By Huw Beynon
The Breakers welcomed basketball superstar Vlade Divac to training today, with the International Hall of Fame player in New Zealand to promote his humanitarian work amongst the Serbian community.
It is not often Alex Pledger gets to train with someone as tall as him so when two-time world champion Divac came to Breakers training it was a chance he was not going to miss.
“A hall of famer doesn’t just drop in on practice every day and playing the same position as me it was a great opportunity to learn a few things,” says Breakers centre, Pledger.
Divac offered Pledger the same advice that made him an NBA great.
“Basic stuff. I told him basketball is very simple if you play simple, and hopefully it can help him,” says Divac.
Divac certainly made it look simple in his playing days, matching up with some of the best players of all time in a career that spanned 22 years and today he is an inspiration for other international players hoping to make it in the world’s best league.
“He was one of the first European players ever to play in the NBA and it was a massive step for him - he couldn't even speak English when he went over to the NBA. So I think the pathway is here for myself and other players, it’s how hard we want to work for it to make it come true,” says Breakers swingman Tom Abercrombie.
And the Serb is no stranger to New Zealand basketball - he was part of the Yugoslavian side that beat the Tall Blacks in the semi-finals of the 2002 World Championships - and he believes players like seven foot Alex Pledger could lift New Zealand to those same lofty heights again.
“Back then in 2002 it was our advantage how we beat New Zealand in the second half, but they always were a team with fundamental players and good shooters, so when you create a couple of big guys you'll be in top five teams in the world,” says Divac.
For now Pledger's aim will be maintaining the Breaker's status as top team in the Australian league as they search for back to back championships
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