NZ Breakers extend Koponen, lure Te Rangi
- Dave Worsley
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The NZ Breakers' new ownership group have made their first moves, one on-court and one off-court.
The Auckland-based Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) franchise have announced the re-signing of head coach Petteri Koponen and bringing back Tall Blacks forward Reuben Te Rangi in free agency.
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Koponen was brought in late in the last off-season following the sudden departure of Mody Moar, with the roster already constructed and the season fast-approaching.
He guided the Breakers to a 7-3 start but the team lost eight straight games after ownership signed an injured Tacko Fall and released import Freddie Gillespie, eventually finishing 10-19 overall, missing the playoffs by three games.
But now after re-signing and with new owners calling the shots, the 36-year-old Finn has a chance to build the roster his own way in free agency, which opened last week.
Te Rangi became the seventh player on the Breakers' full-time roster this week, signing a two-year deal to return to his hometown.
The 6-foot-7 forward spent four seasons with the Breakers from 2012-2016, including winning ANBL titles in 2013 and 2015, before going on to play more than 100 games with both the Brisbane Bullets and South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Te Rangi - from South Auckland, representing Counties Manukau and attending Auckland Grammar - averaged 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 29 games for the Tasmania JackJumpers during the 2024-25 ANBL season.
He joins Australians Mitch McCarron and Sean Bairstow, Kiwis Sam Mennenga, Max Darling and Carlin Davison, and American big man Tacko Fall on the full roster, with Mexican 'Next Star' Karim Lopez and NZ development players Kaia Isaac and Alex McNaught also on the books.
Meanwhile, a couple of Tall Blacks guards, who were on the Breakers' radar as they look to sign more New Zealand talent, are off the market.
Back-to-back ANBL Defensive Player of the Year Shea Ili has re-signed with Melbourne United on a two-year contract, while promising guard Flynn Cameron opted to sign with the Adelaide 36ers in free agency for three years.
The Breakers are reportedly close to signing back guard Izayah Le'afa, who played a key role in getting the Breakers to the ANBL Finals in 2023-24, before joining the Sydney Kings last season, where he failed to find the same success.
United are reportedly keen on luring Kiwi forward Finn Delany, who played eight seasons for the Breakers, back to the ANBL. Delany has played professionally in Germany, Spain and Japan since.