Preview: Round 17 vs NZ Breakers at Nissan Arena

The Brisbane Bullets made it three in a row with a win over the Adelaide 36ers and Illawarra Hawks last round.  The team return to Nissan Arena to face the finals bound NZ Breakers on Thursday night.

The NBL and Brisbane Bullets will continue to celebrate inclusion and diversity during its inaugural Champion Pride Round in Round 17.

Champion Pride Round will promote and celebrate the LGBTQ community, while showcasing basketball as a sport striving to provide a safe, healthy and accessible environment for all.

The Bullets will be without Jason Cadee, Tanner Krebs and Harry Froling in their Round 17 games, but will look to the leadership of Tyler Johnson, Nathan Sobey and Aron Baynes to lead the group.

Brisbane Bullets vs New Zealand Breakers

When: Thursday, January 26 | 6:30pm AEST

Where: Nissan Arena

Tickets: Available HERE

KEY MATCH UP 

TYLER JOHNSON VS BARRY BROWN JR

Tyler Johnson has been consistently efficient for the Bullets throughout the season, but in the past few rounds has stepped up and excelled. Last round, Johnson averaged 25 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals across the Bullets two wins.

Fellow sixth man of the year candidate, Barry Brown Junior is averaging 20.2ppg, 3 rpg and 2.8 assists per game across the season. It will be an exciting match up between the two imports.

ON THE RECORD

Following the Bullets Round 17 game against the Illawarra Hawks, Hostplus Head Coach Greg Vanderjagt was proud of the efforts from his group.

“The group did a good job of treating the game with the respect that it deserves.” Vanderjagt said.

“Offensively the ball did the work tonight. 27 assists on 39 made field goals and only 11 turnovers. The ball was off the floor and in and out of people’s hands and we were at the rim.”

“One of the big focuses for us is making other people better. What can you do for somebody else… Slowly over time we are getting better at that.”

“We’re getting more uncontested looks and it’s off the back of player, ball movement, unselfishness and everybody willing to do something for someone else,” Vanderjagt added.

Andrew White III was a late addition to the Bullets roster and had his best game for the Bullets. He showed his appreciation of the quality of his teammates and people around the Club.

“At the end of the day we are professionals. You have a lot to play for no matter what’s going on,” White III said.

“It shows a lot of character on our team’s part for sticking with it and having some pride.”

“The support and the people behind the scenes that do a lot for us as a team and as an organisation deserve an effort despite the record so that’s something we’ve tried to focus in on.”

“I’ve had a great experience coming here. Obviously we struggled a little bit early on but when you have good people around you, and you have people trying to do it the right way. When you have a community, when you have fans that support you no matter what that goes a long way.”