Josiah Maama follows coaching pathway to Breakers
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Aucklander Josiah Maama will continue his rapid ascent through the coaching ranks with the New Zealand Breakers.
Fresh from an assistant coaching stint with the San Antonio Spurs at the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Maama will be an assistant coach with the Breakers for the NBL27 campaign.
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A proud Glen Innes resident of Tongan heritage, Maama was part of the coaching team with the Junior Tall Blacks who orchestrated a historic fourth-place finish at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland. Working with fellow assistant Breakers coach Matt Lacey, it was the highest World Cup placement ever achieved by a New Zealand basketball team at any junior level.
Working inside the San Antonio Spurs' system during the California Classic and Vegas Summer League has added modern NBA player-development mechanics and high-level scouting experience to his already extensive skill set.
Maama record of player development across Auckland. In addition to co-founding East Auckland's GI Rise Basketball grassroots initiative, he led Dilworth School to its first Auckland Premiership title in 2025 and served as an assistant coach for the Auckland Tuatara in the NZNBL.
"Josiah is widely recognised as one of the sharpest young basketball minds in Australasia," said Breakers president of basketball operations Dillon Boucher.
"Adding Josiah to our coaching staff under Gordon Herbert is a huge coup for our club and for his own development as a Kiwi coach."
Herbert said Maama would join the team of assistant coaches that would "help me connect with the local basketball culture".
"Josiah has recent experience inside an elite NBA organisation at the San Antonio Spurs and has shown great basketball acumen which will help us get the best from the roster," Herbert said.
Maama has a passion for development and deep connections within the local Auckland community.
"I've been a lifelong fan of the club - so it means a lot to represent the BNZ Breakers. I used to watch games on TV and dream of being involved," Maama said.
"Coaching is a vocation for me, and to be able to serve and be part of the legacy of this organisation is special to me, my family and Glen Innes."
Maama is excited with the direction the club is taking under the guidance of chairman and majority owner Marc Mitchell.
Maama will assemble with the players for a start to their pre-season in the coming days, with the first full day on court on 11 August as the club prepares for the season opening Blitz tournament in Bendigo from 2 September.
Breakers roster
Parker Jackson Cartwright (import), Reuben Te Rangi, Sam Mennenga, Dejan Vasiljevic, Kouat Noi, Carlin Davison, Izayah Le'afa, Preston Le Gassick, Anzac Rissetto, Josiah-Jordan James (import), (one to be added).
Head coach: Gordon Herbert
Assistant coaches: Sebastian Gleim, Matt Lacey, Quinn Clinton, Josiah Maama.
