Jordan Ngatai earns fulltime Breakers contract

  • 02/08/2016
Jordan Ngatai playing in the NZ NBL with the Manawatu Jets (Photosport)
Jordan Ngatai playing in the NZ NBL with the Manawatu Jets (Photosport)

The New Zealand Breakers have promoted swingman Jordan Ngatai to the fulltime playing roster for the 2016-17 NBL season.

Ngatai, who spent two years in the club's development programme, has agreed a one-year deal with the team.

The 23-year-old's signature takes the Breakers roster to 10 players, with coach Paul Henare left to mull over his last roster spot which is to be used on a second import player.

Jordan Ngatai earns fulltime Breakers contract

Ngatai playing against China (Photosport)

Ngatai was included in the Tall Blacks squad that recently competed at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in the Philippines.

"When I got the call up for the Tall Blacks I thought it was a chance for me to make a statement to Pauli that I could do a job for the Breakers as well," Ngatai said.

"The club is a great organization, one of the best ones in the league. They have taken care of me throughout my development years and if there is one club that I wanted to earn a fulltime contact with, it's the Breakers."

The Breakers remaining import spot, which is likely to be used on a power forward, is not expected to be filled until a various of summer leagues in American have concluded.

The team used their first import spot on American guard Ben Woodside.

Breakers roster: Ben Woodside, Shea Ili, Corey Webster, Kirk Penney, Tom Abercrombie, Jordan Ngatai, Mika Vukona, Finn Delany, Rob Loe, Alex Pledger.

Newshub.