In the wake of an offensive onslaught from Perth Wildcats superstar Bryce Cotton, NZ Breakers coach Petteri Koponen is highlighting the MVP claims of his guy — American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
After missing much of the Australian NBL season so far with injury, Cotton erupted for 59 points in the Wildcats' 123-112 home win over the Breakers, setting a new scoring record for the modern 40-minute era.
Currently battling to become an Australian citizen, the American sharpshooter has already compiled an impressive nine-year career across the Tasman, including three championship crowns, seven scoring titles and four Most Valuable Player awards.
The American tied his career-high 34 points against Perth. (Source: TVNZ)
He suffered a rib injury against the Breakers in October and during his five-game absence, Jackson-Cartwright has emerged as a favourite for individual season honours, leading the league in assists (7.25 per game), third in steals (2.00) and fourth in scoring (19.9 points), while leading his team to the top of the table.
Heading into the Perth fixture, NBL legend and commentator Derek Rucker had Jackson-Cartwright atop his player rankings for the current season, with Cotton fourth.
Cotton's stupendous performance may have changed that, but even as he tore up the record books, Jackson-Cartwright did his own cause no harm, equalling his Aussie career high of 34 points, including 11/12 from the free-throw line and adding 10 assists, as he almost singlehandedly brought his team back from 23 points down to within six early in the final quarter.
"For me, he is the MVP of the league," insisted Koponen. "He's the big reason we had this great start to the season.
"We know what he can do and find his teammates also. Tonight, he could have had many more assists, but it wasn't our shooting night."
Koponen admits to mixed feelings about the result and the spectacle, after his team showed character to stay competitive in the face of Cotton's blitz.
"As a coach, you go crazy on the sideline," he reflected. "As a basketball fan, it was one of the most unbelievable games I have witnessed.
"These two superstars, they went at it, both of them making incredible plays. I said in the locker room, not everybody has Bryce Cotton... he was better today.
"This guy [Jackson-Cartwright], he has been our leader all season and showed character. He kept us in the game, we were close, but in the end, we were not shooting the ball that well tonight.
"Sometimes you just have to take your hat off to them. Sometimes you just lose, because the other team play better on that particular night."
The Breakers return to New Zealand, where they host league leaders Melbourne United in Christchurch on Thursday and Sydney Kings in Auckland on Saturday.
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