Eric Devendorf Signs with the Pistons.. Not Detroit, but the Waikato Pistons

by Scott Schroeder on Feb 9, 2025 12:26 AM EST in Transactions Comment 10 comments

See how Devendorf appears not to be listening to Jim Boeheim here? Just sayin.

The new Waikato Pistons import is a tattooed trash-talker with a history of off-court woes who may be the league's best player in recent history.

The two-times defending NBL champions have signed former US college star Eric Devendorf to play point guard for the upcoming season.

You read that right - according to the The Nelson Mail (I don't know why they'd title their paper as The Nelson Mail, but I'll go with it), Eric Devendorf will be playing for the Waikato Pistons in New Zealand this Summer.

Cool thing is, I once wrote about one of his teammates, Alex Pledger. Pledger is potentially the tallest sports player in all of New Zealand.

As far as Devenforf goes, he played three games in the D-League before finding out that the biggest little city in the world wasn't big enough to hang onto him as he was released just three games into his career with the Reno Bighorns. This perplexed me, as Devendorf is obviously talented, but I've heard he rubbed the coaching staff the wrong way.

Regardless of all that, when you have a chance to declare for the NBA draft a season early, get cut after your best game in the D-League and then sign with the Waikato Pistons, you do it.

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Read More: Eric Devendorf (G - Syracuse), Syracuse Orange

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In case anybody cares (and because I like looking up random weird stuff)…

Waikato is the Maori name for the city of Nelson, which is on Tasman Bay in New Zealand. The name Nelson is in honor of Admiral Horatio Nelson, the guy who won (and was killed at) the Battle of Trafalgar against Napoleon’s fleet. I’m not sure why it’s the Nelson Mail, but the newspaper was started in 1866, so let’s blame the Victorians.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Feb 9, 2025 7:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting information

I just assumed it was named after my least favorite King of the Ring ever, Nelson Frazier, Jr. You probably remember him as Mabel. Or actually, you probably don’t remember him at all.

I blog at Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Feb 9, 2025 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I love this picture.

Blogging at Ridiculous Upside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.

by Aisander D on Feb 9, 2025 9:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It captures the Devendorf essence

Actually, I would’ve used a better picture, but this is the only one the AP had available to SBNation. Regardless, it really brings out his character.

I blog at Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Feb 9, 2025 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Devendorf

Since when does new Zeland have a basketball league?

by knickknack7450 on Feb 9, 2025 10:35 AM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

1982

(that thing I said about random weird stuff? Yeah, that question was a red cape in front of a bull)

The Waikato Pistons are actually a good team - they’ve won the last two championships. I was wrong about their location, though - they’re in Hamilton, Waikato, NZ. Whakatu is the Maori name for Nelson. My bad.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Feb 9, 2025 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

It’s not a very good basketball league. As far as I can tell, it runs during the offseason of Australia’s league because they try to pick up some of the better Aussie’s after their regular season is finished.

I blog at Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Feb 9, 2025 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It runs in the Southern Hemisphere winter (March-August)

There are 11 teams, and a 20 game season - each team plays one home and one away game against each other team. Each team is allowed two foreign players, and any non-New Zealander is an import, as opposed to the Australian league, where it’s any non-Australasian.

The Kiwi National Team is ranked 13th in FIBA, just behind Puerto Rico, Australia, and Angola and just ahead of Brazil, Croatia, and France.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Feb 9, 2025 2:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Slogan idea...

“The Waikato Pistons: Now with 300 percent more mugging for the camera after corner threes!”

One of my favorite Devendorf specialties from his days at ’Cuse: hitting a three from the corner with as a defender went flying past him on a closeout, then waiting for said defender to pass him so he could leer at him before moseying on back on defense.

-sw

Growing up in the Weinman household, you learn two rules very quickly if you aspire to reach double-digits in the years-of-age category: Hate thy Knick, hate thy Yankee.

Go Celtics, Go Dodgers. -sw

by Steve Weinman on Feb 10, 2025 2:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs