The Adelaide 36ers have signed three-time NBL champion Corey Webster as an injury replacement, bringing in the veteran New Zealand guard to add scoring to a side that has started the season 2-3.
The club announced the signing on Tuesday 6 October, according to NBL.com.au, a day after Fox Sports Australia reported the 36ers were bringing in the 37-year-old.
Adelaide has been hit hard by injuries. Flynn Cameron (ankle) is expected back in Round 5, while Isaac Humphries (knee) and Bul Kuol (ACL) have no confirmed return dates, NBL.com.au reported on Monday.
What the 36ers said
“Corey brings plenty of poise and experience to our group at a time when we’re missing a lot due to injury,” 36ers general manager Matt Weston said.
“To have a player of his calibre come in and help with some ball handling and to keep defences honest because of his shooting ability will be of real value.
“That he already knows a couple of our players will hopefully mean he will settle into the group quickly.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Corey to Adelaide and getting him on the court when he’s ready.”
Reunion with Bryce Cotton
Webster has 13 NBL seasons behind him, 11 with the New Zealand Breakers and two with the Perth Wildcats, where he formed a strong backcourt pairing with current 36ers captain Bryce Cotton.
He won three NBL championships with the Breakers, plus three New Zealand NBL titles with the Wellington Saints and two NZNBL MVP awards (2014 and 2017). He has played 286 NBL games, averaging 11.2 points and shooting 35.8 per cent from three-point range.
The move also gives Webster the chance to finally play under Trevor Gleeson, Fox Sports noted. Gleeson, who led Perth to five championships, was in charge of the Wildcats when Webster originally signed there in 2017, before the guard requested a release to pursue an overseas opportunity. Gleeson took over in Adelaide on a three-year deal this season.
Still scoring in New Zealand
Since leaving Perth at the end of NBL24, the 188cm guard has played for the Auckland Tuatara and the Manawatu Jets. He averaged 18.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists a game for the Jets while shooting 40.2 per cent from three.
Webster has also played more than 100 games for the Tall Blacks. In August he lined up alongside new teammate Cameron in a FIBA World Cup qualifier against Syria, scoring 22 points with five rebounds and three assists.
When could he debut?
Adelaide is averaging 88.2 points a game, the second-lowest in the league, after a winless Round 3 that included losses to the Illawarra Hawks and the Breakers left the side seventh on the ladder.
The 36ers host Melbourne United in an Ignite Cup game on Wednesday night (7.30pm AEDT, ESPN). The club will decide on Webster’s availability once he arrives in Adelaide.
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