Maor ready to release Bolden "masterpiece"

Jonah Bolden’s journey as a professional basketball player has been anything from ordinary. From UCLA to Serbia, Israel, the NBA and a three-year sabbatical from the game, he’s set to continue his career with the New Zealand Breakers in NBL25.

Bolden has signed a one-year deal with a new-look Breakers side that has already confirmed the signings of Mojave King, Sam Mennenga and Mitch McCarron this off-season, and head coach Mody Maor believes his system is perfect for amalgamating all of Bolden’s experiences into one great “masterpiece”.

He averaged just over eight points per game on shooting splits of 47.5 per cent from the field and 38 per cent from three in NBL24, and flashed his brilliance with performances like his 28 points against Perth in Round 9, and his 15 points and 15 rebounds against South East Melbourne in Round 10.

“Jonah Bolden is one of the most experienced players in the league when you look at where he’s played, how he’s been coached, what styles he’s played in,” Maor said.

“We’re talking about a player that played significant EuroLeague minutes, then played in the NBA and the G-League, then the NBL.

“He’s played in so many places in so many different styles, roles, positions, this is the basketball education that when you come to us, we try to bring everything together and turn it into one nice masterpiece.

“What I do care [about] is playing a meaningful role in the story of Jonah Bolden, and I think this story is far from over.

“There is so much more for him to do and achieve as a player and I’m really excited to take part in that.”

Bolden is the second Boomers representative to sign for the Breakers this off-season following McCarron’s two-year contract, and the pair look set to continue the trend of veteran Australian talents adding a point of difference for the side.

While McCarron has cited New Zealand’s environment as a key piece for his decision to sign with the side, Maor says Bolden has headed to the Breakers because of a connection through basketball.

“You should ask Jonah why he should come and play for us, but I feel like the connection between us was basically made where I like it most, through basketball,” Maor said.

“It wasn’t anything to do with our environment, it was more about the x’s and o’s, how we play, what his role within that is, how we would use his strengths, how his strengths magnify the team, and I think that was the main appeal and it’s the best kind of appeal for me.

“He circled back to the game for all the right reasons. He loves basketball, he loves being part of a team and in a locker room, and this is what brought him back to the game.”