Alex Pledger Explained

Alex Pledger
Position:Centre
Height Cm:215
Weight Kg:113
Birth Date:27 March 1987
Birth Place:Blenheim, New Zealand
High School:Hamilton Boys'
(Hamilton, New Zealand)
College:
Draft Year:2009
Career Start:2009
Career End:2023
Years1:2009–2011
Team1:Waikato Pistons
Years2:2009–2018
Team2:New Zealand Breakers
Years3:2012
Team3:Auckland Pirates
Years4:2016–2019
Team4:Southland Sharks
Years5:2018–2020
Team5:Melbourne United
Years6:2021; 2023
Team6:Southland Sharks
Highlights:

Alex John Pledger (born 27 March 1987) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States for Kansas City and Belmont Abbey before playing eleven seasons in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) between 2009 and 2020. In nine seasons with the New Zealand Breakers, he won four NBL championships. In the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL), he won championships with the Auckland Pirates (2012) and Southland Sharks (2018). He was also a regular member of the New Zealand national team.

College career

Between 2005 and 2008, Pledger was a member of the UMKC Kangaroos college basketball team in the United States.[1] His best season came in 2006–07 when he averaged 5.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 29 games. After a foot injury limited him to one game in the 2007–08 season, Pledger transferred to Belmont Abbey College for the 2008–09 season, where he averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 12 games for the Crusaders in the NCAA Division II.[2]

Professional career

Pledger made his debut in the New Zealand NBL in 2009 for the Waikato Pistons. He averaged 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in eight games and helped the Pistons win the championship. He was subsequently signed by the New Zealand Breakers as a development player for the 2009–10 NBL season.[3] He averaged 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in nine games during his first season with the Breakers. He returned to the Pistons for the 2010 season, where he averaged 11.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 21 games while helping the team return to the NBL Finals series.

Pledger was elevated to the Breakers' full-time playing squad for the 2010–11 season.[4] The Breakers went on to win their maiden championship that season. In 34 games, he averaged 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. With the Pistons in 2011, he earned league MVP honours and averaged 16.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.4 blocks in 12 games.[5]

The 2011–12 NBL season saw Pledger and the Breakers win back-to-back championships. Also in 2012, Pledger helped the Auckland Pirates[6] win the NZNBL championship behind a Finals MVP performance.[7]

Pledger became the Breakers' starting centre in the 2012–13 season.[8] During the season, he was twice named Player of the Week[9] [10] and recorded career-best numbers with averages of 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. The Breakers claimed an NBL championship three-peat that season.[11]

Pledger missed the second half of the 2013–14 season with a left ankle injury.[12] He returned to action in 2014–15[13] and helped the Breakers win a fourth championship in five years.

In 2015–16,[14] the Breakers finished runners-up in the NBL after losing the grand final series to the Perth Wildcats.[15] He appeared in 31 of the team's 33 games in 2015–16, averaging 6.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

In 2016, Pledger returned to the New Zealand NBL for the first time since 2012, joining the Southland Sharks.[16] In 19 games for the Sharks, he averaged 16.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.

On 9 April 2016, Pledger re-signed with the Breakers on a three-year deal.[17] [18]

Following the 2016–17 NBL season, Pledger returned to the Southland Sharks for the 2017 New Zealand NBL season.[19] However, he spent a portion of the Sharks' season on the sidelines due to concussion-related problems.[20] In 17 games, he averaged 13.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. He played a third season with the Sharks in 2018.[21]

On 18 May 2018, after mutually agreeing to part ways with the New Zealand Breakers, Pledger signed with Melbourne United for the 2018–19 season.[22]

In April 2019, Pledger re-joined the Sharks for the 2019 season.[23]

On 30 April 2019, Pledger re-signed with United for the 2019–20 season.[24] On 18 November 2019, he was sidelined for six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a right ankle injury.[25]

On 23 December 2020, Pledger signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2021 season, returning to the franchise for a fifth season.[26] Due to a cancer diagnosis, he only managed to play in the Sharks' final home regular season game.[27] [28]

In May 2023, Pledger re-joined the Sharks for the rest of the 2023 season.[29] He announced his retirement from basketball on 5 July 2023.[30] The Sharks subsequently retired his #35 jersey.[31] [32]

National team career

Pledger made his senior debut with the New Zealand national team at the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[33] His next appearance for the Tall Blacks came during the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championship.[34]

Personal life

In March 2021, Pledger was diagnosed with Colorectal cancer. He received the diagnosis after nearly five months of feeling unwell with tests coming back inconclusive.[35] [36] He announced he was cancer free in September 2021, following an operation and further tests.[37]

In 2021, Pledger married his long-time partner Bailee Wilson in Queenstown.[38] [39]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18300&ATCLID=1263931
    1. 14 Alex Pledger
  2. http://www.abbeyathletics.com/stats/09mbb/BACmbbseason.htm Belmont Abbey Crusaders Basketball - Season Box Score
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20090702095607/http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/breakers-fill-roster Breakers Fill Roster
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20100524041846/http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/vukona-back-with-breakers/ Vukona Back With Breakers
  5. https://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=206393530&client=11-8336-199734-159868-15173881 Player statistics for Alex Pledger – NZNBL 2011
  6. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/6072823/Alex-Pledger-an-ace-card-for-the-Auckland-Pirates Alex Pledger an ace card for the Auckland Pirates
  7. http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/video-auckland-pirates-win-kiwi-nbl-title-2012052808 VIDEO: Auckland Pirates win Kiwi NBL title
  8. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/6367587/NZ-Breakers-bank-on-big-man-Alex-Pledger NZ Breakers bank on big man Alex Pledger
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20130413121755/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1i2rs7btps1d11wgkrk0lm1xkr Breakers' Alex Pledger wins NBL weekly award
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20130412132656/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1hinp01a5za821g68g8u8eqmz1 Breakers' Pledger wins back-to-back NBL weekly award
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20130413121846/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1cuc7h5iib16q15cf73ifumnou New Zealand win historic third consecutive NBL Championship
  12. Web site: Alex Pledger’s Injury: A Blessing in Disguise? . 27 December 2013 . 15 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160127202319/http://nzhoops.co.nz/alex-pledgers-injury-blessing-disguise/ . 27 January 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  13. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/10515857/Big-hopes-for-rejuvenated-Breaker-Alex-Pledger Big hopes for rejuvenated Breaker Alex Pledger
  14. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/67428776/coach-dean-vickerman-seeks-six-signings-to-strengthen-new-zealand-breakers Coach Dean Vickerman seeks six signings to strengthen New Zealand Breakers
  15. Web site: GF3 REPORT: WILDCATS BREAK NZ HOODOO FOR ANOTHER TITLE. NBL.com.au. 6 March 2016. 6 March 2016. 8 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160308084946/http://www.nbl.com.au/featured-news/gf3-report-wildcats-break-nz-hoodoo-for-another-title/. dead.
  16. http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/72065468/Southland-Sharks-sign-Alex-Pledger Southland Sharks sign Alex Pledger
  17. http://www.nzbreakers.co.nz/featured-news/breakers-make-their-biggest-signing/ SKYCITY BREAKERS MAKE THEIR ‘BIGGEST’ SIGNING
  18. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/78736914/nz-breakers-resign-big-man-alex-pledger-to-new-threeyear-deal NZ Breakers re-sign big man Alex Pledger to new three-year deal
  19. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/90436279/southland-sharks-big-man-alex-pledger-ready-for-nelson-giants-in-national-basketball-league-opener Southland Sharks big man Alex Pledger ready for Nelson Giants in National Basketball League opener
  20. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/93228958/new-zealand-basketball-star-alex-pledger-is-battling-is-own-concussion-nightmare New Zealand basketball star Alex Pledger is battling his own concussion nightmare
  21. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/98393383/breakers-and-tall-blacks-star-alex-pledger-will-be-back-in-orange-with-southland-sharks Breakers and Tall Blacks star Alex Pledger will be back in orange with Southland Sharks
  22. http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/42044-melbourne-united-add-alex-pledger Melbourne United add Alex Pledger
  23. Web site: Egan. Brendon. Wellington Saints, Southland Sharks hot favourites for NBL title. Stuff.co.nz. 10 April 2019. 14 April 2019.
  24. Web site: Alex Pledger Re-Signs with United. NBL.com.au. 30 April 2019. 30 April 2019.
  25. Web site: Alex Pledger Sidelined for Melbourne. NBL.com.au. 18 November 2019. 18 November 2019.
  26. Web site: Pledger the perfect early present. sharksbasketball.co.nz. 23 December 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201223043756/https://www.sharksbasketball.co.nz/single-post/pledger-the-perfect-early-present. 23 December 2020.
  27. Web site: Savory. Logan. NZ basketballer Alex Pledger to return to court, three months after cancer diagnosis. Stuff.co.nz. 13 July 2021. 13 July 2021.
  28. Web site: Savory. Logan. Veteran coach Rob Beveridge describes Alex Pledger's cancer comeback as highlight of career. Stuff.co.nz. 16 July 2021. 16 July 2021.
  29. Web site: Pledger completes cancer comeback with Sharks. sharksbasketball.co.nz. 9 May 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230509003454/https://www.sharksbasketball.co.nz/single-post/pledger-completes-cancer-comeback-with-sharks. 9 May 2023.
  30. Web site: THANK YOU ALEX. facebook.com/southlandsharks. 5 July 2023. 5 July 2023.
  31. Web site: The @southlandsharks retire Alex Pledger's No. 35 jersey. twitter.com/nznbl. 6 July 2023. 6 July 2023.
  32. Web site: Ex-Tall Black Alex Pledger's Southland Sharks singlet lifted to the rafters. Stuff.co.nz. 7 July 2023. 8 July 2023.
  33. https://web.archive.org/web/20120222054938/http://www.basketball.org.nz/national-teams/tall-blacks/tall-blacks-player-profiles/2011-tall-blacks/alex-pledger/ Alex Pledger – 2011 Tall Blacks Profile
  34. http://www.basketball.net.au/tall-blacks-rattle-boomers-for-oceania-win-video/ TALL BLACKS RATTLE BOOMERS FOR OCEANIA WIN + VIDEO
  35. Web site: Pledger Begins Fight Following Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis. NBL.com.au. 29 March 2021. 29 March 2021.
  36. Web site: Hinton. Marc. Southland Sharks basketballer Alex Pledger digs in for fight after cancer diagnosis. Stuff.co.nz. 29 March 2021. 29 March 2021.
  37. Web site: Anderson. Ian. Ex-Tall Black Alex Pledger says he's cancer-free six months after diagnosis. Stuff.co.nz. 16 September 2021. 16 September 2021.
  38. Web site: Simich. Ricardo. Spy: A wedding and return to the court for basketball star. nzherald.co.nz. 20 June 2021. 9 May 2023.
  39. Web site: Hinton. Marc. Bouncing back: Alex Pledger set for storybook post-cancer NBL return for Sharks. Stuff.co.nz. 9 May 2023. 9 May 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Alex Pledger".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.