His dog ate his phone, well, chewed it up enough that it no longer worked.
The Otago Daily Times was able to contact him successfully on his new number, however. And the newspaper was assured Henry, who has re-signed with the Otago Nuggets in the New Zealand Basketball League, was not holding his dog up to his ear.
It puts a new spin on the old dog and bone. But all jokes aside, there will not be any excuses when the Breakers open their season against the Perth Wildcats at the North Shore Events Centre tonight.
It is a rematch on the Australian National Basketball League finals series last season and both sides will be determined to make an early impression.
The Breakers are searching for a third consecutive title and have had to reinvent themselves a little. The champion side's depth was tested last season with star shooter Kirk Penney not returning.
This season dynamic centre Gary Wilkinson has moved on. His departure was the direct result of the club needing to provide Alex Pledger with more court time.
Journeyman American Will Hudson replaces Wilkinson and Corey Webster returns to the squad after serving a year's ban for testing positive for synthetic cannabis. He takes the spot of BJ Anthony, who was cut from the squad.
Wilkinson was such an integral part of the club's success during the past two years. But as the Breakers showed when Penney departed, the club can adapt its game and make the necessary tweaks to keep ahead of the chasing pack.
Henry suggested the Breakers will adopt a slightly different style this season, although its outside shooting game will remain a key part of its strategy.
"Gary played such a big part last season but we've got Will Hudson who has come in and he is a bit of a workhorse," Henry said.
"And it is a totally different look, especially with Alex Pledger on the court. We have a lot more of an inside presence.
"The Breakers are known as a shooting team. They have been for the last couple of years and it is always going to be one of our strengths. And with players like Hudson and Pledger, it definitely gives the outside shooters more time with them attracting so much attention inside the paint."
Henry's own role will change ever so slightly. While he will still be expected to pop up three-pointers when called upon, he will play more in the forward line this season, spelling Mika Vukona and Dillon Boucher.
"It is still something that I'm learning but I'm excited about the new challenge."
The camp is in good spirits.
Pre-season performances were "a bit shaky but we are feeling confident", Henry said.
And the first question everyone asks is usually about the Breakers' prospects of a three-peat.
"It really is on our minds but we have to try and find out own identity this year."
Henry is in his third year with the Breakers and, as a bench player, it can get frustrating doing all that training but spending most of the match on the bench.
That is part of the reason he was keen to return to the Nuggets this season, so he can continue to develop his game and get more game time.
