Breakers shooting guard Corey Webster has designs on a late season stint in Europe to wind out an eventful basketball season.
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The 25-year-old Tall Black revealed yesterday last week's whirlwind wedding to long-time sweetheart Emily Powell, just the day before Friday's Australian NBL clash against the Wollongong Hawks, had been because of those European ambitions.
Webster, so impressive for the Tall Blacks at this year's World Cup in Spain, has signed up with a new Belgrade-based agent and is hoping to squeeze in a short-term deal in Europe after the Breakers campaign winds up - a month earlier than usual.
He has made no secret of his desire to test his game at the highest levels, and Europe shapes as a logical fulltime stage for next season.
With his name still on plenty of radars after his big-time outbursts against Turkey and Lithuania in Spain, Webster is smart to strike while the iron is hot.
That meant a wedding rethink because, well, in the Webster household hoops tends to be the driving force.
"We had originally planned to have the wedding in April, but because of my plans to try [and] finish the season in Europe we couldn't really lock in a date," Webster said yesterday.
"So we decided to go have it ASAP and just have a small one with family and closest friends. It was a real good day."
It also made for a busy week for Webster who was able to slip in Thursday's final practice before the ceremony, and then line up the next night for an eventful 71-55 victory over the Wollongong Hawks.
Needless to say he found it a little challenging to put forward his best effort, going four-for-18 for just eight points - well under his season average of 15 points.
"I did my best to focus and forget about it . . . but we got the win and that's all that mattered."
Webster missed all nine of his second-half shots as the Breakers' offence dried up to a trickle in the third quarter, but never thought about shutting up shop.
"They weren't tough shots, they were ones I usually make. It was frustrating, but our defence was holding up, and that was enough to get us over the line."
In terms of his ambitions beyond this Breakers season, Webster said he's "exploring all options" and the earlier finish in 2015 lent itself well to the possibility of a late-season gig, and testing those waters on the continent.
Already Tall Black team-mates Rob Loe (Greece) and Isaac Fotu (Spain) have lucrative contracts in that part of the world, and given Webster's pedigree and proven scoring ability, it's hard to see someone not biting hard.
As for Friday's visit by a red-hot Melbourne United, Webster figures a more normal week of preparations should have him back dialled in to where he needs to be.
The rebranded Melbourne side were a scorching 22 of 34 from downtown (65 per cent) as they blitzed the 36ers 118-79 last round. They also had 26 points off 19 turnovers.
"We need to find ways to slow them down," Webster said. "Our focuses are defensive transition and taking away their open three-point shots.
"It's a great test for us because you know as the season goes on defence plays a huge role in trying to win a championship."