SINGAPORE — For a fourth consecutive season, Xavier Alexander will be signing on as a World Import for the Singapore Slingers.
Alexander put up one of his most productive seasons last year with career-high averages of 24.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.8 steals to go with 9.1 assists. It was clear from the start that Alexander and the Slingers shared a special bond which has stayed strongly connected heading into it’s fourth year.
“Resigning Xavier was a priority for us,” Slingers’ General Manager Michael Johnson says. “He has been instrumental in bringing us to two ABL Finals and 3 straight playoff seasons. Xavier is a team guy who has averaged over 9 rebounds and 7 assists in every season he has been here, but his defence and versatility maybe his biggest assets to this team.”
“X is loved in the Singapore community for his on and off court work so getting him back is a real boost.”
“I’m very attracted to Singapore as a country,” Xavier says fondly. “Anybody that’s been there has seen how beautiful of a place it is. I continue to sign with the Singapore Slingers because the relationships I have built over the years with the owner, coaches, fans, kids, and teammates as well as the opportunities they have [given] me to showcase my talent and to also be motivation for the youth in Asia as well as in US.”
Over the course of his illustrious three-season career in the ABL, Alexander has emerged as one of the greatest. He already has the most games played as a World Import on one team (75) which highlights how much the Slingers value his precense. Alexander is 4th All-Time in points (1521), 3rd All-Time in assists (470), 7th All-Time in rebounds (725), and 2nd All-Time in steals (191). It isn’t unimaginable to see Alexander finish at All-Time leaders in at least three categories when this season ends.
“The thing about X that is huge for us is his versatility on the floor,” Johnson claims. “He can play the 1 through 4 position so his role changes depending on what the needs of the team are during a game and he is good with that!”
To think that Alexander would get even better over the offseason is a terrifying thought for opposing teams, but he seems confident that he has certainly improved over the summer. Alexander spent a couple of months after the ABL season ended to play in the Thailand Basketball League (TBL) as an Import for Hitech Basketball Club where he helped them win the title. In just 18.9 minutes of action per game, Alexander averaged 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
“I think I have improved [in] every part of my game,” Alexander says. “I think the most important thing I did this offseason was going to Bangkok because I was able to stay [locked] on becoming better everyday instead of taking time off in the summer like I have in the past.”
The Slingers will need Xavier Alexander to be “locked on” for them in this upcoming season, as he has always been in the past. Alexander is just as important on the court for his statistical output as he is for his involvement with the essential intangibles towards team chemistry.
“Xavier is our emotional leader,” Johnson proudly explains. “He is our hardest worker in training and in games on a regular basis so he doesn’t just lead with his talk but also by example. He is coachable and he is also very much about community and giving back ,especially with the children through the Slingers’ community and school basketball clinic programmes.”
“He leads the way for us on defence in training and in games and his team mates have benefitted from that. His ability and willingness to share the ball has also created many opportunities, in particular for our shooters. We just need to take advantage of that more often by knocking down the shots.”
Alexander is ready to rejoin the Slingers to a group he calls “brothers” in their quest to rise as the best of the ASEAN Basketball League next season. He played with players like Delvin Goh, Leon Kwek, and Larry Liew, watching as they step into bigger and bigger roles as each season goes by. Now he’s ready for another round with the brotherhood.
“I don’t have just one guy I’m excited to play with,” Alexander says. “I love these guys like my own brothers. We have been through ups and downs the last couple of years and [I] look forward to continue on building how we can be a better team to not only get back to the finals — but win one ABL title for Singapore.”
