The New Zealand Breakers have enjoyed a busy week, unveiling their bold new brand just before confirming the signing of import Charles Bediako to complete their roster for the 2026-27 season.
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Now, veteran guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright has opened up on his desire to one day represent the New Zealand Tall Blacks, while fellow import Josiah-Jordan James is eager to embrace the challenge of the NBL.
‘I AM GOING THROUGH WITH IT’
As he prepares for his fourth consecutive season with the Breakers, a rarity in today’s NBL, Parker Jackson-Cartwright has revealed he is in the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen, opening the door to a potential future with the Tall Blacks.
The trend of long-serving imports becoming locals has gathered momentum in recent years. Bryce Cotton became an Australian citizen before Tyler Harvey recently followed suit, with the Illawarra Hawks star set to complete his citizenship ceremony before the start of the season.
Now, the Ignite Cup champion and All-NBL First Team (2024) and Second Team (2026) member is hoping to do the same in New Zealand.
“I can’t say too much, but I am definitely going through the process [of becoming a citizen],” Jackson-Cartwright said at the Breakers media day.
“I’m not sure how far along it is, but I’d definitely like that opportunity if it presented itself.”
The 31-year-old enters his fourth season in Auckland after already playing 85 games for the Breakers. He is coming off another outstanding campaign, averaging 17.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and a career-high 7.5 assists while shooting 45.1% from the field.
Under New Zealand Government guidelines, applicants generally need to have lived in the country for at least five years, among other requirements, meaning it remains unclear whether Jackson-Cartwright would be eligible in time for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
That uncertainty, however, has done little to dampen his desire to represent the country he now considers home.
“Somebody asked me, what’s it feel like being away from home and I said, you know, this is home to me, being in Auckland, being in New Zealand,” he said.
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“I feel like I came home from being in LA after all those months.
“It’s bigger than basketball at this point. It’s a special place to me. I love living here. My family loves it when they come to visit me, especially my mum.”
After spending time playing professionally in Lithuania, France, Türkiye and Germany, where he won the leagues MVP in 2022, Jackson-Cartwright said New Zealand and the Breakers have given him something different.
“I’m around great people, and when a club wants you back like this and I love it already, it’s just a perfect reunion during these times,” he said.
“I’m just highly blessed and filled with gratitude that the Breakers love me this much because I love them right back.”
‘I CALLED ANTHONY AND HE WAS SO EXCITED’
New import Josiah-Jordan James also spoke exclusively to Fox Sports Australia, explaining how conversations with a former Breakers import and ex-coach helped convince him to sign with the club.
The Charleston, South Carolina native is coming off a season with Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel, where he originally signed a two-year deal and competed in both the Israeli Premier League and EuroCup.
It was there that James became teammates with former Breakers forward Anthony Lamb, who earned All-NBL First Team honours during the 2023-24 season before suffering a season-ending injury against the Perth Wildcats.
James said Lamb was singing the praises of both the club and the league long before the opportunity arose.
“Before the opportunity even presented itself, just getting to know him [Lamb] and talking to him. New Zealand and the NBL was by far his favourite adventure professionally.
“And so he spoke highly of it. And that was even before the opportunity. This was while we were in season,” he said.
Another key figure in James’ move was former Breakers head coach Dan Shamir, who is now the general manager of Hapoel Jerusalem.
“It actually came about because my general manager with Hapoel Jerusalem, Dan Shamir, used to be a coach here. So he still has ties to the club,” James said.
Despite signing a two-year deal in Israel, James and Hapoel agreed to part ways, with the ongoing conflict in the region playing a significant role.
“With the war and everything that happened over in Israel that’s going on right now. We just decided to part ways, but he [Shamir] put in a good word for me and honestly when I was in talks about coming here, I called Anthony and he was so excited.
“He thought it’d be a perfect fit for me. So yeah, that was really icing on the cake. That’s how the whole thing came about through Dan Shamir,” he said.
Although James is new to Australia and New Zealand, he already knew plenty about the NBL through its growing reputation overseas.
“I knew about it. It’ll come up and I’ll see highlights. Going back and forth. I know there’s a lot of ex-NBA players who come over here and play, so I know the league,” James said.
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“I know that it’s a good league to play in for sure and that guys like being over here.”
The 25-year-old said his individual ambitions are secondary to helping return the Breakers to the playoffs.
“I think my personal accolades are tied in specifically to the team accolades. So obviously, I know the Breakers haven’t made the playoffs in a few years consecutively. So obviously, wanting to win as many games as and get our names in the playoffs and have a fighting chance for the championship is obviously goal number one,” he said.
“Selfishly, for sure, I definitely have my own ambitions and own goals. I’m a defensive wing, somebody who I think, I pride myself on defence, being able to guard one through five. And so obviously being able to make one of those all defensive teams would be key.
“But just doing whatever my team asks of me, I know that I’m able to showcase more offensively than I have been in the past. And you know what I’ve been working on this year. But I just want, honestly, I just want people to say that ‘he got better day after day, game after game.’
“There will be good days and bad days, but I just want to maximise my good days and minimise my bad days for sure,” he said.
James arrives with a reputation as a versatile defender capable of guarding multiple positions, while also bringing a reliable perimeter shot. He shot 45.7% from three-point range with Hapoel last season and 42.8% (60-of-140) during his time in the NBA G League.
After only a few days around his new teammates, one thing has already stood out.
“I’ve been able to see guys and what they’re capable of doing. We have a very talented roster as you probably know. The talent level is not what we’re lacking. I think that once we get everybody on the same page, we’ll be able to win a lot of basketball games,” he said.
With both he and Parker Jackson-Cartwright sporting double-barrel names, James was also asked what nickname Breakers fans should use.
“So last year I was JJ. I’ve been Joe. I’ve been Josiah.
“Josiah Jordan is really only what my parents called me when I’m in trouble. Anything with the J, I’ll probably respond to,” he said.
James was also amused to learn about Australia’s famous Triple J radio station, a nickname he might soon adopt by the fans.
“Yeah, I heard! I’m excited. Hopefully they play good music, but yeah, I did hear that it’s a popular radio station,” he said.
James is set to make his Breakers debut on September 4 when New Zealand takes on the Sydney Kings at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo during the 2026 NBL Blitz.