BIO: Corey Webster was born and raised in Auckland (NZ) and attended Westlake Boys High School. He began playing junior basketball for North Harbour Basketball Association before moving to the United States in 2007 to attend college at Lambuth University, a NAIA school.

FAMILY: Corey’s brother, Tai Webster also played 84 games in the NBL.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Corey Webster made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 19 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Webster came through the New Zealand Breakers development and academy programmes, joining the team in June 2008 as a development player.

Webster saw limited opportunities to play, appearing in only seven games and averaging 0.4 points, 0.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists. The Breakers finished with a record of 18-12 and in third place during the regular season.

After reaching the playoffs for the first time in club history the previous season, coach Andrej Lemanis returned with much of the Breakers’ core intact. The team lost Phill Jones (to Cairns) and Tim Behrendorff (to Wollongong) but aimed to strengthen their roster with the addition of veteran Dave Thomas (via Cairns). However, Thomas was forced into early retirement due to injury before the season started. Former NBA talent Awvee Storey was signed as his replacement, and development player Thomas Abercrombie was elevated to the full squad.

The Breakers struggled through the first half of the season, primarily due to the absence of their leading scorer Kirk Penney (23.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists), who missed nine games with a back injury. Compounding their struggles was Storey (7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists), who underperformed and was released after nine games. The club cited that “things weren’t working out” with the import. In response, the Breakers signed NBL veteran John Rillie (4.3 points and 1.6 rebounds) as a temporary replacement. Rillie appeared in 12 games but was unable to lift the Breakers’ performance.

New Zealand’s fortunes improved with the midseason signing of Kevin Braswell (9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.3 steals). Braswell made an immediate impact, playing in the final seven games and leading the Breakers to six consecutive wins to close out the season.

Despite the late-season surge, New Zealand fell short of the playoffs in one of the tightest NBL seasons ever. The Breakers finished in fifth place with a 15-13 record, only two games behind league leaders Perth. Their failure to make the postseason was a disappointing end to a campaign marred by injuries and midseason roster adjustments.

In his second season as a development player, Corey Webster appeared in 10 games. He averaged 2.9 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists while continuing to develop his game within the Breakers’ system.

2010/11
During the 2010 offseason, the Breakers made a series of key moves, including re-signing fan favourite Mika Vukona and adding former Utah State standout Gary Wilkinson to bolster their frontcourt. Kevin Braswell, who had impressed the previous season, was also retained. This season marked a turning point for Corey Webster, as the 22-year-old guard was elevated from development player to the Breakers’ full-time roster.

The Breakers began the season without star Kirk Penney, who was attempting to secure an NBA contract. Although Penney failed to land a deal, he rejoined the Breakers after the first month of play. Despite his absence, the Breakers made a blistering start to the season, winning their first five games. Their unbeaten streak ended abruptly with a heavy 114–74 defeat to the Perth Wildcats in Round 6.

Penney (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game) returned to his role as the Breakers’ offensive leader and finished the regular season as the team’s top scorer. With Penney’s scoring and strong contributions from the Breakers’ balanced lineup, New Zealand dominated the regular season, finishing on top of the ladder with a 22–6 record. Webster, now part of the regular rotation, averaged 4.0 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in limited minutes across the campaign.

The Breakers’ first-place finish set up a semifinal clash against the fourth-seeded Perth Wildcats. Game one saw the Wildcats stun the Breakers at home, but New Zealand rebounded with back-to-back wins to take the series 2–1, advancing to their first-ever NBL Grand Final.

In the championship series, the Breakers faced the Cairns Taipans. New Zealand dominated game one, cruising to an 85–67 victory after building a massive 31-point lead in the third quarter. Game two in Cairns was a thriller, with the teams locked at 60–60 at the end of regulation and 73–73 after the first overtime period. Cairns eventually edged out the Breakers 85–81, forcing a decisive game three.

Back on their home court for the championship decider on April 29, 2011, the Breakers delivered a commanding performance. They defeated the Taipans 71–53 to claim their first NBL Championship, making history as the first New Zealand-based team to win a championship in Australian pro sports.

2011/12
Webster saw his contract with the Breakers terminated after testing positive to synthetic cannabis during the semi finals of last year’s NBL title run, his second positive drugs test inside two years. This led to a one year WADA imposed suspension and him missing the 2011/12 NBL season.

“It is a unfortunate situation for Corey, however this is a action we had to take as a club,” said General Manager Richard Clarke at the time.

“The second positive test breaches the previous agreement between Corey and the club, and he has also breached team protocols and club values. We felt the termination of Corey’s contract was the most appropriate action for all parties.”

Following a dominant title defense, the Breakers made key changes during the 2012 offseason. Star import Gary Wilkinson departed, opening the door for promising New Zealand centre Alex Pledger to step into the starting lineup. The team also re-signed dynamic point guard Cedric Jackson and brought back guard Corey Webster, who had completed his 12-month suspension for the use of banned substances.

On November 30, 2012, Jackson delivered a historic performance, recording his first career triple-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Melbourne Tigers. It marked only the second triple-double recorded since the NBL introduced 40-minute games in the 2009/10 season.

The Breakers hit their stride during the middle portion of the season, establishing a new club-best winning streak of 11 games in February 2013. By mid-March, the streak had been extended to an incredible 15 consecutive victories, solidifying New Zealand’s dominance. On March 24, Cedric Jackson (14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.8 steals) was named the NBL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2012/13 season and earned a spot on the All-NBL First Team. Jackson led the league in assists and steals for the second consecutive season, showcasing his elite playmaking and defensive prowess.

Corey Webster saw significant improvement this season, earning greater opportunities under coach Andrej Lemanis. Webster’s playing time jumped from 13 minutes per game to 20 minutes, and he delivered career-high averages of 7.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. His steady progression provided a reliable scoring option off the bench as the Breakers cruised to a league-best 24–4 regular season record.

In a rematch of the previous year’s Grand Final, the Breakers once again faced the Perth Wildcats. The Wildcats entered the series at a disadvantage, missing starting guard Damian Martin due to a season-ending Achilles injury. While Brad Robbins was signed as cover, Perth struggled to overcome Martin’s absence, and New Zealand capitalized on the opportunity. The Breakers defeated Perth in straight games, delivering a clean sweep of the postseason. A thrilling 70–66 victory in game two sealed their third consecutive NBL Championship.

Cedric Jackson was named the Grand Final MVP after his pivotal role in leading New Zealand to their historic three-peat. Webster’s contributions throughout the season highlighted his growing importance within the team as he continued to develop into a key rotation player.

2013/14
After winning three straight titles, the Breakers faced a significant transition as coach Andrej Lemanis departed to lead the Australian Boomers. Assistant coach Dean Vickerman was promoted to head coach, tasked with maintaining the team’s championship success.

Vickerman inherited a Breakers roster that had lost key pieces, including Cedric Jackson (to Europe) and veteran Dillon Boucher, who retired. The absence of Jackson proved particularly difficult to overcome, and the team struggled out of the gate, losing three of their first four games. In response, the Breakers brought back former fan favourite Gary Wilkinson (15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists), who joined the team in late October.

In January, the Breakers made another roster move by signing Casey Frank (5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) to replace Alex Pledger (10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks), who was limited to just 13 games due to persistent injuries. Kerron Johnson (12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals), signed as Jackson’s replacement, struggled to fill the void at point guard, and his inconsistent shooting hampered the Breakers’ offensive rhythm.

Thomas Abercrombie (15.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) carried much of the scoring load, but with little spacing around him, the Breakers were unable to gain momentum. The team failed to string together more than two consecutive wins all season, finishing in seventh place with an 11–17 record.

Despite the disappointing season, there were positives for New Zealand. Corey Webster (8.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) delivered a career-best scoring season, showing his evolution into a reliable backcourt presence. Webster, alongside Reuben Te Rangi (5.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists), provided a glimpse into the Breakers’ future with promising individual performances.

2014/15
Following their struggles the previous season, the Breakers rebuilt their roster with a mix of familiar faces and new talent. Cedric Jackson, who had guided the team to two titles (2012, 2013), returned to the lineup, replacing Kerron Johnson at point guard. The team also signed Ekene Ibekwe as their new import big man, while fan favourite CJ Bruton retired and Daryl Corletto joined Melbourne. Rhys Carter (via Adelaide) and Tai Wesley (eligible under the Asian player rule) rounded out the roster.

The Breakers began the season in impressive fashion, recording back-to-back wins over Perth and Adelaide before suffering consecutive losses to Cairns and Melbourne. Throughout the campaign, New Zealand established themselves as a contender by producing multiple five-game winning streaks. Cedric Jackson (14.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.2 steals) returned to MVP-calibre form, while Corey Webster thrived in his new role as a starter, averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Webster’s scoring efficiency and ability to create his own shot cemented him as one of the league’s premier scorers.

The Breakers battled Perth and Cairns throughout the season for top spot, eventually finishing in second place with a 19–9 record. In the semifinals, New Zealand faced a red-hot Adelaide 36ers team that had won 10 straight games to close out the regular season. Despite Adelaide’s form, the Breakers dominated game one at Vector Arena (111–82), with Webster delivering a career-high 24 points. Game two shifted to Adelaide, but New Zealand maintained their edge, winning 94–83 to secure a spot in the Grand Final.

In the championship series, the Breakers met the Cairns Taipans, who had earned the league’s minor premiership. Despite Cairns having home-court advantage, New Zealand controlled game one, winning 86–71 behind Jackson’s 22 points. Game two in Auckland was a tightly contested affair, culminating in a dramatic finish. Taipans guard Scottie Wilbekin tied the game with two free throws in the final seconds of regulation, but Ekene Ibekwe delivered the decisive moment, sinking a fadeaway jumper off an inbounds pass to seal the Breakers’ 83–81 victory.

The win secured New Zealand’s fourth NBL Championship in five seasons, and Cedric Jackson was named Grand Final MVP for the second time in his career after his dominant performances throughout the series.

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Following their 2015 NBL Championship, the Breakers retained nearly their entire roster, with only Rhys Carter (to Sydney) and Ekene Ibekwe (to Europe) departing. To replace them, the team brought in Australian point guard Shane McDonald and rookie American big man Charles Jackson. The Breakers’ preseason, however, was plagued with setbacks, including Alex Pledger’s absence due to foot surgery, Thomas Abercrombie dealing with a nagging hamstring strain, and Corey Webster leaving to trial with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. To cover the shortfall, the Breakers elevated development players Shea Ili and Tai Wynyard while signing Everard Bartlett as Webster’s temporary replacement.

New Zealand opened the season with a shock 71-90 loss to Adelaide. Missing Webster, Abercrombie, and Pledger, the Breakers struggled offensively, with Cedric Jackson (14 points) leading a limited scoring effort. The first-half performance (51–26 in Adelaide’s favour) marked the second-lowest first-half score and the second-biggest halftime deficit in franchise history.

In their second game, Jackson celebrated his 99th NBL appearance with a dominant triple-double performance (14 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 14 assists) to lead the Breakers to an 89–81 victory over the Townsville Crocodiles. Jackson’s win percentage through his first 99 games (77 wins, 77.7%) set a new NBL record. However, in his 100th game, the Breakers were blown out 96–75 by Illawarra, with Jackson enduring a career-worst outing, going scoreless (0-of-7 FG, 0-of-3 3PT, and 1-of-5 FT).

New Zealand’s fortunes turned with the return of Corey Webster, who rejoined the team after being waived by the New Orleans Pelicans. Webster (19.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) immediately re-energized the Breakers’ offence. Duane Bailey was released to make way for Webster, and Everard Bartlett, initially signed as Webster’s replacement, was retained for the remainder of the season. The Breakers surged, winning nine of their next eleven games to improve to 10–5 by Round 10, firmly back in title contention.

Despite their midseason success, the Breakers faltered in the later rounds, losing five of their next six games and falling out of the top four behind Adelaide (11–9) by Round 15. Webster’s return coincided with a brief revival, as the Breakers won three straight games to enter Round 5 with a 4–3 record. However, inconsistency plagued the team, and by November 8, Cedric Jackson recorded another milestone—his fifth career triple-double (16 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists)—albeit in a loss to Melbourne United.

Injuries to key players, including Jackson, who played through toe and Achilles issues, compounded the Breakers’ struggles. Jackson rebounded strongly in February, delivering a season-high 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in a critical 106–84 victory over Adelaide. Jackson’s historic performance, featuring seven three-pointers, marked the first time an NBL player achieved such stats since John Rillie in 1998.

On January 17, Charles Jackson (10.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) grabbed 18 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, in a double-overtime loss to Illawarra (103–96). Jackson’s effort marked the first time a Breakers player achieved 10 offensive rebounds in a game and the first such feat in the NBL since 2007.

New Zealand hit rock bottom on January 21, losing their fifth straight game, the team’s worst losing streak since the 2008/09 season. Despite their struggles, the Breakers rallied to win their final five games, narrowly edging out Adelaide for the fourth playoff seed with a 16–12 record.

In the semifinals, the Breakers stunned first-placed Melbourne United with a 2–0 series sweep to reach their fifth Grand Final in six years. Facing the Perth Wildcats, New Zealand dropped Game 1 (82–76) as Perth relied on Nathan Jawai’s inside presence and Casey Prather’s tough defense. Back in Auckland for Game 2, the Breakers responded with a hard-fought 72–68 victory behind Cedric Jackson’s near triple-double (13 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists).

The decisive Game 3 in Perth, played in front of a sold-out crowd of 13,090 ‘Red Army’ fans, saw the Wildcats dominate. Perth’s Casey Prather (19 points) and Jermaine Beal (14 points) led the scoring, but it was Damian Martin’s stellar defensive effort that stole the spotlight. Martin held Jackson scoreless on five field goal attempts, forcing him to foul out early in the final quarter. The Wildcats secured their seventh NBL title with a blowout 75–52 victory, marking New Zealand’s first Grand Final series loss and their first playoff defeat to the Wildcats in franchise history.

Corey Webster capped off a stellar individual season by being named to the All-NBL Second Team. He averaged 19.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, cementing himself as one of the league’s premier scorers despite the Breakers’ heartbreaking finish.

2016/17
Following their Grand Final loss, the Breakers underwent significant changes, with coach Dean Vickerman departing and Paul Henare taking over. Dillon Boucher transitioned to general manager, and Cedric Jackson and Tai Wesley joined Melbourne United. The team retained Abercrombie, Webster, Pledger, and Mika Vukona while adding club legend Kirk Penney and imports Ben Woodside and Akil Mitchell. Development players Shea Ili, Finn Delany, and Jordan Ngatai were elevated to full-time roles.

Injuries plagued the Breakers throughout the season. Webster (hip and back issues) missed multiple games early on and struggled to regain form upon his return, averaging 11.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Abercrombie, Woodside, and Mitchell also faced injury setbacks, with Mitchell suffering a gruesome eye injury in January. Despite a brief return, Webster was shut down for the season due to lingering injuries.

New Zealand cycled through imports, replacing Woodside with David Stockton, who lasted 10 games before being replaced by Kevin Dillard. Dillard (18.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists) and Penney (17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) led a late-season charge, but consecutive losses in Round 17 ended their playoff hopes.

The Breakers finished in fifth place with a 14–14 record, missing the playoffs for the second time in three years.

2017/18
The 2017 offseason saw the Breakers cut ties with Webster, which led to him signing a two-year deal with the Perth Wildcats, however Webster would never play for the club. Webster played in the 2017 NBA Summer League and was offered a considerably larger deal from Europe and requested a release prior to the NBL season starting.

2018/19
In 2018, the New Zealand Breakers underwent significant changes, starting with the franchise’s ownership. Former NBA player Matt Walsh led a consortium that became the majority shareholders under Breakers Basketball Ltd, ending the 13-year reign of Liz and Paul Blackwell as owners.

The off-season saw the departure of several long-serving Breakers stalwarts. Paul Henare’s 15-year tenure as a player and coach came to an end, and the team also bid farewell to Kirk Penney, who retired, as well as Alex Pledger (to Melbourne), Mika Vukona (to Brisbane), and Robert Loe (to Cairns).

Thomas Abercrombie was appointed team captain in Vukona’s absence, and former player Kevin Braswell was hired as the new head coach. Braswell revamped the Breakers’ roster, bringing in Tai Wesley (via Melbourne) and Corey Webster (via Europe) on a three-year deal. The team also added Jarrad Weeks (via Cairns) and Majok Majok (via Melbourne), as well as imports Patrick Richard, Armani Moore, and Shawn Long.

The season kicked off with a preseason NBLxNBA exhibition game against the Phoenix Suns. Despite being underdogs, the Breakers performed admirably, coming close to victory before falling 91–86. Corey Webster led with 27 points and 7 assists, while Tai Wesley added 15 points and 7 rebounds. For Phoenix, Deandre Ayton dominated with 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza contributed 16 points and 6 assists.

The Breakers’ regular season was marked by inconsistency, injuries, and roster challenges. They endured a five-game losing streak in November and December, winning just four of their first twelve games. The team struggled to find chemistry, and several players underperformed compared to expectations.

Corey Webster, once one of the league’s top scorers, had a disappointing season, averaging 10.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists—his worst statistical performance in five years. Abercrombie (8.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) and Shea Ili (7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) also saw declines, while imports Patrick Richard (11.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) and Armani Moore (7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) failed to live up to expectations.

Webster’s standout performances included a 31-point, 8-assist game against Melbourne (16 Nov 2018), where he shot 11-of-16 from the field, and a 25-point effort against Cairns (9 Nov 2018), shooting 10-of-16. Another highlight was his 18-point, 3-assist outing against Illawarra (14 Feb 2019), where he made 6-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.

By January, New Zealand had slipped to the bottom of the ladder with an 8–12 record after three consecutive losses, including one to last-placed Cairns. Despite efforts to regain form, the Breakers finished the season 12–16, in sixth place, and missed the playoffs.

Jarrad Weeks was one of the few bright spots, enjoying a career-best season with averages of 10.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He was a runner-up for both the Best Sixth Man and Most Improved Player awards. Tai Wesley (14.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) provided consistent production, while Shawn Long (18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) was a standout. Long ranked second in the league in rebounds and blocks, earned All-NBL Second Team honors, and was named the Breakers Club MVP.

2019/20
Webster began the 2019/20 season in strong form, averaging 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 11 games. However, in December, he was bought out of his contract to pursue an opportunity in China. Without Webster, the Breakers concluded the season in sixth place with a 15–13 record, narrowly missing the playoffs.

2020/21
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020/21 NBL season was delayed until January 2021, and the New Zealand Breakers were forced to base themselves in Australia for the majority of the season. They played most of their games as the ‘home’ team in Tasmania and only returned to New Zealand for their final seven games in late May.

In the off-season, the Breakers added star import Lamar Patterson from the Brisbane Bullets and Colton Iverson, alongside Tai Webster, who returned to the team after playing college basketball at Nebraska and having stints in Europe. However, the season began with a significant setback when leading scorer Corey Webster suffered a nerve injury in his hand while cutting an avocado in his kitchen. The injury sidelined him for the first month of the season.

The Breakers struggled early, winning only one of their first eight games. Their lone win during this stretch was a six-point victory over Cairns, while they also narrowly lost their opening game to Adelaide in overtime. Lamar Patterson, who had been a two-time NBL First Team All-Star with the Bullets, failed to find his form with New Zealand, averaging just 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists before suffering a knee injury against the Hawks on February 22. Patterson’s injury led to his release after just six games.

With Patterson sidelined, the Breakers signed Jeremy Kendle as a short-term replacement, and the team saw a brief improvement, going 3-1 over the next four games. However, the season was riddled with further injuries and personal absences. Key players, including Robert Loe (20 games), Thomas Abercrombie (9 games), Corey Webster (8 games), and Tai Webster (7 games), missed significant time. To bolster their roster, New Zealand signed William McDowell-White, who contributed 7.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, and Levi Randolph, who averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists after replacing Kendle (7 points per game).

Despite these roster changes, the Breakers continued to struggle, sitting at the bottom of the ladder with a 4-9 record after 13 games. The team lost five of their next six games, and while Corey Webster returned from his hand injury in February, he suffered a knee injury on March 13 that sidelined him for an additional four weeks.

The Breakers faced additional challenges as COVID-19 restrictions forced them to frequently relocate from city to city to find playable venues. However, a COVID-19 window allowed the team to return home for their final seven games in New Zealand, where they went 3-4 to close the season. Tai Webster (17.2 points, 5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.2 steals) led the team in scoring, while Finn Delany had a breakout season, averaging 16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. Delany was named the club MVP after significantly improving his scoring from the previous season.

Corey Webster finished the season averaging 13.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, but the Breakers ended in second-last place with a 12-24 record.

2021/22
Heading into the 2021/22 season, the Breakers decided to prioritize Tai Webster and William McDowell-White at the guard positions, leaving limited opportunities for Corey Webster. On August 20, 2021, Webster exercised a release from his contract, marking the end of his tenure with the team.

PERTH WILDCATS
2022/23
After missing the playoffs for the first time in 35 years, Canadian coach Scott Morrison announced he was leaving after just one season to return home for family reasons. The Wildcats appointed former Townsville Crocodiles star John Rillie as their new head coach on a three-year deal.

Perth retained most of its roster, with only Kevin White (to Illawarra) and Matt Hodgson (to Taiwan) not returning. Key re-signings included Bryce Cotton (three-year deal), Todd Blanchfield (three-year deal), and Jesse Wagstaff (one-year deal). Backup guard Kyle Zunic was elevated from development player to the full roster, and Corey Webster, who had previously signed with the Wildcats in 2017 but departed before the season began, returned as a free agent. New imports TaShawn Thomas (France) and Brady Manek (North Carolina) were brought in to add scoring depth.

The Wildcats started the season strongly, winning their first three games and sitting atop the NBL ladder. However, a subsequent five-game losing streak dropped them to seventh place, where they remained until the final month of the season.

During the season, Corey Webster had several standout moments. In December, Perth defeated Adelaide 98-90 in a game that marked significant milestones for Mitch Norton (300 games) and Daniel Johnson (400 games). Bryce Cotton led all scorers with 32 points, but Webster played a crucial role, contributing 22 points alongside TaShawn Thomas, who also scored 22.

Webster’s 250th career game was marked by a dramatic win over Melbourne. Down 89-84 with nine seconds remaining, Todd Blanchfield hit a three-pointer while drawing a foul. Though he missed the free throw, Blanchfield grabbed his own rebound and passed to Webster, who nailed the game-winning three-pointer, sending RAC Arena into a frenzy. Webster finished with 20 points and three assists, while Cotton added 29 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the thrilling 90-89 victory.

Another highlight came when Webster helped Perth snap New Zealand’s five-game winning streak with a 92-84 victory. Motivated by an unflattering social media meme posted by the Breakers, Webster exploded for 16 points in the third quarter, including a stretch of nine straight points. He finished with a season-high 26 points in front of family and friends. Brady Manek hit three crucial triples in the final quarter, and Cotton contributed 17 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

Late in the season, Perth added Corey’s brother Tai Webster to the roster, releasing Corey Shervill to make room. The Webster brothers brought added firepower to the Wildcats, but the team’s inconsistency continued.

In their final three games, the Wildcats lost to Tasmania (102-94) after being outscored 27-15 in the final quarter and fell to Cairns (84-71). This set up a must-win final game against the league-leading Sydney Kings. While the Kings limited Cotton to just seven points, Webster stepped up with 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Luke Travers added 22 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while Brady Manek contributed 21 points, nine rebounds, and two steals, leading Perth to a 96-84 upset victory.

The win secured Perth (15-13) the sixth seed and a spot in the inaugural play-in tournament. Against South East Melbourne, the Wildcats trailed for most of the game but outscored the Phoenix 41-23 in the fourth quarter to win 106-99. However, their season ended in the next round against Cairns. Despite the absence of Taipans’ star Keanu Pinder, DJ Hogg delivered a playoff-record 32 points, nine rebounds, and four assists to defeat Perth 91-78.

Webster finished second in scoring for the Wildcats, averaging 14.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists across 29 games.

2023/24
Webster signed a two-year deal (with a team option for the second year) to remain with the Wildcats, joining his brother Tai for NBL24.

Head coach John Rillie spoke highly of Webster, stating, “Where Corey really separates himself in the NBL is that he can go and get a bucket when necessary, and I will always rely on him to bring a great spirit to our group, whether at practice or on Game Day.”

Webster was used sparingly throughout the season, appearing in 13 games and scoring in double-digits in five of the first seven matches. One of his best performances came in the season opener against Tasmania at RAC Arena, where he scored 16 points in 26 minutes while starting in place of his younger brother Tai, who was sidelined with a foot injury. Webster followed this with 11 points and four rebounds in the annual Pink Game victory over Adelaide and added 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds against Melbourne.

Despite limited opportunities, the veteran averaged 6.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists for the season, with his top performances including 14 points against Adelaide and 11 points against Brisbane in October.

Corey Webster played thirteen seasons in the NBL, playing for both the New Zealand Breakers and the Perth Wildcats. He averaged 11.1 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 286 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (817 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.