It was an emotional return to Adelaide for DJ Vasiljevic on Sunday given he never wanted to leave in the first place, but he's thriving already at the New Zealand Breakers and playing alongside Parker Jackson-Cartwright is key to that.

Vasiljevic still had a year to run on his contract with the 36ers following last season's Championship Series run, but he was released from that deal. That caught him off guard at the time, but could well be a blessing in disguise.

The 29-year-old two-time championship winner is shooting the three ball at a career-best 50 per cent so far this season going 15/30 across the five games for the Breakers with them now 3-2 following Sunday's win in Adelaide.

Vasiljevic delivered another 15 points on 3/5 three-point shooting against his old team and it was an emotional return. But he was thankful to the reception he received from the Sixers faithful given he never wanted to leave.

"Yeah, it was a bit emotional at the start and I didn’t know what kind of reception I'd get, but obviously when I ran out I got a nice one and just kicked into gear of how important this game was for us," Vasiljevic said.

"We hadn’t won on the road yet, but we stuck through it and there were patches we didn’t do well offensively, but the defence stuck through and we were able to control it in that last term.

"We arrived on Friday and just walking through the city and getting to go back to different places where people recognise you, and thank you for your time and that was awesome honestly.

"Just to come back here, the atmosphere's always the best playing here and they always sell out so it was awesome to come back, and the only thing that matters is that we got the win."

Vasiljevic might not have wanted to leave, but his new home with the Breakers is agreeing with him by putting up 13.4 points a game in NBL27 while playing 25.4 minutes – up from the 10.9 and 25.1 from a season ago.

There's no question that sharing a backcourt with Jackson-Cartwright is having a big part in how well Vasiljevic is playing – and vice versa.

"It's pretty awesome honestly (playing with him) with the way he plays the game and controls it at his tempo, and the way he finds me and others in their positions," Vasiljevic said.

"But I think everyone just plays so well off each other that he's now having the ability to play one-on-one and he's a very, very tough player too good and we make his life easier, just as he does for ours."

Jackson-Cartwright continues to be criminally underrated around the league and had another 27 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals against the 36ers.

Vasiljevic has nothing but high praise for him.

"He's like one of those once in a lifetime, generational players that come to the NBL like a Bryce and a Kendric Davis," Vasiljevic said.

"I don't think he gets the recognition because he's over in New Zealand, if he was playing on any other team, all of the media would be loving him.

"But just because he's across the Tasman, he doesn’t get that recognition, but he nearly had a triple double tonight and if he's not proving a point, then I don’t know what is.

"To top it off, we're stacking wins, which matters the most."

While what Jackson-Cartwright is providing the Breakers speaks for itself, Vasiljevic is impressed with how everyone else is stepping up too whether it's first-year import Charles Bediako, nearly 400-game veteran Reuben Te Rangi, the emerging Carlin Davison or injury replacement Mojave King.

Vasiljevic also likes the chemistry the Breakers are building with Sunday's game the first of a string of October road games before they return to play at Spark Arena against Adelaide on the 30th.

"Parker does everything for us, but it's other guys on any given night that can give us something," Vasiljevic said.

"Mo's doing well, Carlin, myself, everyone when they get a shot and it can be anyone, and everyone's contributing the way they need to.

"It's awesome to see guys enjoy hanging out with each other on this team and play cards, go out to eat and just hang out, and it's like a little college environment to me.

"Even after practice we stay in the locker room for an hour or two and just talk to each other, and that's kinda what you want and now we go on another two-week road trip to Perth, Canberra and Tassie.

"We'll continue to stay close and play some good basketball."

Chris Pike

DJ, PJC bringing out best in each other