Wilkinson leaving Breakers
July 01, 2012 14:39:15 UK
Gary Wilkinson has confirmed he will not be returning to try and win a third successive NBL title with the Breakers.
I would love to have a three-peat, but it's a matter of where the organisation is headed and where I fit into the whole scheme of things.
Gary Wilkinson
The American, one of two imports allowed on the Breakers' roster, played a key role in the team's back-to-back championships.
The Breakers are committed to handing New Zealand centre Alex Pledger a starting role next season, meaning Wilkinson would have had to accept a decrease in minutes if he was to stay.
"Obviously I've got a lot of years playing in me and if they see Chief (Pledger) as their future then we just have to see how that is going to work," Wilkinson said in April.
"I am more than happy to watch Chief flourish because he deserves it.
"I would love to have a three-peat, but it's a matter of where the organisation is headed and where I fit into the whole scheme of things. With the Chief making huge strides, I would bank on him in the future."
It was presumed Wilkinson would instead find a new club, either in Australia or further abroad and he confirmed as much on his Facebook page today.
Wilkinson, who played professionally in South Korea and Greece before joining the Breakers, is currently enjoying a stint in Puerto Rico with Vaqueros de Bayamon.
The 29-year-old leaves the Breakers with two championship rings in two seasons and a reputation as a fans' favourite for his consistent scoring and frequent displays of enthusiasm on the court.
Meanwhile, the USA are 1.01 to win gold in the men's basketball at the 2012 Olympics, with Australia 10001.00.
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