Ethan Stuart Marsters Rusbatch was born on 24 May 1992 and is a New Zealand basketball player for the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand National Basketball League.
65 Facts About Ethan Rusbatch
1.
2.
Ethan Rusbatch 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.
3.
Ethan Rusbatch joined the Hawke's Bay Hawks in 2018 and won the NZNBL's Most Improved Player in 2019.
4.
Ethan Rusbatch played two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL.
5.
Ethan Rusbatch began playing basketball at a young age thanks to family influence from his mother, aunt and uncle.
6.
Ethan Rusbatch's uncle is Kenny Perkins, an American who played in the New Zealand NBL for the Canterbury Rams during the 1980s.
7.
Ethan Rusbatch grew up idolising his uncle and dreamed of playing for the Rams himself.
8.
Ethan Rusbatch did not receive many opportunities with basketball until he and his family moved to Wellington.
9.
Ethan Rusbatch began attending regular camps and after-school basketball programs alongside players such as Brook Ruscoe and Dion Prewster.
10.
Ethan Rusbatch lived in Wellington for three years before moving to Christchurch as a 10-year-old.
11.
Ethan Rusbatch attended Cashmere High School and played for the school's basketball team every year he was there.
12.
In 2008, Ethan 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.
13.
In January 2009, Ethan Rusbatch captained the New Zealand under 18 team to a bronze medal at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
14.
Ethan Rusbatch went on to captain the same squad in Spain at the Vilagarcia Basket Cup in April 2009, a tournament they finished last in.
15.
Ethan Rusbatch again earned all-tournament team honours for his efforts during the 2010 Under 19 National Championships.
16.
In July 2010, Ethan Rusbatch competed in the five-day Conference Basketball League tournament in Porirua for the Junior Tall Blacks.
17.
Ethan Rusbatch subsequently earned all-tournament team honours and was named tournament MVP.
18.
At the 2012 Under 21 National Championships, Ethan Rusbatch earned all-tournament team honours for the fifth straight year.
19.
Ethan Rusbatch subsequently earned all-tournament team honours for a sixth time.
20.
Ethan Rusbatch joined the Southland Sharks in April 2012, and in four games, he averaged 5.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
21.
In February 2013, Ethan Rusbatch signed with the Taranaki Mountainairs for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season.
22.
Ethan Rusbatch appeared in all 16 games for Taranaki, averaging 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
23.
Ethan Rusbatch appeared in all 18 games for Canterbury, averaging 9.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
24.
In December 2014, Ethan Rusbatch re-signed with the Rams for the 2015 season.
25.
Ethan Rusbatch was named co-captain of the team alongside Marques Whippy.
26.
Ethan Rusbatch had a breakout season for the Rams in 2015, which led to his coach Mark Dickel calling for him to receive a Tall Blacks trial.
27.
Ethan Rusbatch twice scored 27 points during the season, a career high.
28.
Ethan Rusbatch appeared in all 18 games for the Rams, averaging 14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
29.
Ethan Rusbatch returned to the Rams for the 2016 season with the goal being to attain an Australian NBL contract.
30.
Ethan Rusbatch appeared in all 19 games for the Rams, averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
31.
On 17 October 2016, Ethan Rusbatch re-signed with the Rams for the 2017 season.
32.
Ethan Rusbatch missed the first two games of the season with a sprained ankle.
33.
In 17 games, Ethan Rusbatch averaged 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
34.
On 31 October 2017, Ethan Rusbatch parted ways with the Rams.
35.
On 18 January 2018, Ethan Rusbatch signed with the Hawke's Bay Hawks for the 2018 New Zealand NBL season.
36.
Ethan Rusbatch subsequently earned Player of the Week honours for round six.
37.
Ethan Rusbatch appeared in all 19 games for the Hawks in 2018, averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
38.
In October 2018, Ethan Rusbatch re-signed with the Hawks for the 2019 season.
39.
Ethan Rusbatch was named Player of the Week for round one.
40.
Ethan Rusbatch was set to re-join the Hawks in 2020, but the team did not enter the modified, COVID-affected season.
41.
In February 2021, Ethan Rusbatch recommitted to the Hawks for the 2021 season.
42.
In December 2021, Ethan Rusbatch re-signed with the Hawks for the 2022 season.
43.
In March 2023, Ethan Rusbatch re-signed with the Hawks for the 2023 season.
44.
Ethan Rusbatch hit the game-tying 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.
45.
In December 2023, Ethan Rusbatch signed with the Franklin Bulls for the 2024 season.
46.
In December 2024, Ethan Rusbatch re-signed with the Bulls for the 2025 season.
47.
In January 2016, Ethan Rusbatch spent 10 days working out with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League.
48.
Ethan Rusbatch appeared in three games during the regular season.
49.
On 19 September 2019, Ethan Rusbatch signed a full-time contract with the Breakers, returning to the club for a second stint.
50.
In December 2022, Ethan Rusbatch signed with the Converge FiberXers of the Philippine Basketball Association as the team's import for the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup.
51.
On 31 October 2024, Ethan Rusbatch signed with Tampereen Pyrinto of the Finnish Korisliiga.
52.
In June 2015, Ethan Rusbatch was named in a 22-man Tall Blacks squad to trial and be considered for selection for the Oceania Series against Australia in August.
53.
On 18 May 2016, Ethan Rusbatch was one of four debutants named in New Zealand's 14-man squad to travel to Asia in June.
54.
Webster pulled up lame with a calf strain during New Zealand's tour of Europe, leading to Ethan Rusbatch flying to Manila on stand-by ahead of the Olympic qualifying tournament.
55.
On 16 May 2017, Ethan Rusbatch was named in an inexperienced New Zealand Select team ahead of their invitational tournament in China in June.
56.
On 16 March 2018, Ethan Rusbatch was named in the Tall Blacks squad for the Commonwealth Games.
57.
Ethan Rusbatch helped the Tall Blacks win bronze at the Commonwealth Games.
58.
In July 2019, Ethan Rusbatch was named in a 22-man Tall Blacks squad vying for a spot in the final World Cup squad.
59.
Ethan Rusbatch went on to play in the World Cup, and in five games, he averaged 3.6 points per game.
60.
Ethan Rusbatch played for the Tall Blacks during FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in 2021 and FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers in 2023.
61.
Ethan Rusbatch re-joined the Tall Blacks for qualifiers in February 2024.
62.
Ethan Rusbatch developed his love of basketball through his uncle, former Ram and NZNBL stalwart Kenny Perkins.
63.
Ethan Rusbatch's cousin is NBA centre Kendrick Perkins, Kenny's son, who won a championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics.
64.
Ethan Rusbatch's brother, Bede Marsters, played alongside him at the Rams in 2016.
65.
Ethan Rusbatch's father is a Cook Islander; Ethan Rusbatch sports tribal tattoos that stem from his Pacific Island roots.