Shamir:  Retaining Will McDowell-White is a Big Step

Breakers Head Coach Dan Shamir is hailing the retention of Point Guard Will McDowell-White as a “big step” for the club as attention now turns to filling roster spots for NBL22.

The Australian, who was named in the extended Boomers’ squad for the Tokyo Olympics in March, completed his second season in the NBA G-League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before joining up with the Breakers mid-season.

The 23-year-old averaged almost 28 minutes, 7.9 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.15 rebounds in the 20 games he played in NBL21.

The highlight was his triple-double (13 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds) in just his fourth game for the Breakers against the Bullets in Launceston.

It was just the second time a Breakers’ player has recorded a triple-double in club history after Cedric Jackson, who achieved the feat twice in 2012 and 2015.

However, what particularly impressed Shamir was McDowell-White’s resolve and character during the most challenging season ever, where the club played 29 consecutive away games in Australia.

“It was a crazy season with a lot of changes, but it also showed what he can do for us, and it’s a key step for us in building next year’s team,” says Shamir.

“We’re extremely happy to have Will back, he was a priority of ours for this off-season.  We love him as a person and a player, his ability to run a team and being such a great teammate and such a coachable guy.”

Shamir says continuity of having McDowell-White at point guard is mutually beneficial for both him as a player and for the Breakers.

“We started talking about extending his stay with us immediately after his arrival,” says Shamir.  “It gives us a lot of flexibility; we have a lot of local guys already signed.  He can be better, and it takes some time for players and especially a guy with Will’s character to settle in, to get adjusted, to get familiar with the system and the people.

As if to celebrate his new one-year deal with the Breakers, McDowell-White scored 11 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds in his NBL1 debut for the RedCity Roar in Australia at the weekend.

Shamir says he will join back up with the Breakers in mid-August.

“I expect him to play at a high level, to be a great player for us, and to be a very good NBL player.”