Tai Webster Signs on With Wildcats

Exciting combo-guard and 2013 NBL champion Tai Webster has returned to Australia and will play the remainder of the NBL23 season with the Perth Wildcats, with a mutual option included for the NBL24 between the club and player.

Webster returns to the competition after a stint in the Turkish Basketball Super League with Petkim Spor, where he averaged 8.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game before parting with the club.

His last stint in the NBL came in NBL21 with the New Zealand Breakers, where he averaged 17 points per game.

He will join his brother, Corey, on the Wildcats roster, with the pair also representing the Breakers and the New Zealand national team together over the course of their illustrious careers.

“It feels great, coming back to a league to that I pay close attention to, and I enjoy watching,” Webster said after signing with the Wildcats.

“It’s good to be coming back and to be close to family.

“Obviously a big drawing card was to play with Corey again, but I’m no stranger to the success of the Perth Wildcats, I want to win another NBL title and there would be no better place to do it than at Perth.”

Head coach John Rillie believes Webster will add a new dynamic to Perth’s offence.

“When you have the ability to add a good, talented local player to your NBL roster it’s always something you have to visit, any time you can add talent is a good thing,” he said.

“We’re adding a dynamic playmaker.

“You can see over the last month our team is really finding a nice groove and Tai will add another dimension to that in our back-court, and also relieve some of the scoring burden off some of our other players as well.”

Webster’s first opportunity to represent his new side will come against his former team, as the Wildcats travel to New Zealand to take on the Breakers on January 4.

Following the signing of Webster, guard Corey Shervill has been released from Perth’s roster.

Shervill will remain in the organisation as a train-on player.