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Corey Webster (basketball)

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Corey Webster
Webster with the Perth Wildcats in 2022
No. 9 – Auckland Tuatara
PositionShooting guard / point guard
LeagueNZNBL
Personal information
Born (1988-11-29) 29 November 1988 (age 35)
Auckland, New Zealand
Listed height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Listed weight89 kg (196 lb)
Career information
High schoolWestlake Boys
(Auckland, New Zealand)
CollegeLambuth (2007–2008)
NBA draft2010: undrafted
Playing career2008–present
Career history
2008–2011New Zealand Breakers
2009–2010Harbour Heat
2011Wellington Saints
2012–2017New Zealand Breakers
2013–2014Wellington Saints
2015Mega Leks
2016Koroivos
2016Super City Rangers
2017Wellington Saints
2017–2018Ironi Nahariya
2018Guizhou
2018–2019New Zealand Breakers
2019–2020Zhejiang Lions
2020Virtus Roma
2020–2021New Zealand Breakers
2021–2022Al Ittihad
2022Franklin Bulls
2022–2024Perth Wildcats
2023KK Mornar Bar
2023Al Ahly
2023Canterbury Rams
2024–presentAuckland Tuatara
Career highlights and awards

Corey Webster (born 29 November 1988) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Auckland Tuatara of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He joined the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the first time in 2008 after a season of college basketball in the United States for Lambuth University, and won championships with the club in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

He has also been a regular in the New Zealand NBL, winning championships with the Wellington Saints in 2011, 2014 and 2017, and with the Canterbury Rams in 2023. He has had stints in Serbia, Greece, Israel, China, Italy and Egypt, winning the 2023 BAL championship with Al Ahly.

Early and college career

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Webster attended Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, and played junior basketball for North Harbour Basketball Association.[1] He moved to the United States in 2007 and played a season of college basketball for Lambuth University of the NAIA.[2] He averaged 11.5 points per game and was named the TSAC Freshman of the Year.[3]

Professional career

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Australian NBL

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New Zealand Breakers

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In June 2008, Webster joined the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL for the first time, signing as a development player.[4] He spent two seasons as a development player[5] before joining the full-time roster ahead of the 2010–11 season.[6] He won his first championship with the Breakers that season before missing the 2011–12 season due to a drug violation.[7] The Breakers brought him back on a three-year deal ahead of the 2012–13 season[8][9] and won his second NBL championship that season.[10] He averaged a then career-high 8.5 points per game during the 2013–14 season.[11]

The 2014–15 season saw Webster develop into one of the league's premier scorers as he moved to a starting role and averaged a team-best 15.3 points per game, including scoring a career-high 24 points in the first semi-final against the Adelaide 36ers.[12] He helped the Breakers win their fourth title in five years.[13][14]

After re-signing with the Breakers on a three-year deal,[12] Webster's 2015 off-season saw him attend a pre-draft tryout with the Indiana Pacers[15] and later spent NBA preseason with the New Orleans Pelicans.[16][17][18][19][20] With the Breakers in 2015–16,[21] Webster scored a career-high 39 points in November[22][23] and helped the team return to the NBL Grand Final series, where they lost to the Perth Wildcats.[24] He earned All-NBL Second Team honours after he finished second in scoring with 21.09 points per game during the regular season.[25]

After missing the second half of the 2016–17 NBL season due to a hip injury,[26][27][28][29][30] Webster was released by the Breakers in March 2017.[31] He subsequently played for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2017 NBA Summer League.[32]

On 24 May 2018, Webster returned to the Breakers on another three-year deal.[33] He started the 2018–19 NBL season strong,[34] but had a form slump in December[35] that saw him present as a shadow of the figure who was once a premier scorer in the league.[36] He returned to form in the 2019–20 NBL season, averaging 19.5 points in 11 games, before being bought out of his contract in December in order to sign in China.[37]

Webster re-joined the Breakers for the 2020–21 NBL season, but he missed the first two weeks of the season after slicing a nerve in his hand with a knife in his kitchen.[38][39][40] He was later sidelined for four weeks with a knee injury.[41]

On 20 August 2021, Webster parted ways with the Breakers.[42]

Perth Wildcats

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On 30 March 2017, Webster signed a two-year deal with the Perth Wildcats.[43][44] However, he soon requested a release from his contract, which was granted by the Wildcats on 13 July 2017.[45]

On 15 June 2022, Webster reunited with the Wildcats on a two-year deal.[46] On 12 December 2022, in his 250th NBL game, he hit the game-winning 3-pointer to lift the Wildcats to a 90–89 win over Melbourne United.[47]

On 3 May 2023, Webster re-signed with the Wildcats on a new two-year deal.[48] After playing 27 minutes per game in 2022–23, he fell out of favour in 2023–24 to average 13 minutes per game. The Wildcats did not pick up their team option on his contract for the 2024–25 season.[49][50]

New Zealand NBL

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Webster debuted in the New Zealand NBL in 2009, playing two seasons for the Harbour Heat. In 2011, he joined the Wellington Saints and helped them win the championship. His second season with the Saints came in 2013.[51] In 2014, he won the league MVP[52] and another championship with the Saints.[53] He spent the 2016 season with the Super City Rangers.[54] In 2017 with the Saints,[30][55] he won his second MVP award and third championship.[56][57] In 2022, he played for the Franklin Bulls.[58] He joined the Canterbury Rams in 2023[59] and won his fourth NZNBL championship.[60] He joined the Auckland Tuatara for the 2024 season.[61]

Overseas

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Following both the 2014–15 and 2015–16 NBL seasons, Webster played in Europe. He played in Serbia in 2015 with Mega Leks[62] and in Greece in 2016 with Koroivos.[63]

Webster played the 2017–18 season in Israel for Ironi Nahariya.[64][65] He won the Three-Point Shootout during the league's All-Star Event.[66] Following the Israeli season, he joined the Guizhou Shenghang Snow Leopards of the Chinese NBL.[67]

In December 2019, Webster returned to China to play for the Zhejiang Lions in the CBA.[37] He played in seven games before leaving China on 3 February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[68] He moved to Italy later that month to play for Virtus Roma of the Lega Basket Serie A,[69] but that season was also cut short due to the pandemic. He appeared in just one game for Roma.[70]

Webster played the 2021–22 season in Egypt for Al Ittihad.[71]

In February 2023, Webster joined KK Mornar Bar of the Montenegrin League for the rest of the 2022–23 season.[72] He returned to Egypt in April 2023 and joined Al Ahly.[73] He helped Al Ahly win the Basketball Africa League championship for the 2023 season. He scored 13 points in the 80–65 win over Douanes in the final.[74]

National team career

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Webster joined the New Zealand national basketball team for the first time in 2008 at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He later played for New Zealand at the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championship,[75] 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship, 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship and 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[76]

Personal life

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Webster is the son of Tony and Cherry Webster. Tony, who is from New York,[77] was a standout basketball player in his own right, earning first-team All-WAC honours at Hawaii in 1983 and ranking fourth on Hawaii's career steals list before playing professionally in New Zealand. Webster's younger brother, Tai, played four years of college basketball for the University of Nebraska and has played professionally in New Zealand and Europe.[78]

References

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  1. ^ "Corey Webster". nz.basketball. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. ^ "#1 Ranked New Zealand Junior, Corey Webster Signs with Lambuth Men's Basketball". victorysportsnetwork.com. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Sports". The Jackson Sun. 19 March 2008. p. 37. Retrieved 2 January 2021. Lambuth's Corey Webster, left, was named the TranSouth Freshman of the Year this season while averaging 11.5 points.
  4. ^ "BREAKERS SIGN D-SQUADERS". 8 June 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Breakers Fill Roster". Basketball.org.nz. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  6. ^ Hinton, Marc (6 July 2010). "Breakers give young player another chance". Stuff. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Breakers cut Webster loose after drug ban". Stuff. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  8. ^ "BREAKERS WELCOME BACK WEBSTER AS ROSTER IS FINALISED". NZBreakers.co.nz. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013.
  9. ^ Hinton, Marc (7 September 2012). "Breakers give Webster a contract lifeline". Stuff. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  10. ^ Hinton, Marc (18 March 2013). "Breakers' faith repaid as Webster shines". Stuff. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Player statistics for Corey Webster". NBL. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Microwave Plugs in for Another Three Years with Breakers". NZBreakers.co.nz. 15 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Grand Final Report: Ibekwe jumper wins Breakers the Championship". NBL.com.au. 8 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Ibekwe Historics Lead To Fourth Title For Breakers". nzhoops.co.nz. 8 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Tall Black Corey Webster recieves [sic] NBA opportunity". Yahoo.com. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Breakers and Tall Blacks star Corey Webster lands NBA shot after invite". Stuff. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Basketball: Webster earns NBA shot". The New Zealand Herald. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Pelicans Sign Adrien, Douglas-Roberts, Webster". NBA.com. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  19. ^ "Corey Webster a step closer to the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans". Stuff. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  20. ^ "Pelicans Waive Corey Webster". NBA.com. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  21. ^ Hinton, Marc (16 October 2015). "Corey Webster's return forces Breakers to make tough decision on NBL roster". Stuff. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  22. ^ "Breakers Vs United". NBL.com.au. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  23. ^ Hinton, Marc (22 November 2015). "Corey Webster scores 39 as NZ Breakers get payback win over Melbourne". Stuff. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  24. ^ "GF3 REPORT: WILDCATS BREAK NZ HOODOO FOR ANOTHER TITLE". NBL.com.au. 6 March 2016. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  25. ^ "Breakers' Corey Webster, Kirk Penney earn All-ANBL second team honours". Stuff. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  26. ^ "WEBSTER ON INJURY WAIVER AND SET TO MISS WILDCATS GAME". NZBreakers.co.nz. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  27. ^ Hinton, Marc (14 December 2016). "NZ Breakers sideline 'injured' Corey Webster, will call in import to replace him". Stuff. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  28. ^ "Troubled Breakers star Corey Webster to have hip surgery". Stuff. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  29. ^ Wilson, Clay (5 January 2017). "'Last option' for frustrated Corey Webster as surgery sidelines Breakers star for rest of NBL season". Stuff. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  30. ^ a b Hinton, Marc (2 March 2017). "Tall Blacks shooting guard Corey Webster headed to Saints for 2017 NBL season". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  31. ^ Hinton, Marc (21 March 2017). "NZ Breakers sever ties with Corey Webster, accept ANBL rivals will now chase him hard". Stuff. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  32. ^ Santamaria, Liam (24 June 2017). "DALLAS MAVERICKS SIGN COREY WEBSTER FOR NBA SUMMER LEAGUE". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  33. ^ "Webster Returns Home to Reunite with NZ Breakers". NBL.com.au. 24 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  34. ^ Hinton, Marc (16 November 2018). "Melbourne United down Breakers despite hot shooting game from Corey Webster". Stuff. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  35. ^ Hinton, Marc (20 December 2018). "NZ Breakers adamant star guard Corey Webster can shoot his way out of slump". Stuff. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  36. ^ Hinton, Marc (22 January 2019). "Breaking it down: Where Kevin Braswell's side has come up short". Stuff. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  37. ^ a b "Breakers Accept Buyout For Corey Webster". NBL.com.au. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  38. ^ "Basketball: New Zealand Breakers lose Corey Webster to hand injury". The New Zealand Herald. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  39. ^ "Webster Opens Up on Bizarre Avocado Injury". NBL.com.au. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  40. ^ Hinton, Marc (27 January 2021). "NZ Breakers get Corey Webster back, seek more from imports for Adelaide rematch". Stuff. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  41. ^ "Breakers Sign Highly Regarded Boomer as Webster is Sidelined for 4-Weeks". nzbreakers.basketball. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  42. ^ "Corey Webster and NZ Breakers Part Ways". NBL.com.au. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  43. ^ "COREY WEBSTER SIGNS WITH PERTH WILDCATS". Wildcats.com.au. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  44. ^ Hinton, Marc (30 March 2017). "Perth Wildcats sign discarded Breakers star Corey Webster for 2017-18 ANBL season". Stuff. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  45. ^ "WEBSTER GRANTED RELEASE FROM WILDCATS". Wildcats.com.au. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  46. ^ "Perth Wildcats sign sharp-shooter Corey Webster". Wildcats.com.au. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  47. ^ "Webster the Hero as 'Cats Snatch it From United". NBL.com.au. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  48. ^ "Corey Webster Commits to the Cats". Wildcats.com.au. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  49. ^ "Mixed fortunes for Webster brothers". NBL.com.au. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  50. ^ "Thank you, Corey and Kyle". Wildcats.com.au. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  51. ^ "WEBSTER RE-SIGNS WITH SAINTS". Basketball.org.nz. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015.
  52. ^ "HAWKS V SAINTS FINAL". Basketball.org.nz. 5 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  53. ^ "It's eight for Saints in victory over Bay Hawks". Stuff. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  54. ^ "Corey Webster signs with Super City Rangers in National Basketball League". Stuff. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  55. ^ Hyslop, Liam (16 March 2017). "Corey Webster targets fresh start with Wellington Saints". Stuff. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  56. ^ Anderson, Niall (17 June 2017). "Basketball: Wellington Saints complete perfect NBL season". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  57. ^ "Saints vs Sharks". FIBALiveStats.com. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  58. ^ "Superstar Returns to Auckland". bullsbasketball.nz. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  59. ^ "Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams Finalise Roster". facebook.com/CanterburyRams. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  60. ^ "CANTERBURY RAMS CROWNED 2023 SAL'S NBL CHAMPIONS". nznbl.basketball. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023.
  61. ^ "TUATARA BRING WEBSTER HOME TO JOIN ALL-STAR CAST". tuatarabasketball.com. 31 January 2024. Archived from the original on 31 January 2024.
  62. ^ "Corey Webster moves to Mega Leks". Sportando.com. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  63. ^ "Corey Webster inks with Koroivos Amaliadas". Sportando.com. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  64. ^ Luna, Nir (1 August 2017). "Ironi Nahariya tabs Corey Webster, ex Wellington S." Eurobasket.com. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  65. ^ "עירוני נהריה הגיעה עם וובסטר להסכמה על שחרורו". one.co.il (in Hebrew). 3 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  66. ^ "אלוף תחרות השלשות: קורי וובסטר". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  67. ^ Hinton, Marc (19 June 2018). "Kiwi basketball star Corey Webster remains red-hot for Guizhou in China's NBL". Stuff. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  68. ^ Hinton, Marc (3 February 2020). "Corey Webster returns from China amid coronavirus fears; Breakers explore options". Stuff. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  69. ^ "Ingaggiato Corey Webster". virtusroma.it (in Italian). 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.[permanent dead link]
  70. ^ Chapman, Grant (10 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Breakers star Corey Webster foiled by epidemic (again) in Italy". newshub.co.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  71. ^ "Corey Webster (ex NZL Breakers) signs at Al Ettehad". eurobasket.com. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  72. ^ "KORI WEBSTER NOVI BEK MORNARA!". kkmornar.bar (in Bosnian). 14 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  73. ^ "Corey Webster (ex Mornar) signs at Al Ahly". afrobasket.com. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  74. ^ "Al Ahly top Douanes to conquer title in Kigali". afrobasket.com. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  75. ^ "ANTHONY JOINS TALL BLACKS". Basketball.org.nz. 9 August 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  76. ^ "2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup – Corey Webster". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  77. ^ "New York basketball pro now coach of Tauranga City". Bay of Plenty Times. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  78. ^ "Tai Webster Bio". Huskers.com. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
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