Pledger averaged 6.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season for the Breakers, shooting 57% from the field.
He is currently playing in the New Zealand NBL for the Southland Sharks, averaging 14.9 points and bringing down a league-high 13.4 rebounds per game.
Pledger spoke of his delight in securing his immediate future, a decision that was made with other offers on the table, but one that was made for him when a coin toss came down the 'wrong' way.
"The key for me in committing to a new deal was having Dillon and Pauli on board as GM and head coach, it feels to me like there is a renewed energy at the club, which is something I am keen to be a part of.
"I admit though to sitting on the fence for a few days wondering what I was doing, Bailee (Alex's partner) said to me 'flip a coin' - heads for Breakers, tails for another team - and there were others chasing pretty hard. The coin landed on the 'other team' and I immediately wished it hadn't. I guess I kind of knew and put myself through that as a little test and while a coin toss was never going to be the final decision maker, it was a strong message and told me in my head where I should be.
"With the leadership of Pauli and Dillon and having Mika, Tom and Corey already under contract - that was another clincher, they are three guys I have played with a long time with and am familiar with. Funnily enough I have never played for Pauli before as head coach, I know him as an assistant but I have heard nothing but good things about him as a head coach and I want to know what that is like first hand."
Pledger also believes there is plenty to come from the club and from himself personally.
"That desire to win never goes away, especially after the way last season ended. To get that far, to get that close and come up one game short was disappointing. That is in the back of all of our minds for next season.
"And right now, for the first time in what feels like forever playing injured and spending time below-strength, I have been able to rediscover my form and match fitness in the last month or so and in the playoffs. I am playing well in the NBL at the moment so I am keen to work on that, stay healthy and improve my match fitness and form for next season and to continue to improve individually.
"I think my best years and best basketball are in front of me. I have had to put some of that improvement on hold the past two seasons, now I am fully healthy and have spent the last six months getting back to my previous levels, now I am close to that the next step is to continue to evolve as a player and get beyond those levels. I am in my prime years, I am not too old, nor have I reached my peak. Look at guys like Mika, they continue to improve well into their thirties when some think they might be slowing down. I am almost in my thirties but see no reason as to why I won't also continue to improve and get better with age.
"Ultimately it came down to the Breakers is home for me, it would not be easy to leave a club that has given me so much."
General Manager Dillon Boucher echoed the sentiments of Henare.
"When Paul and I spoke about player recruitment, Alex was on the top of the list in regards players we wanted with us next season. And while he has been a Breaker for some years, we treated our discussions as though he was a new recruit, that is to say we were taking nothing for granted and wanted to pay Alex the utmost respect through this process given he was out of contract."
The Breakers now have four players under contract for the upcoming season.
