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What on earth is going on with the New Zealand Breakers?
Henry Lee • September 26th, 2025 3:14 pm
Izayah Le'Afa (l) | Photo: Photosport
The positive feeling ahead of the NBL season last week quickly evaporated after Friday night’s disappointing home loss to the Brisbane Bullets, and turned into a nightmare on Sunday as the New Zealand Breakers were obliterated, 114-82, by a classy Melbourne United outfit.
The first of those defeats, against a stacked Brisbane side on Friday night at Spark Arena, wasn’t that bad a showing by Petteri Koponen’s side.
They were in the game for large parts of the home opener, and if their stars stayed out there with three minutes to go in the third quarter, when they were down only two points, we’re talking about a completely different result here.
A nine-point victory looks comfortable for the Bullets, but the score doesn’t reflect how the Breakers unsettled them at times. A late run in the second quarter by the away team’s starters, which sent them into the fourth quarter up by eight, ultimately secured Stu Lash’s team their first road win of the season.
The most annoying part of the first loss of the season for the Breakers was that Koponen was forced to have his next star prospect, Karim Lopez, under strict minute restrictions.
Izaiah Brockington’s inexperience in the league showed as he was in foul trouble early, and Rob Baker’s late entry into the country meant he wasn’t trusted with big minutes just yet.
Sunday’s contest against Melbourne United was not even a battle. Dean Vickerman’s side came to play, and the game was basically over with one minute left in the first quarter when the Breakers were down 22 points.
Former Breakers player turned Melbourne United forward Finn Delany came out with a point to prove, and played with an aggressiveness that fans haven’t seen in many years.
United centre Jesse Edwards clearly watched film before the Breakers encounter, and having watched the Breakers fail to deal with big Kiwi center Tyrell Harrison, he knew the perfect way to score against the Kiwis.
Edwards finished with 22 points, alongside star guard Milton Doyle, who contributed 15 of his own.
So, the story of round one is that PJC’s injury is niggly, and ribs are obviously a big part of playing professional sport, so the quicker the star import guard gets to 100%, the closer this Breakers side are to winning games of NBL basketball.
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Round 2 preview
The Breakers desperately need this one, after two defeats in round one leave them in a very worrying spot. It’s far from must-win territory, and things can change quickly in the NBL, but in order for fans and pundits to be restored with some confidence going forward, Petteri Koponen and his coaching staff need to get their squad up to speed as soon as possible.
Historically, they’ve had some massive battles against the Perth Wildcats in their history, and some of these Kiwi players on the Breakers roster will remember the glory days of the Breakers v Wildcats rivalries. But this doesn’t have the same feeling as old, or at least the game this Saturday doesn’t.
The Breakers are heavily relying on the import trio (more than they already were) of Parker Jackson-Cartright, Izaiah Brockington, and Rob Baker II, to produce a performance at home to get the Breakers' season back on track.
The three Breakers imports combined for 48 points on night one against the Bullets and 43 against Melbourne United, which isn’t overly bad. However, without much help from their other role players, Koponen and his staff will need their stars to take the game by the scruff of the neck if they want to trouble the Wildcats on Saturday.
The opponents: Perth Wildcats
This is a Perth Wildcats team that has lost a cult hero in Bryce Cotton, but picked up arguably the best center in the league and a proven all-NBL team asset in Jo Lual-Acuil, and an impressive American guard, Mason Jones.
What worries me the most about this Wildcats team is that they fell short at home last week against the Tasmanian JackJumpers at home. They’ll be out for revenge and will be licking their lips ahead of Saturday’s matchup with the wounded Breakers.
Head coach John Rillie talked about how there’s going to be growing pains for this team as they get to grips with a new style, but they also have one of the best Kiwi basketball minds, Aaron Young, as an assistant who knows this Breakers roster like it’s the back of his hand.
21-year-old sharpshooter Ben Henshall failed to fire in game one with only 8 points on 4-13 from the field and 0-4 from deep, but is unlikely to have that little impact once again on Saturday night.
The trio of proven NBL assets, including Jo Lual-Acuil, Kristian Doolittle, and Dylan Windler, form a solid core for Rillie’s men, but the impact from the bench against the Tasmanian JackJumpers in round one wasn’t enough whatsoever to win a game in the NBL.
I expect to see another improvement from 27-year-old former NBA guard Mason Jones on Saturday at Spark Arena, and he had 16 points on night one, so that tells you all you need to know about the Perth star.
If Rillie can get his squad firing on all cylinders, which they have the capability to do, it’s likely a long night ahead for the struggling New Zealand Breakers.
Petteri Koponen | Photo: Photosport
Prediction
It’s very hard to predict anything other than a loss this week for the Breakers, based on their first two performances, and the fact that the Perth Wildcats will be fired up after their narrow defeat in round one. Home advantage could play a factor alongside the long travel for Perth, but with an All Blacks game at 5pm, I can’t imagine a huge crowd turning up at Spark Arena. After being in attendance on Friday night against the Bullets, the energy in the crowd wasn’t enough to make me believe that they could drive a Breakers victory on Saturday night.
Perth convincingly, unless PJC, Mennenga, and Baker are fully fit and raring to go, which, by the sounds of it, is very unlikely.
Starting 5 prediction against Perth Wildcats:
PG: Parker Jackson-Cartwright, SG: Izaiah Brockington, SF: Karim Lopez, PF: Reuben Te Rangi (Sam Mennenga if fit), C: Robert Baker II.
The Facts
- The last time the New Zealand Breakers started 0-2 in an NBL season was in the 2021-22 season, when they finished last in the competition, winning just five games out of 28.
- Star import guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright is battling a rib injury, which remains a significant and unresolved issue for the Breakers going forward.
- Sam Mennenga suffered a concussion in the home defeat to the Brisbane Bullets on Friday, and is in doubt to take on the Perth Wildcats on Saturday.
- The Breakers went 5-29 from deep on Friday, and 10-33 against Melbourne United, for a combined 15-62 over the course of round one, just 24%.
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