Webster takes his game to new heights

AUCKLAND (NBL) - Corey Webster didn't realize it at the time, but when he travelled to Europe with the New Zealand Tall Blacks this summer to get ready for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, he was about to lay the foundation for his best-ever season as a professional.

The 1.85m guard would go on to lead the Kiwis in scoring at the tournament in Spain with an average of 13.7 points per game and was arguably their most important player.

Webster dazzled at times, too.

In a tournament-opening clash with Turkey, he led all scorers with 22 points while in the narrow Round of 16 defeat to Lithuania, Webster had a game-high 26 points.

All Webster has done since returning Down Under to suit up for the New Zealand Breakers is play with zeal and show plenty of confidence.

He celebrated his 26th birthday in style on Friday night, one day early, by leading the Breakers to an 80-72 triumph over Melbourne United at the Vector Arena.

Webster was electric, hitting all three of his shots from beyond the arc in the first quarter when he poured in 11 of his 25 points.

He is averaging more than 15 points per game and his performances have been a big reason why the Breakers have climbed to the top of the Australian National Basketball League standings.

"I'm playing fairly consistently," he said. 

"I sort of expected that coming into the role of a starter after having a pretty good World Cup and a good season in the NZNBL (New Zealand National Basketball League) also," said Webster.

"I was looking forward to this role and I don't think I'm doing too badly, but I can still improve some more."

Webster, at least outside the Tall Blacks camp, had been overshadowed by his younger brother Tai, a FIBA 3x3 star with New Zealand and also a standout of the Kiwi side at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela.

Tai Webster, 19, has also increased his fame by moving to the United States and competing for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in American college basketball.

Nenad Vucinic, the coach of the Tall Blacks at the World Cup, started Tai Webster and brought Corey off the bench.

The role suited both the player and the team well.

To go to Spain and play at that level against world class players was a great opportunity. I loved every minute of it. - Webster

Corey Webster admits he is a different player since his World Cup experience.

In addition to facing Turkey and Lithuania, Webster and New Zealand also went up against the Dominican Republic, the USA, Ukraine and Finland.

"A lot of it is (due to) coming back from a big tournament like that," he said. 

"I've used the confidence I gained playing well over there, and tried to add it to my games in the NBL and just tried to stay consistent with that level of play."

Webster understands that to continue to be successful, he needs to maintain his self-belief, even if the shots are not falling.

He said to the NBL website: "I've told myself I need to be more aggressive, get more open shots and just hope they sink.

"Most of the scorers can't really stop shooting, even if you've missed a couple. That's the scoring mentality - you always think the next shot is going to go in."

FIBA