Work to do for Breakers in ANBL free agency
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The NZ Breakers have some major retooling to do this Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) offseason.
Along with needing to find a new head coach following the departure of Finn Petteri Koponen, they will also have to replenish their roster, with just four players currently contracted for the 2026-27 season.
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Star American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright will return for a third season in Auckland, while Tall Blacks trio Sam Mennenga, Izayah Le'afa and Reuben Te Rangi will also be back.
The list of Breakers free agents from last season is long, led by imports Robert Baker II and Izaiah Brockington, and Mexican 'Next Star' Karim Lopez, who is likely to be selected in the NBA Draft in late-June.
Other players to hit the open market - which opened on Friday - include Tall Blacks Rob Loe, Carlin Davison, Max Darling, Tai Webster and Taylor Britt, along with Australian Sean Bairstow.
The Breakers brass will also have to make decisions about their development players, centre Jack Andrew, forwards Liam Judd and Tukaha Cooper and point guard Alex McNaught, who has been with the team for several seasons.
Other New Zealanders on the free agent list include former Breakers forward Finn Delany (Melbourne United), Tall Blacks Sam Waardenburg and Mojave King (Cairns Taipans), young guard Dontae Russo-Nance (Perth Wildcats), veteran forward Tohi Smith-Milner (Brisbane Bullets) and development player Jackson Ball (Illawarra Hawks).
Kiwis Flynn Cameron (Adelaide 36ers), Tyrell Harrison and Taine Murray (Brisbane Bullets) and Shea Ili (Melbourne United) remain signed with their teams.
Teams can still have a maximum of three imports next season, with 11 contracted players per roster. Next Stars and development players do not count towards the 11 contracted players.
