Ethan Rusbatch

His uncle is Kenny Perkins, an American who played in the New Zealand NBL for the Canterbury Rams during the 1980s.

Rusbatch grew up idolising his uncle and dreamed of playing for the Rams himself.

Rusbatch did not receive many opportunities with basketball until he and his family moved to Wellington.

He began attending regular camps and after-school basketball programs alongside players such as Brook Ruscoe and Dion Prewster.

He lived in Wellington for three years before moving to Christchurch as a 10-year-old.

There, Rusbatch trialled for the Canterbury under 12 team and was successful, going on to represent Canterbury in all age groups.

Ethan Rusbatch (born 24 May 1992) is a New Zealand basketball player for the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).

Rusbatch attended Cashmere High School and played for the school's basketball team every year he was there (2005–2009).

In 2008, Rusbatch played for the Canterbury under 17 team, made the Under 17 National Championships all-tournament team, and represented New Zealand for the first time with the under 17 squad.

In January 2009, Rusbatch captained the New Zealand under 18 team to a bronze medal at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

He went on to captain the same squad in Spain at the Vilagarcía Basket Cup in April 2009, a tournament they finished last in.

Later that year, he helped the Canterbury under 19 team win the Under 19 National Championships with a 79–69 win over Waitakere City in the final, a game Rusbatch top scored in with 20 points.

He subsequently earned all-tournament team honours.

He again earned all-tournament team honours for his efforts during the 2010 Under 19 National Championships.

In July 2010, Rusbatch competed in the five-day Conference Basketball League tournament in Porirua for the Junior Tall Blacks.

A few months later, he ventured to the United States to attend Lincoln Trail College.

There he played for the school's basketball team, the Statesmen, and during the 2010–11 season, he averaged 3.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 28 games.

Upon his return to New Zealand, Rusbatch joined the Canterbury under 21 team for the 2011 Under 21 National Championships.

Behind a 17-point effort, he helped Canterbury win the tournament with a 75–65 win over Porirua in the final.

He subsequently earned all-tournament team honours and was named tournament MVP.

He began his New Zealand NBL career in 2012 with the Southland Sharks after spending one season in the United States playing college basketball for Lincoln Trail College.

At the 2012 Under 21 National Championships, Rusbatch earned all-tournament team honours for the fifth straight year.

He joined the Southland Sharks in April 2012, and in four games, he averaged 5.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

His best performance came on 10 May against the Auckland Pirates, recording 14 points and six rebounds in a 107–89 loss.

After playing for the Taranaki Mountainairs in 2013, he spent the next four seasons with the Canterbury Rams.

In February 2013, Rusbatch signed with the Taranaki Mountainairs for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season.

He scored in double figures five times, including a 24-point, 12-rebound performance in the team's season finale on 6 July against the Otago Nuggets, a game the Mountainairs lost 145–137 in quadruple overtime.

The Mountainairs missed the playoffs in 2013 with a 5–11 record and a sixth-place finish.

Rusbatch appeared in all 16 games for Taranaki, averaging 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

In August 2014, he played for Canterbury Metro at the Under 23 National Championships.

He subsequently earned all-tournament team honours for a sixth time.

With high school over and his college stint lasting just one year, a number of NZNBL teams were keen to acquire Rusbatch's services.

In 2014, the Canterbury Rams returned to the NZNBL for the first time since 2008.

Rusbatch joined the Rams for their return season.

On 20 June, he scored a season-high 20 points in a 108–83 loss to the Southland Sharks.

In the Rams' season finale on 28 June, Rusbatch had 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 90–87 win over the Sharks.

He joined the Hawke's Bay Hawks in 2018 and won the NZNBL's Most Improved Player in 2019.

He also played two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL.

Born in the Canterbury city of Christchurch, Rusbatch grew up in Twizel.

He began playing basketball at a young age thanks to family influence from his mother, aunt and uncle.