Breakers add versatile Bairstow

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

"He is not afraid to put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim, but is also comfortable on the block and from the perimeter."

The New Zealand Breakers have added another piece to their NBL25 puzzle, signing Sean Bairstow.

The youngest brother of former Chicago Bull Cameron Bairstow is joining the Breakers on a two-year deal, with a team option for the second year.

It will be the first professional contract for the 23-year-old Bairstow, after playing NCAA Division One basketball in the United States for five years.

The versatile small forward brings the experience of playing 142 games for Utah and Virginia and joins Grant Anticevich as the first signings for new coach Petteri Koponen.

“Sean is a long, athletic wing who can play multiple positions and gives us options in the rotation in what will be a very demanding season,” Koponen said.

“He is not afraid to put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim, but is also comfortable on the block and from the perimeter.”

Bairstow is also the brother of Brisbane Bullet Jarred Bairstow, who spent the last three seasons with the Tasmania JackJumpers and won the NBL championship earlier this year.

Listed at 6’7, Koponen sees Bairstow’s size and guard skills as two critical assets to the Breakers.

He is also particularly impressed with how he recovered from a foot fracture that delayed the start of his final year. Bairstow ultimately played 29 games for Virginia, averaging 10.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists during 11.3 minutes of court time.

Bairstow can create for his teammates, which is also highly attractive to Koponen.

In January, he achieved a career-high of 12 assists to go with his 14 points and two rebounds against the La Salle Explorers, while a month earlier, Bairstow hit 22 points against Gardner-Webb University.

Bairstow joins Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Mojave King, Sam Mennenga, Mitch McCarron, Jonah Bolden, Dane Pineau and Anticevich on New Zealand’s roster.

Two import spots and one local spot are still to be filled, with the Breakers saying they’re likely to sign another NBL Next Star.

New Zealand assembles on August 12 in Auckland for pre-season.