NICKNAME/S: The Phenom

BIO: A hard-nosed defender with a sweet outside shot, Rhys Carter was born in Sale (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Sale basketball program. Carter received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2000. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2000, 2001, 2002).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Rhys Carter made his NBL debut with the Victoria Giants at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Rhys Carter joined the Victoria Giants for the 2002/03 NBL season after the Victoria Titans folded in mid-2002 and a group headed by businessman Peter Fiddes was granted a licence in their place. The new ownership group was primarily made up of former North Melbourne personnel who remained unhappy about the Giants and Magic merger in 1998, leading the club to revive the Giants name.

Operating on a shoestring budget, Victoria could not retain head coach Brian Goorjian or most of the previous season’s higher-profile players. Veteran guard Darryl McDonald and import Jamahl Mosley accepted reduced contracts to remain, but Chris Anstey, Jason Smith and Mark Dickel left for more lucrative opportunities in Europe, while Tony Ronaldson and Brett Wheeler joined the Perth Wildcats.

The Giants retained younger players Nathan Crosswell, Darren Smith and Marcus Wright and committed to giving them increased playing time while creating a pathway for emerging Australian talent. Nik Mirich joined after graduating from George Mason University, Lindsey Tait and Miles Pearce arrived from the New Zealand NBL, and Carter was recruited from the Australian Institute of Sport alongside Dandenong Rangers centre David Cooper and 36-year-old Nunawading forward David Biwer. Former North Melbourne guard Mark Wright, who had been part of the Giants’ 1989 championship team, was appointed head coach for his first NBL season in the role.

Carter made his NBL debut on October 16, playing 3:05 minutes in Victoria’s 130–102 win over the Melbourne Tigers. He attempted three field goals, including two three-pointers, but finished scoreless.

His most productive appearance came against Wollongong on December 15, when he recorded 3 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in a season-high 9:49 minutes. Carter matched his season-high with 3 points against Cairns on February 21, making his only three-point field goal of the season in 1:51 minutes.

Carter appeared in eight games and averaged 1.0 point, 0.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.1 blocks in 4.9 minutes per game as the Giants finished 10th in the 11-team league with a 9–21 record. Victoria ended his rookie season with a 99–97 road win over Adelaide, and Carter went scoreless with 1 rebound in 1:55 minutes.

2003/04
Carter spent two seasons with Victoria Giants but was given limited playing opportunities under coach Mark Wright. Carter has noted playing for the Giants was a relatively negative experience where the team struggled for success and his love for the game diminished.

He averaged 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in his second season as the Giants finished with a record of 11-22 before folding in 2004.

Carter took a season away from basketball to play VFL football with Werribee. Carter also played with his hometown team, the Sale Sonics and that season and found a renewed love for hoops. He would return to basketball the following season, playing for the West Sydney Razorbacks.

WEST SYDNEY RAZORBACKS
2005/06
After two shocking seasons in a row, the Razorbacks were forced to build after losing a number of players. The major blow coming from promising youngster Steven Markovic walking out on the club to play in Europe just a few weeks before the start of the season, the forced retirement of Simon Dwight due to a chronic knee injury and Sam MacKinnon heading to Brisbane. This left Scott McGregor, who was named team captain, as the sole remaining player from the Grand Final loss to Sydney (2004).

Coach Mark Watkins recruited James Harvey (via Perth) to the team to replace some of the outgoing firepower but was then forced to fill the remainder of the roster with low-budget players with financial issues beginning to impact the team.

Pero Vasiljevic and Rhys Carter, who weren’t even playing in the NBL the prior season, were added to the roster, alongside Graham Dann, Cameron Rigby and Miles Pearce, who were struggling to get minutes with other NBL team’s. Nick Horvath would return as a import player, and Jermaine Blackburn was later added as the team’s second import.

West Sydney’s season wasn’t only hampered by financial issues. Horvath sustained a knee injury in the first game, which sidelined him for the season. Harvey (21.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the team in scoring but managed only 11 games due to injuries, while import Jermaine Blackburn (18 points, 5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 steals) was never able to fit in with the squad and was sacked midway through the season.

The team cycled through a number of low producing imports to finish the season, Casey Frank (6.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assists) and Joel Cornette (10.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) among them, but the team was never competitive and finished dead last with a 5-27 record. Carter would appearing in all 32 games, averaging 8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

2006/07
With the team still struggling financially, they continued to make the most of their low cost roster but were boosted by the return of a healthy James Harvey, who missed the majority of last season through injuries. Coach Mark Watkins was able to convince young big man Julian Khazzouh to turn down a college scholarship in favour of a spot in the full-time roster. He later signed Justin Bailey and Cheikh Ya Ya Dia as the team’s imports.

The updated roster did little when it came to West Sydney’ fielding a more competitive team. Behind another poor showing, the Razorbacks finished in last place (5-28) for the second straight season.

There weren’t many moments to celebrate, but West Sydney beating Wollongong and breaking their 20-game losing streak against them was one of few. Six games after that, the Razorbacks thumped crosstown rivals, the Sydney Kings (106–75) at the Pig Pen, a game which saw Kings coach Brian Goorjian make history for coaching the most games in NBL history.

It was around this time the Razorbacks team owner, Canterbury-Bankstown Rugby League Club, withdrew its financial support with Tri Media Group later taking over the running of the club, which had almost folded. It also was around this time that Watkins was axed and replaced by Cal Bruton.

Harvey (20.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) would lead the team in scoring for a second year in a row while promising young forward Liam Rush (14.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) won the league’s Most Improved Player award. Khazzouh (9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Joe Ingles (South Dragons), and Carter would play in all 33 games, averaging 5.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.

2007/08
By 2007, the Razorbacks were in the midst of a multitude of financial problems. Under new ownership, the team chose not to re-sign coach Cal Bruton, who was hired mid-way through the previous season and added Rob Beveridge, a unproven young coach who was the former head coach of the junior men’s national team. The financial instability of the team saw leading scorer James Harvey and club veteran Scott McGregor both sign deals to play for Gold Coast. To replace them, Beveridge recruited two of his former junior players, University of Loyola Marymount graduates Damian Martin and Matthew Knight. Liam Rush was named team captain, and Darnell Hinson and Troy De Vries were later signed as import players.

a injury to Damian Martin during the pre-season saw him miss the first half of the season, forcing the team to rely on Hinson (20.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.1 steals) and De Vries (16.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) to carry the offensive load and the ball carrying duties.

West Sydney struggled to be competitive most nights with its young roster, but there were still odd nights that they could squeak out a win if a number of players had big games. A win over the South Dragons (116-106) where Devries (31 points), Hinson (26 points), and Knight (23 points and 14 rebounds) all fired at once or the back-to-back wins where Hinson put up big numbers in wins against Gold Coast (32 points and 8 rebounds) and Cairns Taipans (31 points) but there were highlights for the Razorbacks across the season.

The team’s young frontcourt of Knight (12.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) and Khazzouh (11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) showed promise and was able to double the team’s number of wins from the previous season from 5 to 10.

Carter would see limited playing time behind Martin, averaging 4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1 assists in 28 games.

SOUTH DRAGONS
2008/09
The Dragons retained five players heading into their third season. Ingles, the blue-collar Matt Burston, wing Nathan Herbert, the naturalised Nick Horvath, and import Cortez Groves. The demise of the Sydney Kings saw legendary coach Brian Goorjian open to offers, and the Dragons quickly offered to bring him to Melbourne and replace Shane Heal. Talented point guard Adam Gibson also joined the roster after his team (Brisbane) also exited the league. During the 2008/09 season, Carter, with no team to play for, asked Dragons assistant coach if he could train with the team to keep in shape. His play impressed Goorjian who decided to sign him as the team’s back-up point guard. Mika Vukona later joined the roster, adding physicality and leadership and Tremmell Darden signed on as the team’s second import, rounding out the Dragons core unit.

The season began with a slow start, a loss to Cairns and then Townsville saw the Dragons start the year with a 2-2 record. Then came a eight game winning streak which ended with Groves suffering a season ending injury which led to his release. The Dragons were 16-4 when Donta Smith was axed from his Chinese team Shanxi Zhongyu (making room for NBA star Bonzi Wells) and Goorjian, who was aware of Smith from his time playing for the Atlanta Hawks, quickly signed him as Groves replacement. Smith had dropped 41 and 35 point games in his last few weeks playing in China, but started his NBL campaign much quieter in comparison. Seven games in and Smith was still coming off the bench and yet to score over 14 in a game. During this time however, his talent was never questioned, as he was able to always fill the stat sheet in almost every other area which ensured the Dragons finished the season on top of the ladder (22-8).

Mark Worthington led the team in both points and rebounds (16.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals) while Smith finished up second on the team in scoring and first in assists (15 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals), while Carter added 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists this season. Adam Gibson and Joe Ingles would earn the NBL’s Best Defensive Player and Rookie of the Year awards before heading into the playoffs, where the Dragons received a first-round bye (due to finishing top of the ladder) and meeting Townsville in the semifinals. The Dragons defeated Townsville at home in both game one (94-81) and game three (101-78), while on the other side of the bracket, the Melbourne Tigers defeated the NZ Breakers in two straight games, setting up a ‘All Melbourne’ Grand Final.

In game one, the Dragons defeated the Tigers by double digits (93–81) after holding Melbourne to 36 points in the second half. Mark Worthington (23 points) top scored for the Dragons, while Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds) led the way for the Tigers.

After leading by 14 points midway through the final quarter of game two, the Tigers fought off a late comeback by the Dragons to win on the Tigers home court (88-83). David Barlow (26 points) and Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds) finished as the Tigers’ best, and import Donta Smith (18 points and 6 rebounds) top scoring for the Dragons.

In game three, the series became front-page news after a clash between Anstey and Dragons backup point guard Rhys Carter. a incident that saw the Tigers star big man charged with ‘striking – with elbow’ after the altercation with Carter in the third quarter of the grand final series before being ejected from the match (along with Dragons forward Mika Vukona, who was involved in the subsequent on-court melee). The game was a bloodbath after Anstey’s ejection, with the Dragons hammering the defending champions 84-67 at Hisense Arena. The Dragons were led by Donta Smith (18 points), who scored 10 points in the final period.

After the NBL tribunal decided they wouldn’t suspend any players for the melee, game four saw Carter (17 points), who copped the brunt of Anstey’s anger in Game 3, came back with a big game but Anstey (31 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists) also erupted for his team in game four, propelling Melbourne to victory (108-95) and setting up a fifth and final game to decide the NBL championship.

Game five saw 9,000 fans packed Hisense Arena to witness the Dragons beat the Tigers by 21 points (102-81) and become NBL champions. Tremmell Darden (31 points) was the key for the Dragons in this game, scoring 21 points in the final quarter, and Donta Smith (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists) did the rest, almost notching up a triple-double. Worthington and Mika Vukona were able to limit the impact of limit Anstey (12 points and 3 rebounds) yet again, with Ebi Ere and David Barlow (16 points each) the only Tigers’ players able to make a impact.

Donta Smith was named MVP of the Finals after averaging 18.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists over the five-game series.

Although initial reports had the Dragons regrouping for a run at back to back titles, in a surprise move, the club announced it would withdraw from the NBL less than two months after hoisting the trophy. Although in a positive financial position, Dragons ownership felt that due to the league’s instability and focus on stablising itself conflicted with their goals of continuing to grow.

“The Dragons’ board of directors believe that more time is required to develop the league as a commercially viable entity,” said co-owner Mark Cowan at the time. “The Dragons aspire to play at the highest level, to the highest standards, in a fully professional league. This is a sad day for our club, but in many ways, it’s the only way forward for a sport which needs some time to reinvent itself.”

Cowan further addressed the club’s decision in a letter to Dragons members, outlining the testing time that it was for everyone involved across the league.

“The NBL is a mess,” stated Cowan. “In the last two years, team’s in Brisbane and Sydney have collapsed. Singapore pulled out of the league. Cairns and the Sydney Spirit had major financial crises. Fox Sports severely cut its telecasts, and mainstream media interest has waned. Crowds fall every year. Basketball Australia and the NBL owners decided something had to be done, so we handed in our licences on the condition that a reform process would be undertaken.”

After the Dragons folded and with the league’s points system making it difficult for local guards get NBCL contracts, Carter decided to try his luck playing in Europe, signing a deal to play in Sweden’s national league.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2010/11
Following the club’s worst ever season, Scott Ninnis was sacked as coach and replaced by Johnson’s former AIS coach Marty Clarke for the 2010/11 NBL season. Clarke, who had won a NBL Grand Final with North Melbourne in 1989 as a player, was a unusual choice as coach due to his lack of experience coaching at a NBL level.

Before the season began, he recruited two of his former AIS graduates, Daniel Johnson (Melbourne) and Rhys Carter (Sweden) to bolster the bench as well as oversaw the re-signing of team captain Adam Ballinger who had led the team in scoring, and rebounding the season prior.

Clarke then replaced imports John Gilchrist and Cortez Groves with sharpshooter Troy De Vries and Craig Winder.

The 2010/11 season saw a litany of injuries befall the 36ers. The first casualty was Nathan Herbert, who suffered a anterior cruciate ligament injury and miss the entire season. After defeating long-time rivals Perth in the opening game of the season 74-69, the 36ers recorded two wins in seven games. December then saw Rhys Carter suffer a major injury that would see him miss a third of the season. During Carter’s absence, Adelaide signed former 36ers guard Aaron Bruce, who had taken time off basketball to finish his studies in the US. When healthy, Carter returned to the lineup, but Adelaide also chose to keep Bruce on the roster for the remainder of the season. Import guards Troy DeVries and Craig Winder, who had battled with fitness issues, were released and replaced after the first nine games of the season. The underperforming Winder (10.1 ppg from 35% shooting) was replaced by Ron Howard and De Vries (10 ppg) with veteran Euroleague guard, Eddie Shannon.

Shannon, who was recommended to Adelaide by Chris Anstey, who played alongside him in Russia, had played in Europe for ten years as a pro despite only being able to see out of one eye.

The 36ers never quite nailed their imports, and for the first time in their history, the Adelaide 36ers failed to win at least ten games in a season, finishing with a 9–19 record. Carter finished the season averaging 8.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.

Adelaide was able to avoid their second straight last-place finish only because of the returning Sydney Kings, who, with a limited budget for players and finished one game behind (8–20).

Ballinger (15.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) led the team in scoring, shooting a impressive 54.1% from the field and was the league’s leading shot blocker before injuring his ankle in Adelaide’s last home game of the season. Due to the relatively small size of the 2010/11 36ers squad, the 205 cm tall Ballinger was used as the team’s’ starting centre until sustaining a season ending ankle injury on March 18, 2011. He did, however, revert to his more natural position of power forward when 212cm teammate Daniel Johnson was on the court. Ballinger won his fourth straight club MVP award, finished third in the NBL’s MVP voting and was selected to the All-NBL Third Team.

PERTH WILDCATS
2012/13
Before the season began, the state-of-the-art Perth Arena was completed, with the 13,500 seat stadium becoming the new home of the Wildcat’s in 2012.

After undergoing off-season shoulder surgery, Matthew Knight entered the season with the expectation that he was going to be the team’s go-to guy in the paint. Knight embraced the responsibility and excelled in the Wildcats’ season-opening win over the New Zealand Breakers, earning the NBL’s Player of the Week award for a 20-point, nine-rebound effort.

Against the Townsville Crocodiles on October 14, Kevin Lisch played in his 100th consecutive NBL game, which, not coincidentally, was Rob Beveridge’s 100th game for the Wildcats as coach. Shortly after, import Michael Dunigan was brought in as a short-term replacement for Knight while he missed four games to injury and became a fan-favourite with his thunderous dunks and athletic blocks.

The team then faced another hurdle when co-captain Brad Robbins abruptly retired just eight games into the season, citing he had lost his motivation and passion for the game. Not long after, Cameron Tovey also announced he would retire after the 2012/13 season.

Despite the turmoil, Carter averaged 6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, helping the Wildcat’s finish second on the ladder with a 19–9 record. Lisch and Knight were named to the All-NBL first team, and the Wildcats finished second on the ladder with a 22–6 record. Perth swept the Wollongong Hawks in the semifinals to move on to the 2013 NBL Grand Final series, a re-match from last season against the New Zealand Breakers, which would be their third time facing the Breakers in a playoff series in as many years.

Another injury hurdle struck the Wildcat’s when Damian Martin, who joined Redhage as co-captain upon Robbins’ retirement, won his third consecutive Best Defensive Player award before being ruled out of the grand final with a Achilles injury. To cover his loss, Brad Robbins was subsequently rushed back into the team to take Martin’s place, but with the team missing Martin, the Breakers defeated Perth in two straight games, winning their third consecutive championship in 2013.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2013/14
The arrival of NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright in 2013 marked a dramatic turnaround for the Adelaide 36ers, who bounced back from two consecutive wooden spoon finishes to reach the Grand Final. The club retained its core local group including Daniel Johnson (19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds), Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, Jason Cadee, and a healthy Mitch Creek, returning after an Achilles injury ended his prior season. The 36ers addressed their backcourt needs by adding 2011 NBL MVP Gary Ervin (via Townsville) and import Jarrid Frye, while former NBA big man Luke Schenscher rejoined the squad. New Zealand’s BJ Anthony was also signed to bolster frontcourt depth.

Led by Ervin and Johnson, Adelaide opened the season with a 7–2 record after Round 7, including a 5-game winning streak. The run featured back-to-back victories over the triple defending champion New Zealand Breakers in Auckland—their first wins there since 2009. In front of a season-high home crowd of 6,585, Adelaide then handed the previously unbeaten Perth Wildcats their first loss of the season (91–86). By December, the 36ers had already surpassed their win total from the previous year, sitting at 9–4.

Frye (8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) was released in February due to underwhelming form and an ankle injury. His replacement was Rhys Carter, who returned to the NBL after playing as an import in Sweden. Carter (6.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) brought experience and outside shooting to a team eyeing a deep playoff run.

Adelaide finished the regular season in second place with an 18–10 record. In the semi-final series against Melbourne, Game 1 saw Gary Ervin (27 points and 7 assists) lead the 36ers to a dominant 101–85 win, while Carter delivered a breakout game with 17 points (6-11 FG, 5-9 3PT), 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 19:49 off the bench. In Game 2, Chris Goulding exploded for 37 points to guide the Tigers to a 98–87 win. Carter contributed 6 points (2-9 FG, 2-7 3PT), 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 20:06. Game 3 returned to Adelaide where the 36ers dismantled Melbourne 102–63, holding them to just 27 first-half points. Carter added 6 points (2-4 FG, 2-3 3PT), 1 rebound, and 4 assists in 14:37 to help seal the series win.

The Grand Final series saw the 36ers face the top-seeded Perth Wildcats. Game 1 in Perth ended in a 92–85 win for the Wildcats, led by James Ennis (30 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists). Carter went scoreless (0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT) in 10:22 minutes, adding 1 rebound and 2 assists. Game 2 at Adelaide Arena was the team’s largest home crowd of the season (8,127), where Ervin (23 points) and Gibson (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) propelled the 36ers to an 89–84 win. Carter added 4 points (1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT), 2 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal in 15:13.

In the deciding Game 3, Perth’s ‘Red Army’ packed the arena with 13,498 fans to witness a 93–59 blowout win. Damian Martin clamped down on Gary Ervin, holding him to just 4 points, while contributing 14 points and 6 rebounds himself. Shawn Redhage added 16 points—10 of them in the first quarter—and Greg Hire (9 rebounds and 5 assists) along with Jermaine Beal (15 points) ensured Perth broke through after consecutive Grand Final losses. Carter played 9:37 and recorded 2 points (1-5 FG, 0-4 3PT), 1 rebound, and 1 turnover.

Anthony Petrie (20 points) led the way for Adelaide in the final, but both Gibson (8 points) and Johnson (9 points) struggled to make an impact after strong showings in earlier games. Johnson was rewarded with his third straight club MVP award and earned All-NBL First Team honours.

Though the season ended in disappointment, Wright’s leadership and the team’s return to the Grand Final marked a new era for the 36ers, with the revitalised roster restoring Adelaide as a legitimate championship contender.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2014/15
After a dismal season the year prior, where the team missed out on the NBL playoffs despite having won the previous three seasons in a row, the Breakers regrouped by replacing imports Kerron Johnson and Gary Wilkinson with big man Ekene Ibekwe and fan favourite Cedric Jackson, who had led the team to back-to-back titles previously (2012, 2013).

This season saw the exits of CJ Bruton (retired) and Daryl Corletto (to Melbourne) and replaced with Rhys Carter (via Adelaide) and Tai Wesley, who qualified as a local player due to being born in Guam under the league’s Asian player rule.

The Breakers kickstarted the season with back-to-back wins over Perth and Adelaide before suffering back-to-back losses to Cairns and Melbourne. In what was a highly competitive season, New Zealand was able to reel off multiple five game winning streaks behind the offensive talent of both Jackson (14.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.2 steals) and Corey Webster (15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists), who moved into the starting lineup and become one of the league’s premier scorers, while Carter would average 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. The Breakers battled all season long for top spot alongside Perth and Cairns, eventually finishing in second place (19–9).

in the semifinals, New Zealand would face third-placed Adelaide, who had won their final ten regular season games and entered the playoffs as the hottest team in the competition. Despite the 36ers’ hot form, the Breakers made light work of them in game one (111–82), with Webster (24 points) delivering a career-high scoring effort at Vector Arena. Game two then moved to Adelaide, where they again had the upper hand the entire game, defeating the 36ers (94–83) and moving on to the Grand Final.

There, they met the Cairns Taipans, who had become the first regional centre team to win the minor premiership since the Geelong Cats did so in 1984. Despite having home-court advantage, the Breakers easily took game one in Cairns with a 86–71 win led by Jackson’s 22 points and a explosive fourth quarter from Rhys Carter.

Welcome back Mr Carter.@rcarter15 #whereyoubeen pic.twitter.com/ygOgTutB1s— The Locker Room (@DT_LockerRoom) August 19, 2015

Game 2 then shifted to Auckland, where after a tight contest the entire game, Taipans guard Scottie Wilbekin tied the game with two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in regulation. Coming out of a timeout, Ibekwe caught a inbounds pass, turned and hit a game-winning fade-away shot to lift the Breakers over the Taipans (83–81) and clinch New Zealand’s fourth title in five seasons. Jackson was subsequently named Grand Final MVP for the second time in his career after adding to his 22 points in game one with 15 points in game two. Jackson claimed his third championship and second Grand Final MVP award, becoming the first player in NBL history to win three NBL championships from his first three seasons.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBL (@nbl)

2014/15
After winning three consecutive NBL championships between 2011 and 2013, New Zealand finished seventh with an 11-17 record in 2013/14, missing the playoffs for the first time in four years. Dean Vickerman returned for his second season as head coach, with imports Kerron Johnson and Gary Wilkinson departing alongside CJ Bruton (retired) and Daryl Corletto (to Melbourne). The Breakers retained captain Mika Vukona, Thomas Abercrombie, Corey Webster and Alex Pledger, while adding two-time championship winner Cedric Jackson (via Slovenia), Ekene Ibekwe, Rhys Carter (via Adelaide) and Tai Wesley, who qualified as a local player under the NBL’s Asian player rule due to being born in Guam.

Carter joined New Zealand on a one-year deal after helping Adelaide reach the Grand Final the previous season. Having previously won an NBL championship with the South Dragons in 2009 and reached the 2013 Grand Final with Perth, he brought considerable experience to the Breakers’ backcourt. Vickerman described Carter as “a high level passer” who could get hot from the perimeter and break open games, while also valuing his ability to apply defensive pressure alongside Jackson. He was expected to provide scoring, ball-handling and leadership off the bench behind New Zealand’s starting guards.

New Zealand opened the season against defending champions Perth at Perth Arena on October 10, where Carter (14 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) produced his best all-around performance of the season, making three of his five three-point attempts in more than 30 minutes. With Abercrombie unavailable while recovering from hernia surgery and Webster leaving the game early with a back complaint, Carter assumed additional backcourt responsibility. Jackson (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led New Zealand, while Ibekwe (10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) provided support inside. Shawn Redhage (20 points) and DeAndre Daniels (19 points and 6 rebounds) led Perth, but the Breakers established a 49-26 halftime advantage and held off a Wildcats comeback to win 80-70 in front of 12,903 fans.

Carter (6.6 points across 32 games) provided experienced backcourt depth behind Jackson and Webster, contributing outside shooting, passing and defensive pressure in a reserve role. He appeared in all 28 regular-season games and all four postseason contests, starting once while averaging approximately 17 minutes per game. The Breakers followed their opening victory with a win over Adelaide before suffering consecutive losses to Melbourne and Cairns, but quickly recovered and established themselves among the competition’s leading teams. New Zealand put together multiple five-game winning streaks as it battled Perth and Cairns for top position throughout the season.

Carter’s highest-scoring game came against Townsville at the North Shore Events Centre on December 19, where he finished with 19 points, 1 assist, and 2 steals in just over 21 minutes. Making seven of his ten field-goal attempts, including five of six three-pointers, Carter provided a major offensive spark after the Breakers trailed by six points at halftime. Webster (21 points) and Jackson (13 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals) provided support, while Brian Conklin (16 points and 8 rebounds) and Todd Blanchfield (16 points and 4 rebounds) led Townsville. New Zealand outscored the Crocodiles 52-34 during the second half to win 96-84, with Carter’s outside shooting playing a major role in the comeback.

The Breakers’ Boxing Day game against Sydney at Qantas Credit Union Arena provided a setback for Carter, who dislocated a finger badly enough for the injury to break the skin. Carter (5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal) played just over 15 minutes before requiring medical attention and spending the night in hospital. Wesley (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Abercrombie (18 points and 5 rebounds) led New Zealand, while Ben Madgen (25 points) was Sydney’s leading scorer as the Breakers won 97-85. Despite the seriousness of the injury, Carter recovered sufficiently to play in New Zealand’s next game against Adelaide on January 4 and did not miss a game.

Carter made his only start of the season against Melbourne United at Vector Arena on January 18, replacing Webster in the starting lineup. Carter (8 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) contributed in limited minutes as Jackson (16 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals) recorded his second career NBL triple-double, while Webster (17 points) led New Zealand’s scoring from the bench. Stephen Dennis (18 points) and Daniel Kickert (15 points and 9 rebounds) led Melbourne, but the Breakers’ defence held the league’s leading scorer Jordan McRae to just two points on 1-of-14 shooting. New Zealand pulled away during the final minutes to win 88-75 and strengthen its position at the top of the ladder.

Webster (15.3 points across 32 games) emerged as New Zealand’s leading scorer after moving into the starting lineup, producing the highest-scoring season of his career to that point and developing into one of the league’s premier offensive guards. Jackson (14.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2.2 steals across 32 games) led the NBL in assists and earned All-NBL First Team honours, while Ibekwe (11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks across 32 games) provided athleticism and rim protection. Ibekwe led the league in total blocked shots with 62, setting a Breakers single-season record, and earned All-NBL Second Team selection. Abercrombie (11.2 points and 4.3 rebounds across 29 games) remained a key perimeter contributor, while Vukona (8.3 points and 6.7 rebounds across 32 games), Wesley (8 points and 4.8 rebounds across 32 games) and Pledger (5.5 points and 3.7 rebounds across 30 games) provided the other main contributions. The Breakers finished second with a 19-9 record, completing a major turnaround from the previous season and securing home-court advantage for their semifinal series.

New Zealand faced third-placed Adelaide in the semifinals, with the 36ers entering the playoffs on a 10-game winning streak. Game one was played at Vector Arena on February 26, where Carter (3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) contributed from the bench as the Breakers established an early advantage. Webster (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand’s scoring, while Jackson (13 points and 10 assists) provided the main playmaking support. Jamar Wilson (21 points) and Daniel Johnson (14 points and 8 rebounds) led Adelaide, but New Zealand dominated the third quarter and won 111-82, ending the 36ers’ winning streak and taking a 1-0 series lead.

Game two moved to the Adelaide Arena on February 28, where Carter (4 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist) provided reserve backcourt support as Jackson (18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals) produced another outstanding all-around performance. Ibekwe (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) dominated inside, while Wilson (23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) and Johnson (16 points and 7 rebounds) led Adelaide. The Breakers maintained their advantage throughout the second half and won 94-83, completing the semifinal sweep and advancing to their fourth Grand Final in five seasons. For Carter, it also marked a third consecutive Grand Final appearance after previously reaching the championship series with Perth and Adelaide.

New Zealand faced minor premiers Cairns in the Grand Final, with the Taipans becoming the first regional team to finish on top of the NBL ladder since the Geelong Cats in 1984. Game one was played at the Cairns Convention Centre on March 6, where Carter (12 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) made five of his seven field-goal attempts, including two three-pointers, and provided important scoring during the final quarter. Jackson (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand, while Ibekwe (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks) dominated inside. Scottie Wilbekin (16 points) and Cameron Gliddon (13 points and 9 rebounds) led Cairns, which recovered from a 16-point halftime deficit to cut the margin to one point at the final break. Carter’s outside shooting helped the Breakers regain control during the fourth quarter as New Zealand pulled away to win 86-71 and move within one victory of the championship.

Game two returned to Auckland’s North Shore Events Centre on March 8, where Carter (2 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) provided valuable minutes off the bench as the Breakers attempted to close out the series. Abercrombie (19 points and 3 steals) led New Zealand’s scoring, while Jackson (15 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) controlled the backcourt. Cameron Tragardh (17 points and 5 rebounds), Gliddon (16 points and 4 rebounds) and Torrey Craig (16 points and 5 rebounds) led Cairns, which overcame a five-point halftime deficit and moved six points ahead during the final three minutes. Vukona tied the scores at 78-78 with a put-back before both teams exchanged free throws in the closing seconds. With New Zealand leading 81-79, Wilbekin made two free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining to level the scores and seemingly force overtime. Coming out of a timeout, Jackson inbounded the ball to Ibekwe (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks), who caught the pass near the free-throw line, turned and made a fadeaway jumper as the buzzer sounded. The Breakers defeated Cairns 83-81 to complete a 2-0 Grand Final sweep and claim their fourth NBL championship in five seasons, giving Carter his second NBL title. Jackson was awarded the Larry Sengstock Medal as Grand Final MVP for the second time, becoming the first player in NBL history to win three championships during his first three seasons.

A post shared by NBL (@nbl)

SYDNEY KINGS
2015/16
After finishing seventh with a 9-19 record in 2014/15 and missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, Sydney retained Damian Cotter as head coach. Ben Madgen (to Belgium), Cody Ellis (to Illawarra), Kevin White (to Illawarra), Kendrick Perry (free agent), Josh Duinker (to Körmend) and Daniel Joyce (free agent) departed, while Josh Childress re-signed and Jason Cadee, captain Tom Garlepp and reigning Rookie of the Year Angus Brandt returned. Julian Khazzouh (via Lebanon), Steven Markovic (via Townsville), Jeromie Hill (via UTSA), Marcus Thornton (via William & Mary), Dion Prewster (via Wellington) and Rhys Carter (via New Zealand) were added. After helping New Zealand win the 2015 championship, the veteran guard joined his seventh NBL team and provided Sydney with shooting, passing, defence and experience from the bench.

Sydney opened the season against Cairns on October 10, where the veteran guard (5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) came from the bench as the Kings defeated the Taipans 87-63. Khazzouh (22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks) and Cadee (19 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) led Sydney, while Mark Worthington (13 points) was Cairns’ leading scorer.

Carter (5.6 points across 28 games) appeared in every game and came from the bench in all 28 appearances, not missing a game through injury or illness. He made 32 three-pointers during the season and provided experienced backcourt depth behind Cadee, Thornton and Markovic. It would be his final season in the NBL before continuing his career overseas in England and Sweden.

Childress (21 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks across 13 games) missed Sydney’s first four games with a foot injury before returning against Adelaide on October 23 and breaking his right hand. Al Harrington (via Fujian) (17.7 points and 6.8 rebounds across 6 games) came out of retirement as Childress’ short-term injury replacement after being contacted by his former Atlanta teammate, with his six-game stint ending when Childress returned in late November. Sydney remained last at 3-9 and released Cotter on November 28, with former Washington Wizards assistant Joe Connelly taking over as interim head coach.

Two games after returning, Childress fractured his left hand against Cairns on December 4 and was again ruled out. Damion James (via Le Mans) (7 points and 7.8 rebounds across 5 games) was signed as his injury replacement and played five games before his stint ended when Childress was reactivated on December 29.

Carter’s highest-scoring game came against Illawarra on December 18, where he made 6-of-7 field goals, including three three-pointers, and finished with 15 points and 2 rebounds. Garlepp (15 points and 8 rebounds) and Thornton (15 points) also led Sydney, while Kevin Lisch (23 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) led Illawarra to a 102-83 victory. The loss became even more costly when Khazzouh (6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) ruptured his right quadriceps tendon during the game and was ruled out for the remainder of the season, leaving Sydney at 4-13. “We’re not going to be known as losers. I refuse to have that tag,” Carter said.

Carter produced his best all-round game against his former team New Zealand on December 27, making 5-of-7 field goals and four three-pointers to finish with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Garlepp (25 points and 4 rebounds) and Cadee (14 points and 6 assists) provided support, while Corey Webster (38 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) led the Breakers to a 93-83 victory at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.

With Khazzouh sidelined, assistant coach Ben Knight (via North Sydney) came out of retirement and suited up for four games to provide temporary frontcourt cover. Jordan Vandenberg (via Westchester) (3.1 points across 8 games) was signed on January 7 as Khazzouh’s injury replacement for the remainder of the season. Markovic (3 points across 7 games) underwent surgery to remove his tonsils in December and, with Sydney believing he would struggle to regain full fitness before the season ended, Indiana Faithfull (via West Liberty) (2.6 points across 7 games) was signed as his replacement. Craig Moller also joined Sydney’s training squad during the search for frontcourt cover after trialling alongside Vandenberg, who received the injury-replacement roster position.

Cadee (14 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 28 games) and Garlepp (13.9 points and 4.2 rebounds across 27 games) became Sydney’s main offensive options during the repeated injuries, while Khazzouh (13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 17 games), Thornton (12.8 points across 28 games) and Brandt (8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 28 games) provided the other major contributions. Garlepp was named Sydney’s Most Valuable Player, Cadee won the Members’ Most Valuable Player and Community awards, Brandt received the Mike Wrublewski Most Inspirational Player award, Prewster (3.5 points across 28 games) was named Defensive Player of the Year and Knight (0.5 points across 4 games) received the Laurie Watterson Clubman of the Year award.

Sydney finished its season in Townsville on February 13, where Carter (3 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal), Cadee (32 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) and Childress (31 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks) helped the Kings force overtime after the scores were tied 109-109 at the end of regulation, while Omar Samhan (25 points and 13 rebounds) led Townsville to a 126-123 victory, leaving Sydney last with a 6-22 record.

Rhys Carter played eleven seasons across seven NBL teams. This included the Victoria Giants, South Dragons, West Sydney Razorbacks, Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers, New Zealand Breakers and Sydney Kings. He averaged 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 282 NBL games.

HIGHLIGHTS: