The New Zealand international and DP from last season returns to Tassie.
The JackJumpers have confirmed that promising youngster Walter Brown will remain at the club for a further three years after signing a new deal with the club this week.
Under the deal, the 19 year old Brown will remain a development player (DP) of the next two seasons, then move to a full contract in this third season.
Hailing from New Zealand, Brown joined the Tasmanian side last year as a DP after a posting some solid numbers playing for the Canterbury Rams in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). In his first taste of NBL last season Brown appeared in 8 games, averaging under two minutes per game. Despite not seeing much court time, it was the experience of being a full time professional basketballer, and learning from the coaching staff and teammates that will help Brown improve.
“I’m super-stoked that they’ve put that confidence in me to sign me for that long,” Brown said.
“It’s a great feeling knowing I’ve got two years as a development player to improve on my game, and by the time that third year comes I hope to be really ready to take on that fully rostered gig.
“Being a development player and young means to just keep learning and getting better as I go.”
The combination of development player and fully contracted role into the one deal isn’t new to the JackJumpers, with a similar deal reached with follow guard Sean McDonald. He will remain a DP for the 23/2 season before switching to a fully contracted role for 24/25.
Tasmania will be hoping history repeats itself with Brown after MacDonald had a breakout 22/23 campaign after seeing limited game time in his rookie season. After MacDonald averaged just under 4 minutes across 8 games in his rookie year, he saw that number jump to 21 minutes a games in season two to average 6.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, while being a constant shooting threat from outside at 37%.
“Sean is a great example of someone who is a development player who showed he could mix it with anyone and everyone,” Brown said.
Brown lighting it up in NZ
Having his club option not taken up the JackJumpers at the end or 2022/23, Brown became a free agent, and quickly put the NBL on notice with an electrifying performances in the NZNBL with the Canterbury Rams. He has averaged 10.5 points and 5.6 rebounds across the opening 6 games, including back to back double-doubles in round 3.
Those performances no doubt would of gained the interest of rival NBL clubs, with NZ Sky Sports basketball Justin Nelson expert stating on the NBLNZ website “the name Walter Brown is surely (and should be) on the lips of every ANBL team right now, including the Breakers”.
Thankfully for JackJumpers fans the team moved in quickly afterwards to offer Brown a long term deal and a lot to look forward to in coming season.
