Brown Backs NZ's Big Break

Photo: Barry Brown (Credit - New Zealand Breakers Media)

New Zealand import Barry Brown Jr has come to the NBL with a fearsome reputation.

As winner of the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, and a member of the Big 12 Defensive Team of the Year in both 2018 and 2019 during his college days, he's a genuine defensive monster.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfu68j7u5Rd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Barry Brown (@iambarrybrown5)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Defensive nous always seems to be in short supply for teams around the world, and despite being in just his fourth season as a professional player Brown has already played in the G-League, Germany and China.

He's now come to the NBL to attempt to lead the Breakers back to their successes of the early-mid 2010s. 

To do that, he'll have to get the very best out of himself a two-way player. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The announcement you&#39;ve all been waiting for - Barry Brown JR is here for the 22/23NBL season! ? <a href="https://t.co/hUDXavzZKK">pic.twitter.com/hUDXavzZKK</a></p>&mdash; Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers/status/1564469101938212864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“My offence has improved dramatically since college, my level, my IQ, just through experience and repetition. I’ve gained more offensive presence, for sure, but I’m still a defensive guard. I’m not taking that away,” Brown told Stuff.co.nz.

“I feel like our team has many guys who could potentially win defensive player of the year … we’re competing in practice every day to see who has the most deflections, the most disruptions, and that’s going to help the team because we’re all trying to be the best defensive players we can be.

“More and more players are coming here to showcase their games, and I feel like with coach Mody and the pieces we have, he’s going to allow us to play free, to have fun and get back to playing good basketball.”

Brown isn’t the only player coming into a new-look Breakers side.

Highly-touted youngster Rayan Rupert is on the roster as an NBL Next Star. He’ll be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Ousmane Dieng and Hugo Besson in getting drafted off the back of a successful year in New Zealand.

Jarrell Brantley and Dererk Pardon fill out New Zealand’s complement of import starts, while the likes of experienced NBL campaigners Cam Gliddon and Tom Vodanovich have also made their ways to the Breakers.

“Jarrell can play multiple positions – he can be a small forward, a wing if we need, and if we go small he might be able to play five (centre) as well. He’s a versatile player – strong and athletic.

“Dererk is going to be the five, but he could play some four. I didn’t know he could shoot this well, and on defence he’s definitely protecting the rim. He’s strong, athletic, and can get up and down the court. He’s a key piece.

“Rayan is young, still developing, and the sky’s the limit for that kid. He just needs to get the experience against pros and he’ll make big steps.”

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For the full story head to >> Barry Brown Jr ready to show he’s more than just a stopper for NZ Breakers