The Auckland Tuatara are flying high – currently sitting atop the NZNBL table with two games in hand over the second-placed Southland Sharks.
Tonight they’re back in action, facing the Tauranga Whai in another big match.
Josh Leger will be playing tonight, and is also marking his 50th appearance in the Rapid League, and so he joined Adam Cooper for a chat.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well, great basketball game last night internationally, but National Basketball
League is also an an exciting phase at the moment.
Auckland to Atata topping the competition at the moment thirteen wins,
two losses and they are just ahead of the South
and Sharks and Canterbury Rams at the top of the table.
But it bodes to be an exciting coming month or
two in the NBL. And for the Toa Tata today
(00:33):
they have a trip down to meet the titting of
five four o'clock this afternoon at the Eggers Center in
tit I'm joining us now is Josh Ledger, who is
also celebrating a bit of a milestone for the Rapid
League team. Of course, the team involved in the curtain raiser,
which bench players in the main NBL can also be
a part of. Before the game game number fifty for
Josh in the Rapid League. Josh Ledger's with us now
(00:55):
morning to your Josh, and just in general the Tatata,
as I said, top of the table, you'd be pretty
happy with where things sit at the business end of
the competition now.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, Broth for sure obviously been in that top spot.
It's a goal that we set at the start of
the season, and yeah, for that to kind of come
into fruition now as we kind of get into the
business business side. Yeah, obviously put ourselves in a good
place to do well come playoffs.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Great thirteen two record for you guys so far this season,
you know, and on a great run at the moment.
What's what's been working so well the last a month
or so that's got you to this point?
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Do you think in this team?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Oh yeah, I think everyone's everybody's selflessness and ability to
buy into what Cam's coaching. Obviously, there's talent all through
the all through the roster, and for each guy to
kind of not take a step back, but for each
guy to kind of think and have trust in their
teammates that if they don't have the best best shot possible, sorry,
(02:00):
just to move it on and we just find wide
open shots and let the offense flow. And I think
when you have as much talent as we do, that
kind of comes that can come easy.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
But for guys to really buy.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Into it, I think that is what that's what's done
us so well so far.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, because I mean any basketball team. You look at
teams around the world that can have amazing talent, but
if the players aren't jelling right, it's it's a problem.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
You know, what have you learned from I guess this team.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
When there's so many of you guys that are that
are top talents in the game, very you know, very
experienced in some in some cases as well, how have
you managed to just make sure you guys are clicking
and working all together so well to contribute to the success.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, bro, learned so much from all the guys in
the team. Obviously there's the likes of Chris Johnson, Roblo,
Tom Vardonovitch, like those guys that they all play my
position and.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
They're all they've all been at the very pinnuckle of basketball.
So for me to kind of learn off.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Those guys and at the same time and saying that
they're great players, they're also great people. Then you add
in people like Josh Diling, Isaac Davidson, Sean Besto, Zach Riley,
and then all our young guys like from one all
the way through to we have about like twenty something
guys on the roster, but from one through to twenty
it's just great people first and then also just great players.
(03:20):
So just trying to take stuff from each person and yeah,
just learning how each person acts, but also realizing that
each person is, in their own right, just a great
human being.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
And how is that psychology for you?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Are you sort of focused on wanting to beat those
guys out for minutes or take some minutes off them,
Like are you happy with with sort of you know,
the bench roll as it stands at the moment behind
those guys, Like how does that work for you? Sort
of you know, as you set some targets for yourself
through the season.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Yeah, definitely set some targets for myself at the start
of the season, but also being realistic about what my
role is going to look like. Obviously with guys like
Rob CDJ Tommovie, Like those guys are amazing at basketball
and they've done it and like I said, they've done
it at the best level. And I think for me,
it's more not trying to take stuff to take minutes
(04:09):
away from them. It's just me trying to supplement stuff
that they're doing. And if I can learn off guys
like that, I think going forward, it puts me in
a great place for my career because I said, so
many people like I'm so lucky that I get to
train with, I get to be around like dudes that
(04:30):
are just amazing at basketball, and like I said, just
great people and are so willing to give up their
time to help me get better.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
So yeah, it's never about.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Me trying to like enforce my way into the team.
It's just seeing what happens and then just playing my
role with my numbers called.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
And on that.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I mean, you're bringing up a pretty special milestone in
the Rapid League this weekend as well. I mean, I
guess when the Rapid League came in, a few people questioned,
you know, would it be beneficial, But I mean you're
you're a prime example of what it's done for you
your career, getting noticed, getting on TV and stuff like that.
Is it a special milestone to be celebrating with the
Rapid League team.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yeah, for sure, definitely. Yeah, super grateful to bring up
fifty games. Yeah, Grateful for guys like Aaron who put
me in a few years ago and then for Cam
just to just to keep bringing me back. But yeah,
I think, yeah, the Rapids great.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Whether it's for.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Guys like me that are kind of just like playing
and like using that to kind of like carry momentum
into the main game or forfits guys like we have
guys like Maddie Casey Kingston, guys like that that are
trying to play and get and get noticed from that
to go overseas. I think it's been a great initiative
(05:46):
and like, yeah, we'll like us personally at the tour title,
like we love the Rapid League. We get around it heavy,
try and put as much energy and time as we can,
us us younger guys and so like making sure that
that that the team does well because at the end
of the day, with the plus minus and the points,
(06:06):
seems like we need to be doing well.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
So yeah, it's it's been super cool. I think.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, three seasons now are playing Rapid and yeah, I
think it's definitely.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Done my career. Heaps of heaps have been a foot.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Yeah, so good.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
And you guys are at the top of the table
at both at the moment Rapid League and the main
NBL tightening a Fi today down in Tighteninger. Yeah, what
are you expecting from both games? I guess you look
at form and the table you'd say that the tour
Tata go in as a as a more informed team.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
But how do you prepare for this one?
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Yeah, pay for each game the same, I think.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Obviously, we look at the Fire and they're they're a
great team, heaps talent on their roster. They are massing
their tall blacks, but regardless, the dudes that they bring
in to fill those spots are still amazing basketball players,
and we treat them with the utmost respect.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
Obviously.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
For Rapid, it's being like the one two.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
I think we're first and their third.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Maybe just for that realizing that we need to get
this one just to keep our top status, and obviously
because there's no playoffs, it's just whoever finishes on top.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
So yeah, looking at the Rapid and.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Hope we do well in that, and then just looking
forward and to the main game and realizing that people
may be thinking a certain thing. But yeah, we definitely
think that the Fire is going to give us like
a great punch, and we know that whatever happens, if
we prepare right, then then the results should go our way.
(07:39):
But yeah, just very aware of what the Fire bring.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Hey, brilliant mate. Hey, well, congrats on the milestone.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I hope it's celebrated well by the team and you
know the Rapid League is certainly a significant become a
big force of development in basketball and the zeal And mate,
so soak up the milestone. All the best for both
games this afternoon. Josh, thanks for your.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Time, No appreciate it. Thank you for having me on.
It's been great.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Thank you For more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave, Listen live to News Talk they'd be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well, great basketball game last night internationally, but National Basketball
League is also an an exciting phase at the moment.
Auckland to Atata topping the competition at the moment thirteen wins,
two losses and they are just ahead of the South
and Sharks and Canterbury Rams at the top of the table.
But it bodes to be an exciting coming month or
two in the NBL. And for the Toa Tata today
(00:33):
they have a trip down to meet the titting of
five four o'clock this afternoon at the Eggers Center in
tit I'm joining us now is Josh Ledger, who is
also celebrating a bit of a milestone for the Rapid
League team. Of course, the team involved in the curtain raiser,
which bench players in the main NBL can also be
a part of. Before the game game number fifty for
Josh in the Rapid League. Josh Ledger's with us now
(00:55):
morning to your Josh, and just in general the Tatata,
as I said, top of the table, you'd be pretty
happy with where things sit at the business end of
the competition now.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, Broth for sure obviously been in that top spot.
It's a goal that we set at the start of
the season, and yeah, for that to kind of come
into fruition now as we kind of get into the
business business side. Yeah, obviously put ourselves in a good
place to do well come playoffs.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Great thirteen two record for you guys so far this season,
you know, and on a great run at the moment.
What's what's been working so well the last a month
or so that's got you to this point?
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Do you think in this team?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Oh yeah, I think everyone's everybody's selflessness and ability to
buy into what Cam's coaching. Obviously, there's talent all through
the all through the roster, and for each guy to
kind of not take a step back, but for each
guy to kind of think and have trust in their
teammates that if they don't have the best best shot possible, sorry,
(02:00):
just to move it on and we just find wide
open shots and let the offense flow. And I think
when you have as much talent as we do, that
kind of comes that can come easy.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
But for guys to really buy.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Into it, I think that is what that's what's done
us so well so far.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, because I mean any basketball team. You look at
teams around the world that can have amazing talent, but
if the players aren't jelling right, it's it's a problem.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
You know, what have you learned from I guess this team.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
When there's so many of you guys that are that
are top talents in the game, very you know, very
experienced in some in some cases as well, how have
you managed to just make sure you guys are clicking
and working all together so well to contribute to the success.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, bro, learned so much from all the guys in
the team. Obviously there's the likes of Chris Johnson, Roblo,
Tom Vardonovitch, like those guys that they all play my
position and.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
They're all they've all been at the very pinnuckle of basketball.
So for me to kind of learn off.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Those guys and at the same time and saying that
they're great players, they're also great people. Then you add
in people like Josh Diling, Isaac Davidson, Sean Besto, Zach Riley,
and then all our young guys like from one all
the way through to we have about like twenty something
guys on the roster, but from one through to twenty
it's just great people first and then also just great players.
(03:20):
So just trying to take stuff from each person and yeah,
just learning how each person acts, but also realizing that
each person is, in their own right, just a great
human being.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
And how is that psychology for you?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Are you sort of focused on wanting to beat those
guys out for minutes or take some minutes off them,
Like are you happy with with sort of you know,
the bench roll as it stands at the moment behind
those guys, Like how does that work for you? Sort
of you know, as you set some targets for yourself
through the season.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Yeah, definitely set some targets for myself at the start
of the season, but also being realistic about what my
role is going to look like. Obviously with guys like
Rob CDJ Tommovie, Like those guys are amazing at basketball
and they've done it and like I said, they've done
it at the best level. And I think for me,
it's more not trying to take stuff to take minutes
(04:09):
away from them. It's just me trying to supplement stuff
that they're doing. And if I can learn off guys
like that, I think going forward, it puts me in
a great place for my career because I said, so
many people like I'm so lucky that I get to
train with, I get to be around like dudes that
(04:30):
are just amazing at basketball, and like I said, just
great people and are so willing to give up their
time to help me get better.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
So yeah, it's never about.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Me trying to like enforce my way into the team.
It's just seeing what happens and then just playing my
role with my numbers called.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
And on that.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I mean, you're bringing up a pretty special milestone in
the Rapid League this weekend as well. I mean, I
guess when the Rapid League came in, a few people questioned,
you know, would it be beneficial, But I mean you're
you're a prime example of what it's done for you
your career, getting noticed, getting on TV and stuff like that.
Is it a special milestone to be celebrating with the
Rapid League team.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yeah, for sure, definitely. Yeah, super grateful to bring up
fifty games. Yeah, Grateful for guys like Aaron who put
me in a few years ago and then for Cam
just to just to keep bringing me back. But yeah,
I think, yeah, the Rapids great.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Whether it's for.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Guys like me that are kind of just like playing
and like using that to kind of like carry momentum
into the main game or forfits guys like we have
guys like Maddie Casey Kingston, guys like that that are
trying to play and get and get noticed from that
to go overseas. I think it's been a great initiative
(05:46):
and like, yeah, we'll like us personally at the tour title,
like we love the Rapid League. We get around it heavy,
try and put as much energy and time as we can,
us us younger guys and so like making sure that
that that the team does well because at the end
of the day, with the plus minus and the points,
(06:06):
seems like we need to be doing well.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
So yeah, it's it's been super cool. I think.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, three seasons now are playing Rapid and yeah, I
think it's definitely.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Done my career. Heaps of heaps have been a foot.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Yeah, so good.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
And you guys are at the top of the table
at both at the moment Rapid League and the main
NBL tightening a Fi today down in Tighteninger. Yeah, what
are you expecting from both games? I guess you look
at form and the table you'd say that the tour
Tata go in as a as a more informed team.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
But how do you prepare for this one?
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Yeah, pay for each game the same, I think.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Obviously, we look at the Fire and they're they're a
great team, heaps talent on their roster. They are massing
their tall blacks, but regardless, the dudes that they bring
in to fill those spots are still amazing basketball players,
and we treat them with the utmost respect.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
Obviously.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
For Rapid, it's being like the one two.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
I think we're first and their third.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Maybe just for that realizing that we need to get
this one just to keep our top status, and obviously
because there's no playoffs, it's just whoever finishes on top.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
So yeah, looking at the Rapid and.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Hope we do well in that, and then just looking
forward and to the main game and realizing that people
may be thinking a certain thing. But yeah, we definitely
think that the Fire is going to give us like
a great punch, and we know that whatever happens, if
we prepare right, then then the results should go our way.
(07:39):
But yeah, just very aware of what the Fire bring.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Hey, brilliant mate. Hey, well, congrats on the milestone.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I hope it's celebrated well by the team and you
know the Rapid League is certainly a significant become a
big force of development in basketball and the zeal And mate,
so soak up the milestone. All the best for both
games this afternoon. Josh, thanks for your.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Time, No appreciate it. Thank you for having me on.
It's been great.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Thank you For more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave, Listen live to News Talk they'd be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com