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NBL star Parker Jackson-Cartwright is preparing to make his return from the five-game ban he incurred for pushing a referee to the floor.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright has been feeling disappointed with himself, but not remorseful, ahead of his return from suspension for pushing an NBL referee over.
The New Zealand Breakers' star player says he made peace with his brain explosion during a five-game ban handed down following last month's loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers.
On Christmas night, Jackson-Cartwright lashed out at Reuben Te Rangi after the JackJumpers forward pushed him during a stoppage in play.
The American guard shoved a referee who ran in to break the teams apart, and then grappled with a second match official who tried to restrain him.
"I think it's pretty explainable," Jackson-Cartwright said, publicly addressing his behaviour for the first time.
"The situation was what it was. I have no remorse. I was disappointed in the way I acted.
"But in the end, you move past it, you accept it and you come back and you have a mindset to compete and win basketball games."
Jackson-Cartwright's return comes against Te Rangi and the JackJumpers in Auckland on Thursday night.
The ninth-placed Breakers had already been on an eight-game losing streak when Jackson-Cartwright was suspended, and have now won only one of their past 13 games.
One of the best players in the NBL, Jackson-Cartwright found it both difficult and unfamiliar to watch from the sidelines.
"It's been a bit frustrating," he said.
"It's an unusual circumstance for myself, missing so much time. But it is what it is, hopefully I can get past it.
"I've never been suspended (before). I can't even remember the last time I've been ejected from a basketball game."
The 29-year-old was impressed with the Breakers' effort during recent close losses to heavyweights Melbourne United and Illawarra.
"It was a time that you look inward, you reflect, you gain some more perspective," he said.
"I feel good to be back, going at this team that's really been fighting the last few weeks. I just want to join them and compete."
The ninth-placed Breakers' post-season hopes are effectively over.
The side is unable to finish the season with a winning record and are four wins behind the JackJumpers, who sit in sixth place - the cut-off for the play-in tournament.
"Basketball is basketball, you're going to miss and make shots," Jackson-Cartwright said.
"But the effort and your ability to stay locked in and focused have to be at an all-time level to be able to compete in this league.
"We feel confident that we've been taking steps in the right direction."
Jackson-Cartwright, who was a finalist for the NBL's MVP award in his first season with the Breakers last year, is averaging 19.9 points and 6.7 assists per game this campaign.