Melbourne United centre Jesse Edwards had his NBA debut and got married this year, but both life goals were over too fast.
So he hopes his time in Melbourne will help him take a big step towards a long career in the US league, and the time with his new wife Quirine Edwards-Comans will make their small, fast wedding – held the day before flying to Australia – worth the rush.
Melbourne United’s Jesse Edwards soars for a dunk the NBAxNBL clash with New Orleans Pelicans in October.Credit: Getty Images
Edwards, 25, also says he owes his wife a “big party” to celebrate their nuptials when they are next back home in the Netherlands.
The pair tied the knot in front of a small collection of their closest family in August, and then flew to Melbourne.
Edwards, who stands at 213 centimetres tall, only bent down on one knee to propose on June 13, but the pair quickly worked out that an early wedding would make moving overseas much easier.
Growing up, the pair only lived around 30 minutes apart. But they first met at college in the US while Edwards was playing with Syracuse.
Melbourne United centre Jesse Edwards and his wife Quirine Edwards-Comans, middle, with their families after their wedding this year.
Edwards has the kind of strong, long build that lets him fill the space in front of a basketball hoop and make it hard for teams to score. But even with a 226cm wingspan, he admits his chaotic plans to depart for Australia left him stretched.
He has thrived at United so far this season, averaging 12.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the side’s 8-0 start to their campaign heading into a top-of-the-ladder showdown with the Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon.
“I played for the national team for two weeks – four games – and then I had my wedding before I flew out,” Edwards said.
“It was the most I’ve ever done in such a short time, but it was a lot of fun.
“It was a short engagement, six or seven weeks.
“I wanted to propose for a while but, after that, the wedding was going to be pretty fast, regardless, and wherever I was going to go, it was going to be handy for us to have a visa together.
“So, for that reason only, it was going to be pretty fast, but we saw it like this would be the wedding, and then we would make a big party, a big event in two years or something – this was just 10 to 15 people. It was really small, but really good.
“She [Quirine] had some ideas but was humble about having the early one and then do a nice celebration.”
Melbourne United has helped prepare the likes of Jock Landale, Ariel Hukporti, Jack White and Luke Travers for the NBA, and it was a major selling point for Edwards to join the team.
“It was special to step out there on court. It feels like you are in a video game, feels like you are on the TV. It’s special.”
Jesse Edwards on playing in the NBA.
He spent last season on a two-way contract with the NBA’s Timberwolves, playing in the G-League for Iowa for most of the campaign before appearing in two games for Minnesota.
Australian rookie centre Rocco Zikarsky is now a two-way player with the Wolves and the pair compared notes on the NBL while training together during the off-season.
Edwards is still glowing about becoming the third Netherlands player last season to make his NBA debut, but now he wants a full-time roster spot.
“Even the practice games before the season, you have these butterflies in your stomach,” he explained.
“The NBA is what you have seen the most as a kid, and that stays with you. It’s a little different from anywhere else you play.
“It was special to step out there on court. It feels like you are in a video game, feels like you are on the TV. It’s special.”
Edwards could have sought more lucrative offers back in Europe, where he can play as a local player as opposed to being an import in the NBL, but he chose Melbourne and doesn’t regret it.
Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman is excited about what Edwards could become.
“There’s levels to his game that we can keep adding to – he’s not a guy that’s a finished product, he’s still got this big upside,” Vickerman told NBL media.
Now Edwards wants to use his Australian summer as a path to back to the US, so he’s working hard on his physicality, rebounding, defensive work and shooting.
“It is the goal,” Edwards said of an NBA return.
“Wherever I’m at, I will focus on the team right here, but that is the goal long-term – to get back to the league, to improve, to show my value and jump back over there, but I’m really happy to be here.
“It’s not like I’m waiting to get out of here.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
