NZ Breakers

The New Zealand side will meet trans-Tasman rival Sydney Kings at TSB Arena on 7 December. Sydney Kings finished fifth on the ladder last season and the BNZ Breakers sixth. 

The BNZ Breakers last played an NBL game in the capital in 2019. They defeated the Illawarra Hawks by 34 points. With new coach Petteri Koponen at the helm this season, they aim to better that result. 

On the Breaker’s roster is import Freddie Gillespie. The American has nearly 100 combined appearances in the NBA and the EuroLeague. Standing over 2 metres tall, the centre has made many international appearances. He’s played 20 games for the Toronto Raptors, nine for the Orlando Magic and 47 for Bayern Munich. Petteri says the 27-year-old will be the BNZ Breakers’ defensive cornerstone in NBL25. 

Also on the roster are Sean Bairstow and power forward Grant Anticevich. The roster is spearheaded by All-NBL First Team Parker Jackson-Cartwright, 2023 LA Lakers draft pick and Kiwi-born Mojave King, talented Kiwi Sam Mennenga, 2021 NBL champion Mitch McCarron, former Philadelphia 76er Jonah Bolden, and returning big man Dane Pineau. 

BNZ Breakers’ NBL25 season tips off on 21 September against the Bullets at Hoopsfest in Perth.