NBL Champion Signs For BNZ Breakers on Two Year Deal

021 NBL Championship winner Mitch McCarron is joining the BNZ Breakers on a two-year deal.

The 31-year-old currently plays for the Taranaki Airs in the NZ NBL but has spent the last three seasons at the Adelaide 36ers.

The Australian Guard brings a wealth of NBL experience to the Breakers, having played more than 200 NBL games over nine NBL seasons for the 36ers, Melbourne United and Cairns Taipans.

Head Coach Mody Maor says McCarron's experience and hard-nosed attitude to winning will help the Breakers enormously as he tries to fill the enormous void left by Tom Abercrombie retiring at the end of last season.

"We have lost in the off-season significant players who knew what winning looks like, who knew what winning habits look like," says Maor.

"It's essential to bring into the building players who have this experience and can lead us with their words and hold other players accountable. Mitch McCarron definitely fits that role."

The Australian admits he will contact Abercrombie, who is scheduled to have his number 10 jersey retired at the Breakers' first home game next season.

"I'm going to reach out to Tom in due time and find out how he approached things. He is a legend of the club, a legend of the league and super successful," says McCarron.

"It's not about replacing him or stepping into his shoes. I have to walk my own path and help the group differently than what Tom did, but I will get as much advice as possible from him.

"The biggest thing I've learned in my career is that teams that sacrifice continuously generally find success.

"I'm sure when I talk to Tom, he will talk about that. The best teams were the ones that embraced that challenge.  

"Two years ago, I was on the Adelaide team when the Breakers flight got delayed coming back to Auckland, and that team still beat us on no sleep at Trusts Arena.

"There's something special about how the Breakers embrace adversity, and it's something I also want to embrace."

McCarron averages 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists over 245 games in the NBL.

However, those career statistics are likely to be boosted with his on-court combination alongside Marque signing and All NBL First Team star Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

"I think Mitch and Parker are a perfect pairing," says Maor.

"Parker will make an advantage, and Mitch will take it from there. I see this being really fruitful."

"Mitch is a championships calibre player and belongs on winning teams. The role he will play for us will be much more similar to the role he played at Melbourne United, where he won a championship, than his time in Adelaide.

"I can see Mitch and Parker really playing off each other."  

McCarron says his combing with Jackson-Cartwright was a key reason he signed with the Breakers.

I am excited to play alongside Parker," says McCarron.

"We can both push the ball, we can both play in transition and having different kinds of attacks is going to be a good thing for the team and whoever we get on the roster.

"My game can reach a new level under Mody. Based on our discussions, he understands who I am as a player and how to get the most out of me."

McCarron is the fifth player signed to the 11-man Breakers' roster for NBL25. Alongside 

Jackson-Cartwright, the new look squad includes talented Kiwi Sam Mennenga, 2023 LA Lakers draft pick Mojave King and returning Dane Pineau.

More signings are expected in the coming weeks, with the squad is expected to assemble for the first time in early August in Auckland.