The White Opportunity

By Dan Woods - NBL Media

Alarm bells started ringing for the Tasmania JackJumpers when Clint Steindl went down with a knee injury at the FIBA Asia Games. For now though, they've secured the services of highly-touted guard Isaac White, while the captain is sidelined.

While the pair are, at least physically, very different players - White is 24 years old and six-foot-four, while Steindl is 33 and six-foot-seven - Tasmania has secured a strong shooter with an insatiable will to win for the foreseeable future.

Although there are still full-time roster spots still available throughout the NBL, White says he believes the opportunity he now has at the JackJumpers was the best one that was presented to him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE WHITE FIT ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a> have found the sharpshooting injury replacement they were after in former Hawk, <a href="https://twitter.com/IsaacLewisWhite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsaacLewisWhite</a> <br><br>Full details at <a href="https://t.co/6zbyYzbQ6G">https://t.co/6zbyYzbQ6G</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> <a href="https://t.co/XzSFA50tqN">pic.twitter.com/XzSFA50tqN</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1554694246434611201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“[I] didn’t get a contract (at Illawarra). Obviously the off-season signings aren’t necessarily done there but nothing was locked in straight away and I tested out what I had,” White said.

“Teams aren’t necessarily done with signings, but this is an opportunity I just saw working out for me. I like the fit and I’m excited to have a chance at playing.

“With free agency you can hear nothing for weeks and then something can just pop up. It was out of the blue but there was a process to signing, I had to talk to some people, talk to the coaching staff, things like that, and lock it down that way.

“Last year wasn’t necessarily the right fit for me, I was playing behind four, basically, import guards which was tough … from the feedback I got I did all the right things, but they wanted to head in a different direction and that’s the business.”

One of the most impressive things about the JackJumpers’ run to the finals last year was the culture they were able to build both on and off the court - it was so strong, White noticed it from another club. 

Through his two seasons playing for Illawarra he has formed a number of relationships with members of the JackJumpers' roster, including the likes of Steindl, Will Magnay and Sam McDaniel.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looking alright in white! <br><br>Isaac White hit the court this morning at kingborough for his first session as a JackJumper! <a href="https://t.co/zYEh8jCXLd">pic.twitter.com/zYEh8jCXLd</a></p>&mdash; Tasmania JackJumpers ? (@JackJumpers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers/status/1555038075956641792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He says he’s excited for the opportunity to link up with such a close-knit playing group.

“On paper there were questions about this group last year, but they made the grand final for a reason. Playing against them too you could feel they play basketball the right way and they’re a tight-knit group,” White said.

“I remember being in a hotel when we played them last time, I think it was in Launceston, and they were all sitting eating breakfast together tight, and I’m not necessarily used to that.

“That’s the sort of stuff I noticed and I’m excited to be a part of a really tight-knit group and a tight-knit team.

“As a player you want to be in a winning environment and a culture you see yourself fitting into, and I do, so whilst I didn’t necessarily have an abundance of options, I’m super happy this was one of them and I’m excited.”