'Better than advertised': Imports breaking new ground

The New Zealand Breakers are ramping up their pre-season training, as the Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season fast approaches.

During their time on court with new Head Coach Gordon Herbert, numerous Breakers, new and old, have been impressive.

Two that have caught the eye of the club's GM of Basketball Operations, Dillon Boucher, are newly arrived import duo Josiah-Jordan James and Charles Bediako.

The former looms as a key piece to the Breakers puzzle, due to his versatility on both ends of the floor.

"He (James) is just a fantastic human being, but basketball-wise, even seeing him at training, he's better at things [than I thought he would be]," Boucher told Sport Nation.

"He handles the ball better, and he passes better than what I expected.

"The things I knew he could do, which is play defence and shoot the ball, he's doing as well.

"But he actually is a more complete player than probably what everyone was describing him to me as, and certainly what I'd seen on film of him."

Boucher can't wait for Canadian centre Bediako to electrify the Breakers fans with his highlight plays.

"We'd been on the hunt for this kind of defensive-minded centre that could really help us rim protect, protect the paint, but also have the mobility to be able to move around the court and switch if needed," he said.

"Also [to that] finishing above the rim; I've never seen so many alley-oop dunks than have at training.

"It's been awesome to see, and I think the crowd will get excited by him, because he's so long and tall.

"His wingspan's like 7'3, and he covers a whole bunch of room on a basketball court that your average person can't."

The Breakers open their campaign against Illawarra on Sunday, September 20 at Spark Arena.