150 at the free-throw line (76.7%).
Carter’s 2010–11 stat line also included 249 total rebounds (78 offensive, 171 defensive), 60 assists, 96 turnovers, 22 blocks, and 20 steals, and he finished his Division I career with 492 total rebounds while reaching the 800-point milestone (803) during the Horizon League Tournament loss to Cleveland State on March 1, 2011.
During his lone UIC season under head coach Howard Moore, Carter produced 27 double-figure scoring games, had three games of 20 or more points, and recorded 11 double-doubles (eight in Horizon League play), earning Horizon League All-Newcomer Team recognition.
Carter’s season highs included 24 points in UIC wins over Roosevelt on November 15, 2010 and Rhode Island on November 21, 2010, with a season-best 11 made field goals against Rhode Island, while his best rebounding night was 14 boards versus Toledo on November 28, 2010, a game in which he also dished a season-high six assists.
Additional single-game bests from 2010–11 included four steals against Loyola (February 16, 2011), three blocks at Valparaiso in the regular-season finale (February 26, 2011), three made three-pointers in road games at Oregon State (December 22, 2010) and at Valparaiso (February 26, 2011), and eight made free throws against Central Michigan (November 24, 2010) and Youngstown State (January 29, 2011).
Across the early-season 2K Sports Classic (Toledo sub-regional), Carter earned all-tournament recognition, and he was also credited with all-tournament honours at that event benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.
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