[1] In 1998, Abrams moved to New Zealand to play for the Taranaki Stormers in the Conference Basketball League (CBL), the national second division competition.
The Stormers defeated the Kaikoura Whale Riders 85–81 in the final, with Abrams recording 18 points and 17 rebounds.
[11] Abrams made his National Basketball League (NBL) debut with the Taranaki Mountainairs in 2003 and proved he could play as an undersized power player at the higher level.
[1] Following the 2003 season, Abrams gained New Zealand citizenship and attended the Tall Blacks' Olympic trials.
[19] Abrams returned to the Mountainairs' line-up for the 2011 season and averaged 10.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, as well as a league-leading .649 field goal percentage.
[22] In the season finale, he recorded 27 points and 18 rebounds in a 144–137 quadruple overtime loss to the Otago Nuggets.