Vukona Inks With Dragons
Tagged in: NBL, Tall Blacks
New Zealand Tall Blacks and Appliance Shed Harbour Heat forward Mika Vukona will be a fire-breathing Dragon next season.
Vukona, who had been part of the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers organisation since their inaugural 2003-04 season, signed with the South Dragons for two years in the Hummer Championship NBL on Tuesday, along with former Sydney Kings and Australia Boomers guard Jason Smith.
New Dragons coach Brian Goorjian, the current Boomers and former Kings coach, said Vukona was “the most exciting proposition on the NBL free agents list”, and the master coach is looking forward to developing the 25-year-old New Zealander.
“He’s the type of player everybody wants to play with because he’s so good, he makes everybody around him better,” Goorjian said.
“He’s very, very young and he’s just blossoming as a basketball player. I think he’s somebody that everyone had their eye on when the free agents list came out so I think he’s a tremendous signing for the club.”
Vukona averaged 7.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the Breakers in 2007-08, helping the club to their first playoffs appearance. He is currently averaging 10.4 points and 8.0 rebounds in eight game for the Heat in the Dominion Finance NBL.
“Mika is a tremendous athlete, he’s a tremendous defensive player, he’s a team player and I think he’s excited to be a part of this and again, that was one of the key criteria in the recruiting, we wanted guys who wanted to be here.”
“I think he’s the one that’s under the radar but I am very, very excited about him.”
Smith joins the Dragons after five seasons with the Kings. Goorjian has been the only coach that Smith has played under in the NBL, and the duo will have the chance to continue their partnership at the Melbourne franchise.
“I have tremendous faith in Jason as a player and a person,” Goorjian said.
“I think what Jason’s strengths are as a player are going to be a real plus for the Dragons. I think the team cries out for leadership and a defensive presence and I think Jason will provide both of those.”
