Looking to add to their depth, the Wellington Saints have added Dion Prewster for the rest of the National Basketball League (NBL) season.
The four-time NBL champion and 2021 NBL Most Valuable Player will join the 12-time champions after two years coaching in Japan, alongside current Saints head coach Zico Coronel.
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Prewster’s return marks a significant boost to the Saints roster, bringing a wealth of experience and championship pedigree, especially since Wellington announced on Friday that NZ-born big Yuat Alok would not be joining them.
Prewster's accolades speak for themselves: NBL All-Star Five (2021), NBL Most Outstanding Guard (2021), NBL Most Outstanding Kiwi Guard (2021), and NBL Defensive Player of the Year (2021).
Coronel was excitement about the reunion with Prewster.
"Dion and I have worked successfully many times before, sharing three championships - whether it was with the Saints when I was an assistant coach, with Hawke’s Bay, once again with the Saints in ’21, with the Tall Blacks, or as fellow coaches in Shimane, Japan, last year as the club enjoyed the winningest season in its’ history.
"Dion has been coaching the last two seasons, so he’ll have some work to do getting used to being a fully-fledged player again, but as he gets himself up to speed, he’ll still add experience and physicality. With a few games under his belt, I think he’ll make a significant positive contribution."
After spending the last two seasons in a coaching role, outside playing for the Tall Blacks in two FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers earlier this year, Prewster was eager to transition back to playing.
The Saints (7-2) host the Canterbury Rams (8-2) in an important top-four clash at Wellington's TSB Arena on Saturday (tip-off 7.30pm).