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Alex Pledger
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.
Between 2005 and 2008, Pledger was a member of the UMKC Kangaroos college basketball team in the United States. 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.
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. 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. 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.
The 2011–12 NBL season saw Pledger and the Breakers win back-to-back championships. Also in 2012, Pledger helped the Auckland Pirates win the NZNBL championship behind a Finals MVP performance.
Pledger became the Breakers' starting centre in the 2012–13 season. During the season, he was twice named Player of the Week 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.
Pledger missed the second half of the 2013–14 season with a left ankle injury. He returned to action in 2014–15 and helped the Breakers win a fourth championship in five years.
In 2015–16, the Breakers finished runners-up in the NBL after losing the grand final series to the Perth Wildcats. 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.
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Alex Pledger
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.
Between 2005 and 2008, Pledger was a member of the UMKC Kangaroos college basketball team in the United States. 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.
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. 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. 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.
The 2011–12 NBL season saw Pledger and the Breakers win back-to-back championships. Also in 2012, Pledger helped the Auckland Pirates win the NZNBL championship behind a Finals MVP performance.
Pledger became the Breakers' starting centre in the 2012–13 season. During the season, he was twice named Player of the Week 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.
Pledger missed the second half of the 2013–14 season with a left ankle injury. He returned to action in 2014–15 and helped the Breakers win a fourth championship in five years.
In 2015–16, the Breakers finished runners-up in the NBL after losing the grand final series to the Perth Wildcats. 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.