PJC: The Problem Creator

You make the All-NBL First Team in your first season in the league, nearly dragging your team into the Playoffs. You come back for a second season and have your team – one that most NBL experts picked to finish near the bottom of the standings in NBL25 – sitting in second place at the FIBA break with a 7-3 record.

You’re leading the league in assists, you rank third in steals and fifth in scoring. You dropped 26 points on the Philadelphia 76ers in pre-season, averaging 19.3 points and 6.3 assists across three NBLxNBA games. You’ve become the face of the New Zealand Breakers and you’re a frontrunner to win the MVP this season.

You are Parker Jackson-Cartwright and you might just be the best player in the NBL right now.

“I feel as though [I am]. I mean, I have that kind of confidence in myself,” Jackson-Cartwright told NBL Media on Tuesday.

“I’m really confident in my abilities to be a focal point of a team and lead a team, like this one. And I think I’ve been placed in this position for a reason. I’ve had a lot of experience over the years and this season’s really no different.

“I feel like I’m an elite playmaker for others and just a problem creator in general. So, I feel that’s why.”

He sure does create problems for opponents. And he’s been doing so for a long time.

Rewind back to Los Angeles a little over a decade ago and Jackson-Cartwright was attending Loyola High School. His father, Ramon Cartwright was a very active parent and was guiding Parker, as he did with older brother Miles, through that high school and AAU circuit journey in search for a Division 1 scholarship.

Jackson-Cartwright, who played for AAU club California Supreme, was the subject of a 2016 documentary called ‘At All Costs’ that chronicled his journey through high school and the AAU scene.

Miles had earned a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, and Ramon pushed Parker as he showcased himself at major AAU camps and tournaments to catch the eyes of college coaches. Not blessed with great size or strength, Jackson-Cartwright had to prove himself every time he stepped onto a court.

Those years certainly helped to shape who he is today, both on and off the floor.

“Every experience from the time I was a six-year-old, playing up three years’ divisions in amateur basketball with my brother, really shook me from [being] a youngen,” he explained.

“I feel like I’ve always had to overcome height, playing against older guys, playing against taller, stronger, more physical players – that’s just kind of been the tale of my athletic journey. It’s really shaped me as an individual, largely.

“I play with a huge chip on my shoulder. I’ve never really taken into account that I’m small, I think that’s just what it is. I’ve always played bigger than what I am.

“And my father and my older brother gave me that confidence as a child to be a big guy amongst bigger guys at my height. I’ve never been a ‘strong’ guy per se, I never passed the eye test, so I think I just always carry that with me. It’s carried on from six to my teen years in high school and in AAU playing at the highest level, and then College, and now seven or so years as a pro.”

💥 Parker Jackson-Cartwright filled it up against the @sixers #NBLxNBA

📊 26 PTS | 9-18 FG

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At All Costs portrays Jackson-Cartwright as having taken some risks with his health and as prioritising AAU over his high school team. There is some truth to that, but ultimately it got him to where he needed to get to – a Division 1 scholarship to Arizona University.

Jackson-Cartwright doesn’t think he would change anything about the path he took then, even with some of the troubles he had along the way, having to move schools in his senior year, the injuries, and constantly feeling like he had to prove himself given his size.

“I think my journey was my journey in the most unique way,” he said.

“I really have just battled through strength and trials and tribulations growing up. And it never really fazed me. I just kind of took it and ran with it. That’s been the story of my life in general and it was my path.”

One constant in his journey has been his family. His father Ramon was the one driving him and older brother Miles on the basketball court, while his mother Belinda (Jackson) was always there supporting Parker, his brother and their older sister Briana.

Sadly, Ramon passed away in 2022. Parker and his family though have a very strong connection and always have. Even though he’s been playing overseas for more than five years now, they continue to support him, guide him and inspire him.

“Our family, if anybody knows me closely, we’re a very close family. We’re always in contact every day,” he said.

“When you lean on your loved ones, you don’t spend too many moments apart, whether it’s talking on the phone or texting, or whatever it may be. So, I’ve gained so much support and love through them, unconditionally.

“God rest my Dad’s soul. He was the strong, male presence in our family and kept everything together. I feel like he’s watching over us now and we just continue to stay strong and be part of each other’s lives in every way possible. I’m very thankful for my brother, my sister and my mother – the people closest to me that I love.”

Despite his and Miles’ accolades on the court, the Jackson-Cartwright home was not dominated by basketball. It was music that was a source of inspiration and a constant for him and his family.

His parents were heavily influenced by jazz music. Parker Ellington Jackson-Cartwright is named after Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington, while Miles Davis is where his brother’s name came from. And Briana has been a musician for over twenty years, performing under the name JCK DVY. So, music has always been a big part of his life.

“It has,” he acknowledged.

“I grew up in a musically inclined family. My grandfather was a huge jazz music fan and that was passed down to my dad, and now my family is involved. So, I feel like I grew up around it and I always had a liking for all types of different music. I was into jazz, but [also] rap, hip-hop, rock music. I feel like I – at an early age – became a fan of all of them.”

Jackson-Cartwright also makes his own music. He’s an artist under the name of Blvck Minoh and has several singles on Spotify, blending a fusion between punk rock and hip-hop.

“It wasn’t really until a few years back when I wanted to experiment making my own music. I always felt I was so creative and I knew I had something to explore in that realm, whether it be fashion – which I love – or music.

“And music is what I love to do. I get to be so expressive and take it wherever I want to. I make my own music and I’m very proud of it. It keeps me sanely insane and I love to do it.”

He has had many musical influences over the years that have helped to shape the type of music he makes today, but it was a process to figure out who he wanted to be as an artist and what sort of music he wanted to make.

“I think I’ve never liked to lock myself inside of one thing, and I think I figured out when I started to create my own music, I was like, ‘Well I know I can rap, so let me explore rap.’ And I didn’t want to just be a rapper, so I started listening to Metallica. I grew in love with Metallica and Nirvana.

“I just think the rawness in punk music is very close to personal emotion and I’m a very emotional guy, so that hit home for me. So, I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll experiment with rock and punk.’ And then, it just started from there.

“And you find out so much about yourself when you’re creating music, cos it’s so personal. And when you get on a beat, you know some things come out and you kind of surprise yourself. It’s been a cool journey to figure out who I am through the music and expression.”

Parker. Jackson. Cartwright.

Is this one of the best performances we have seen all throughout NBL24? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/th0Er3N91C

— NBL (@NBL) February 29, 2024

And through his music, Jackson-Cartwright has an outlet away from the intensity and pressures of being a professional basketball player. He is extremely creative on the court, which in many ways is an extension of his artistic flair off the court.

His father once told Arizona University media, “To me, basketball is more art than it is athletics. It’s ballet with a ball ... The most creative artists will emerge.”

Well, his son has emerged both on and off the court, and when he is away from basketball, he can express himself in a different way.

“I think it’s the perfect release for me,” Jackson-Cartwright said.

“Music is like anything in the art realm. If you’re a painter, you’re in fashion or you do music or playing basketball – it all has the same affect cos you’re expressing yourself in some type of rhythm. That’s how I take it.

“When I’m off the floor, I like to get my mind off basketball in some way and I think music is a perfect bridge for me to do that, take all these thoughts that I have built up and put them in a healthy, expressive way.

“So, music is very special to me and I learn so much about myself through that, which is what I love. You know, learning about myself and how I can adapt to different things, and evolve.”

On the court, he’s also had to adapt this season. With a new roster, a new head coach, an interrupted schedule with their NBLxNBA games, and now a new import signing mid-season, there’s been a lot of change to contend with.

The Breakers, despite their record, probably still don’t get enough respect, but Jackson-Cartwright, who chose to come back for a second season to play under Mody Maor again, is very comfortable with where the team is at despite all they’ve faced.

“Let me just start by saying we feel good being where we are, and knowing that we’ve only played ten games,” he explained.

“I think we grew a lot over that span where we went to the States and had some games early on where we felt we should have won. We’ve learned some hard lessons already, which has kind of propelled us to where we are now. And I think we’re playing some great basketball.

“We’re not where we want to be, of course, and now we have a new player so we’re going to have to make some changes and adapt around that, but the transition has been good.

“Mody left a big imprint on the Breakers, being here five years. His standard and his methods, they are hugely important in this program and I think people respected him – I certainly did. You know, that’s why I came back, because Mody was going to be the head.

“But, transitioning to coach Petteri, he’s been great. Specifically for this group, he’s been good. Originally a player, two years removed, he knows the game, he’s a players’ coach to the highest degree, and guys love him on and off the floor. The whole staff, we have really bought in to the staff this season.

“A long way to go, but I think we have a good, strong, mental plan on where we can go from here.”

Give the people what they want 🤩#UNBREAKABLE pic.twitter.com/iPAooE7YTA

— BNZ Breakers (@NZBreakers) November 25, 2024

Part of that plan includes their newest signing, Tacko Fall. He had joined them originally in the U.S. for their NBA pre-season games, but never took the floor due to injury. But he’s been around the team a lot the last few months, before officially signing a two-year deal earlier this week after the team released Freddie Gillespie.

So, coming in ten games into the season, Jackson-Cartwright knows exactly what they expect from Fall.

“We expect Tacko to be Tacko,” he said.

“I mean, he’s a force. 7’6”, this is a very unique opportunity for our team – but him as well – to be playing with a guy like that. It’s gonna be pretty special. Everyone has grown close to him, we’ve been around him. People forget that we’ve been around him for months.

“So, it feels good to have him in the fold now and getting acclimated this week, we’ve acclimated him in pretty well. And we expect him to be a pivotal piece for us.”

As pivotal as Fall may become, this team will go as far as Jackson-Cartwright can take them. He’s proven himself as one of the best players in the NBL and that was vindicated on Monday when NBL Analyst, Derek Rucker, released his latest top 15 players list.

Jackson-Cartwright ranked seventh on this list towards the end of NBL24 and used that as motivation to propel the Breakers to a win over the Sydney Kings in the play-in qualifier. He visibly vocalised his feeling to Rucker post-game that night after pouring in 34 points.

This week, Jackson-Cartwright, averaging 18.6 points, 7.4 assists, 2 steals and 3.7 rebounds, sits atop Rucker’s revised list in the number one spot. Ahead of Bryce Cotton, ahead of Xavier Cooks and also Montrezl Harrell.

Derek Rucker's Top 15 has dropped 👀

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— NBL (@NBL) November 25, 2024

How does Jackson-Cartwright respond to that ranking?

“I leave all these things, these accolades to the people that are in place to judge them. I leave it to their opinion and what they think, because I already know what I think and feel about myself,” he said.

“Not to say that I don’t look at the list and not feel a certain way about it. Obviously, I felt a certain way about it last season, but at the end of the day, my focus remains on my team and how I can be a good piece on my team.

“That’s where my energy goes. I think that’s where the focus should be. We’re in the winning business and if I can impose my will and help winning, that’s what I care about the most.”

Which brings us full circle to where we started. Jackson-Cartwright believes he’s the best player in the league. Derek Rucker now agrees. He’s the number one name on opposing teams’ scouting reports and is one of the current favourites to win the Andrew Gaze Trophy for MVP this season.

For a player who was always undersized, had to work his way through the ranks as a professional from Britain to France’s second division, to Germany, before playing in some of the best leagues in the world the last few years between France’s LNB Pro A, Turkey’s BSL, the Euroleague and now the NBL, it’s been quite the journey.

And an MVP trophy as well as a shot at a deep Playoff run or even a championship with the Breakers would just be icing on the cake for him.

“I always feel if I’m playing at the highest level, we always have a chance, you always give yourself a chance. And like I said, that’s all I want,” he explained.

“I want to give my team the best chance of winning. Our ultimate goal is to be at the end, the last two standing. And with everything that we battled last season, obviously it’s vastly different team-wise, players, coaches. But, same club, we’re playing for the same team on the front [of the jersey]. It would mean everything.

“To win MVP and be at the end with your team, would mean a lot. You can’t get there without enjoying the process day in and day out, and honouring it to the highest point. That’s the only way it works and that’s the only way you assure yourself that you’re on the right path.”

That path started when he was six years old and has taken all kinds of twists and turns. But Jackson-Cartwright – an undersized player who creates problems for his opponents every time he steps on a basketball court – is exactly where he’s supposed to be.