NBL legend: 'Breakers import can win MVP'

Parker Jackson-Cartwright announced himself onto the NBA scene on Saturday night, and he’s already found a fan in one of the greatest NBL point guards of all-time.

Former Brisbane Bullet, 1990 MVP and Scoring Champion and NBL single game assist record holder Derek Rucker has praised the impact of New Zealand’s diminutive point guard on the side, and believes he will only continue to improve once Will McDowell-White comes back into the side.

Jackson-Cartwright earned Foot Locker Player of the Game honours against the Taipans in the Breakers’ opening game of the season thanks to his 25 points, four rebounds, eight assists and six steals.

He had five steals at the half, and scored a league-high game-average 57 SuperCoach points in Round 1.

“He’s a real problem,” Rucker said on Moments That Mattered. “He can create with the ball, he has a good sense of when to inject his scoring.

“I think 'PJC' – it’s a crazy comment – but he is going to be one of the leaders to win MVP this season.”

Should Jackson-Cartwright continue the NBL season in the same fashion as he started, Rucker’s comments don’t seem at all crazy.

After all, he’s already been named MVP of both the French LNB Pro B and the German Basketball Bundesliga.

A key defining point of any potential MVP-calibre season he puts together will be the impending return of injured star McDowell-White, but Rucker believes the pair will complement each other brilliantly.

“His basketball persona is going to be a perfect match for Will McDowell-White,” he said. “Will is a really selfless player who is willing to acquiesce to what others are doing.

“Will will learn when to inject himself. 'PJC' can take the lead but Will – we’ve seen what he can do.

“I don’t see any problems in getting those guys to mesh.”

New Zealand hosts Brisbane on Thursday night before leaving for its NBLxNBA campaign.