April 24, 2026 • 6 mins
The Wellington Saints will look to improve on their 1-1 start to the NBL season when meeting the Giants in Nelson on Saturday - the start of a stretch of three games in six days.
Adam previewed the game with import forward Donte Ingram.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Newsbalk's he'd be on the All Sport Breakfast. Let's taught
the National Basketball League now after two rounds, the Wellington
Saints sixth on the ladder, one from two, lost last
week to the Rams. Heading into a busy stretch for
the Saints. They have now three games over the next
six days. It starts later today in Nelson taking on
the Giants, and then two games at home, starting with
(00:21):
the game against the Tour Tarta on Holiday Monday at
tesv Arena and back at their home court on Thursday
night to take on Tartanuki. So a big stretch. Let's
head into the Saints camp now. And American import Dante
Ingram's with us, who's actually played as part of Nelson before,
so a big game for him later today. Dante, thanks
for your time, great to chat here on news Talks.
(00:42):
He'd be this morning. What were the team's reflections from
a tough outing down in christ Church last weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I think I think as a team who hasn't had
much time together, you know, we've probably only practiced for
a week or two. I beg interest for us not
only that game, but just before that and going forward.
It was just kind of building on chemistry. You look
at a team like the Rams, like their cores played
together for years, and you know, we're we got some
(01:13):
new pieces obviously coming off of championship. Really did a
great job with the roster. But obviously we also still
have a couple of key guys out. We got Jordan
and Himer coming in and one more guy coming from
the States. But I think us just getting our mojo,
and it's being positive and having good energy during this
process because everything won't always be perfect. You know, you
don't win a championship week one or week two or
(01:35):
week three. So just sticking with it, man, building chemistry,
getting to know each other a little bit more in
how we play, and just you know, sticking up on another.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yeah, and just on that. You've played in a lot
of teams and mini parts of the world. How long
do new teams generally need to give themselves to get
those culminations right? As you say, it doesn't usually happen
in the first couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Does it.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah? I think I think it definitely doesn't happen in
the first couple of weeks. But I think the biggest
thing is just trying to make billion blocks each week
because you know those that first month or so, it's
kind of just to fill out months, but you want
to be playing your best basketball. Obviously you go out
there to win every game, but you want to kind
of be prime in and geling, you know, going into
(02:15):
that that middle part of the season, going into the
second half, you know, versus a team that, oh, you know,
we win a couple of games in the beginning, you know,
but we're not clicking down that we hit a slump
towards the end, you know. So for us, it's just
trying to make adjustments weekend week out and just gradually
get better. So when it comes middle of the season,
we're kind of clicking. Got our chemistry and we should
(02:37):
be rolling, and we.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Know it's an importance on till you're a versatile player
as a forward, what is your interpretation of the role
within that position that the sites are looking for you
this year?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I think you know, for me, I I kind of
pride myself on positionless play. So you know, if I
need to fill in and play point guard and get
Elijah off the ball, coming off screens is dynamics, I'll
do that. If I need to be the one coming
off the screens and making players on the wing. I'll
do that. But I think for me, man, it's.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Just a it's I.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Think the team will need me to do a little
bit of everything. I think I need to be the
head of our defense and setting the tone in that
while also you know, balancing that act and being able
to put up some points for us as well. So
both things there are things that I'm accustomed to doing. So
y'all look forward to that challenge this season.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, great. And defensively, you look at the school line
from last weight because the end of the court that
the team is focusing on improving.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Definitely, I think that the biggest space of improvement for
us I think needs to be on the defensive end.
I think for us Man, we got so many pieces
offensively that's scoring the basketball and playing the right way,
it shouldn't be a problem. But we've got to hang
our hats on defense. Nelson's a very scrappy team. Obviously,
I'll played there for a little bit a couple of
years back, so they're gonna come out and be aggressive
(03:57):
playing at home. So we got to be able to
match that energy. And I think for us Man, I
think that you know, we are one of the most
is not probably the most in my opinion, talented team
in the league. But the talent doesn't mean anything in
this league if you don't match it. We're playing hard.
So that's our biggest point just going into this, this
next game and the game after that, is just playing
hard and matching intensity.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
I want to ask about your attention and that was
sitting after a few years too. How many memories will
that bring back returning to the sunshine capital of the country.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Oh, A couple of good memories, honestly, I see, you
know a few familiar faces, but you know, once that
tchip goes up, you know, all of that, all of
the friendships and leaderships kind of go out the window.
It'll be time to win the game.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
So exactly, Well, that was back in twenty twenty one
when you were lost in New Zealands, so you knew
what the league was like and what you were getting
into before you came back down to be with the
Saints for this. Yeah, so what has brought you back
to New Zealands in twenty twenty six, don't.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I honestly, what what brought me back here was you know,
after I left, After I left Nelson. I went over
and played in Europe for a couple of years, and
then I played in.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
The Middle East for a couple of years, but kind
of pretty much with everything going on in the Middle East,
which that was kind of my market, my market was
pretty much set. But you know, it's obviously a lot
going on with the war between US and a bunch
of those countries.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So you know, being home in the States, I just
had a kid, a one year old, uh me and
my wife, So being in the States for a few
months in the G League and then coming here after,
I think it was kind of like a fresh, a
fresh stepping stone to kind of reset my market. And
I felt like, what better opportunity to come with the
Saints to do so because they have so much success
(05:45):
and you know, you got exposure in the Australian League
or Japan or anything else. So I just felt like
it was a perfect fit for what the Saints are
trying to.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Do and also, you know me going forward in my career.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Yeah, right, Well, it is a busy stretch for the
tame to not at nelson Man's Eye at home at
TSP against until Tita in Tuesday at home again against
Tata Daki.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Ready for a big week of hoops.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Oh definitely yeah, man, three three, three games in six days. Man,
it'll be very exciting, but you know, I'll see one
game at a time. We need to go to Nelson
and handle business, but it'll be very exciting to get
back out there at TSB and have two straight home games.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Man.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
All right, Well, don, great to chat. Awesome to have
you here in Wellington and as part of the Sites
campaign this year. Thanks for chatting all the best with
that busy stretch over the next week.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Nofinal, thank you for having for more from us talks
at B.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
Newsbalk's he'd be on the All Sport Breakfast. Let's taught
the National Basketball League now after two rounds, the Wellington
Saints sixth on the ladder, one from two, lost last
week to the Rams. Heading into a busy stretch for
the Saints. They have now three games over the next
six days. It starts later today in Nelson taking on
the Giants, and then two games at home, starting with
(00:21):
the game against the Tour Tarta on Holiday Monday at
tesv Arena and back at their home court on Thursday
night to take on Tartanuki. So a big stretch. Let's
head into the Saints camp now. And American import Dante
Ingram's with us, who's actually played as part of Nelson before,
so a big game for him later today. Dante, thanks
for your time, great to chat here on news Talks.
(00:42):
He'd be this morning. What were the team's reflections from
a tough outing down in christ Church last weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I think I think as a team who hasn't had
much time together, you know, we've probably only practiced for
a week or two. I beg interest for us not
only that game, but just before that and going forward.
It was just kind of building on chemistry. You look
at a team like the Rams, like their cores played
together for years, and you know, we're we got some
(01:13):
new pieces obviously coming off of championship. Really did a
great job with the roster. But obviously we also still
have a couple of key guys out. We got Jordan
and Himer coming in and one more guy coming from
the States. But I think us just getting our mojo,
and it's being positive and having good energy during this
process because everything won't always be perfect. You know, you
don't win a championship week one or week two or
(01:35):
week three. So just sticking with it, man, building chemistry,
getting to know each other a little bit more in
how we play, and just you know, sticking up on another.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yeah, and just on that. You've played in a lot
of teams and mini parts of the world. How long
do new teams generally need to give themselves to get
those culminations right? As you say, it doesn't usually happen
in the first couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Does it.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah? I think I think it definitely doesn't happen in
the first couple of weeks. But I think the biggest
thing is just trying to make billion blocks each week
because you know those that first month or so, it's
kind of just to fill out months, but you want
to be playing your best basketball. Obviously you go out
there to win every game, but you want to kind
of be prime in and geling, you know, going into
(02:15):
that that middle part of the season, going into the
second half, you know, versus a team that, oh, you know,
we win a couple of games in the beginning, you know,
but we're not clicking down that we hit a slump
towards the end, you know. So for us, it's just
trying to make adjustments weekend week out and just gradually
get better. So when it comes middle of the season,
we're kind of clicking. Got our chemistry and we should
(02:37):
be rolling, and we.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Know it's an importance on till you're a versatile player
as a forward, what is your interpretation of the role
within that position that the sites are looking for you
this year?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I think you know, for me, I I kind of
pride myself on positionless play. So you know, if I
need to fill in and play point guard and get
Elijah off the ball, coming off screens is dynamics, I'll
do that. If I need to be the one coming
off the screens and making players on the wing. I'll
do that. But I think for me, man, it's.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Just a it's I.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Think the team will need me to do a little
bit of everything. I think I need to be the
head of our defense and setting the tone in that
while also you know, balancing that act and being able
to put up some points for us as well. So
both things there are things that I'm accustomed to doing. So
y'all look forward to that challenge this season.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, great. And defensively, you look at the school line
from last weight because the end of the court that
the team is focusing on improving.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Definitely, I think that the biggest space of improvement for
us I think needs to be on the defensive end.
I think for us Man, we got so many pieces
offensively that's scoring the basketball and playing the right way,
it shouldn't be a problem. But we've got to hang
our hats on defense. Nelson's a very scrappy team. Obviously,
I'll played there for a little bit a couple of
years back, so they're gonna come out and be aggressive
(03:57):
playing at home. So we got to be able to
match that energy. And I think for us Man, I
think that you know, we are one of the most
is not probably the most in my opinion, talented team
in the league. But the talent doesn't mean anything in
this league if you don't match it. We're playing hard.
So that's our biggest point just going into this, this
next game and the game after that, is just playing
hard and matching intensity.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
I want to ask about your attention and that was
sitting after a few years too. How many memories will
that bring back returning to the sunshine capital of the country.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Oh, A couple of good memories, honestly, I see, you
know a few familiar faces, but you know, once that
tchip goes up, you know, all of that, all of
the friendships and leaderships kind of go out the window.
It'll be time to win the game.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
So exactly, Well, that was back in twenty twenty one
when you were lost in New Zealands, so you knew
what the league was like and what you were getting
into before you came back down to be with the
Saints for this. Yeah, so what has brought you back
to New Zealands in twenty twenty six, don't.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I honestly, what what brought me back here was you know,
after I left, After I left Nelson. I went over
and played in Europe for a couple of years, and
then I played in.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
The Middle East for a couple of years, but kind
of pretty much with everything going on in the Middle East,
which that was kind of my market, my market was
pretty much set. But you know, it's obviously a lot
going on with the war between US and a bunch
of those countries.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So you know, being home in the States, I just
had a kid, a one year old, uh me and
my wife, So being in the States for a few
months in the G League and then coming here after,
I think it was kind of like a fresh, a
fresh stepping stone to kind of reset my market. And
I felt like, what better opportunity to come with the
Saints to do so because they have so much success
(05:45):
and you know, you got exposure in the Australian League
or Japan or anything else. So I just felt like
it was a perfect fit for what the Saints are
trying to.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Do and also, you know me going forward in my career.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Yeah, right, Well, it is a busy stretch for the
tame to not at nelson Man's Eye at home at
TSP against until Tita in Tuesday at home again against
Tata Daki.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Ready for a big week of hoops.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Oh definitely yeah, man, three three, three games in six days. Man,
it'll be very exciting, but you know, I'll see one
game at a time. We need to go to Nelson
and handle business, but it'll be very exciting to get
back out there at TSB and have two straight home games.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Man.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
All right, Well, don, great to chat. Awesome to have
you here in Wellington and as part of the Sites
campaign this year. Thanks for chatting all the best with
that busy stretch over the next week.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Nofinal, thank you for having for more from us talks
at B.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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