Confidence and calf cramps: White reflects on season-best showing in Christchurch

He put in a season-best performance in the win over New Zealand on Thursday night but after cramping late Isaac White still found himself the butt of his teammates’ jokes.

White had just spent more than 25 minutes chasing the energetic Parker Jackson-Cartwright around the court as the Breakers guard tried to will his side to victory.

While Jackson-Cartwright finished with 21 points and 10 assists, White played a big role in guarding him and limiting his impact while making his own impression on the game.

The 27-year-old put up a season best 12 points as well as having three rebounds and four assists, and he did so off the bench.

“I feel good,” he smiled after the game in Christchurch. “A little calf cramp hit me with about a minute to go, so (25 minutes) is probably my threshold but it was good.

“I've had a couple games guarding Parker in spurts and obviously I’ve got a lot of respect for what he does, but you know, I had a little bit of confidence coming in, just with the reps I've had previously.

“I usually do a reasonable job guarding him.

“He just usually makes tough shots on me, so I'm glad I could do a bit of an assignment for us, and obviously that results in minutes and that's great.”

As well as more minutes and an impressive stats sheet, White’s impact on the game is best exemplified by his plus-minus rating, which was a game-high 16. For reference, the next best was Bryce Cotton’s rating of seven.

“Some of the boys were joking on the bench, and I think down the stretch, I was getting subbed in for our offensive free throws and subbed out when they were shooting,” White laughed.

“So, (the rating) might be slightly false, but for the most part, I'll take it.

“Obviously, that's a nice stat for whatever it’s worth, but I think, for the most part, just being a part of the group that kind of won it for us tonight is what means most to me. stats or not.”

White came home to Adelaide in the off-season after playing for 139 NBL games for Illawarra, Tasmania and Brisbane over the last six years.

He’s already experienced playing against each of those sides this season so he is well placed to know how teammate Bryce Cotton will be feeling coming up against his old side Perth on Sunday.

White is confident Cotton will be his usual self when the Sixers host the Wildcats from 2pm.

“I'm sure he'll be up four of it,” White said of Cotton. “But he's up for every night.

“Obviously I can't speak for him. He's a professional. He kind of keeps his cards close to his chest for the most part.

“He’s emotional when he needs to be, but he's quite a private and chill guy for the most part so I guess we'll have to wait and see.”