Dragons Unveil New Recruit
Tagged in: In The News, NBL
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Jonathan Healy, Sportal
Former Century City Wellington Saints import Bakari Hendrix believes he can make an immediate impact in the Australian HUMMER Championship NBL.
Hendrix has been recruited by the South Dragons to replace fellow American Nick Horvath, who will stay contracted to the club until his New Zealand citizenship is finalised.
And having played basketball in nine different countries outside the United States, Hendrix feels he has the experience to help the Dragons off the bottom of the ladder and into the playoffs in their second season in the NBL.
“I expect to have an immediate impact and play very well. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think so and if Shane didn’t think so or if the organisation didn’t think so,” Hendrix said.
“I have come into situations similar to this one before where the team is a little bit down, but I feel with the group of guys we have and with (player-coach) Shane (Heal) running the show that we are pretty close.”
“From what I understand they lost a lot of close games before I got here so hopefully I am that one- or two-point difference for them and we can pull out some of those close ones.”
Having played professional basketball for more than 10 years, the 30-year-old feels he has the strengths in his game to make a mark in the NBL.
“My versatility definitely is my strength. The fact that I don’t have to stay around the basket,” Hendrix said.
“If I have a match-up where I have a bigger guy on me I can take him out to the perimeter and also I can play inside. I am also a good passer and I pick things up well. I have been playing so long that basketball is the same for me, so I don’t feel like I am uncomfortable at all.”
Heal revealed that he spent some long days and nights attempting to find a new import, and after speaking with close friend and former North Melbourne Giants coach Brett Brown, ‘Bakari Hendrix was the name that kept coming up’.
Heal has been impressed with Hendrix’s versatility, and plans to use the big man at both the power forward and centre positions.
“He brings the ability to be able to play inside and outside so I think we will be able to go big at stages, with him playing with (Matt) Burston and we will also be able to go smaller and have two guys that can shoot from the perimeter,” Heal said.
“We want him to contribute straight away. We are not asking Bakari to come in and get 30 and 15, and save our team. It is not just going to be all about him but he is very smart, he picked up the plays very quickly, we feel very confident in running with him straight away.”
While the Dragons have already received a clearance for Hendrix to play from the NBL, Heal indicated that the club was still awaiting the all-clear from the immigration department.
The club is hopeful that this will be sorted out in time for the Dragons’ round six clash against the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers on Sunday night.
“We are a bit unsure (on his status) at the moment,” Heal said.
“If we can get the clearance then he will be playing. It’s just touch wood at the moment. We are training as if Bakari will be playing.”
If the clearance for Hendrix does not come through in time then Horvath will once again suit up on Sunday, as the Dragons continue to search for their first win of the 2007/08 season.
Ironically, Hendrix and Horvath were team-mates at the Wellington Saints in the New Zealand Dominion Finance NBL earlier this year, and Heal is optimistic that the duo can once again play side by side for the Dragons.
“Hopefully we will have the best of both worlds come Christmas time. It could be two months, it could be two years, we are just really unsure,” Heal said on the imminent New Zealand citizenship that Horvath is awaiting.
“We are doing everything we can to push it through and so is New Zealand basketball because they need him for the Olympics, or for the Olympic qualifications, so hopefully that will happen as soon as possible.”
