Four to follow in the NBL in 2014 –No 2
Like many other Canterbury basketball players with ambition to play in the NBL the tragedy that was the Christchurch earthquake forced them to pursue their careers away from home.
Ethan Rusbatch is such a player. In 2012 he played a few games for Zero Fees Southland Sharks before moving north in 2013, joining Taranaki Mountain Airs. The 21 year old swingman enjoyed a successful season with the Airs averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Rusbatch was an immediate target of the Canterbury Rams coaching staff when the Rams inclusion in the 2014 NBL season was confirmed. He will start in the three spot for the Christchurch franchise but with an undersized squad he may also be required to spend time in the power forward position. Rusbatch averaged 24.5 minutes per game last season and could well play even greater minutes in the upcoming season.
If he can replicate his 2013 shooting percentages – 45% from the field and 42.4% from beyond the three-point arc – the Rams staff and fans will be delighted.
great wee read.