How They Got Here: New Zealand Breakers

They’re the Cinderella story of NBL23. Much like the Tasmania JackJumpers captured the hearts of fans around the country with their unlikely title charge last season, the Breakers have come from the depths of the competition to challenge for the championship this season.

Ahead of the NBL23 Championship Series – which tips off on Friday, March 3 – NBL Media looks back through the journey the Breakers have been on this season to reach the final stage.

Can Breakers legend Tom Abercrombie claim his fifth NBL championship?

Roster changes
Ins: Alex McNaught, Barry Brown Jr, Cam Gliddon, Daniel Fotu, Dererk Pardon, Izayah Le’Afa, Jarrell Brantley, Jayden Bezzant, Rayan Rupert, Tom Vodanovich
Outs: Peyton Siva, Finn Delany, Kyrin Galloway, Chasson Randle, Ousmane Dieng, Rasmus Bach, Hugo Besson, Princepal Singh, Sam Short

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci_oRIdJXdb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci_oRIdJXdb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci_oRIdJXdb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Barry Brown (@iambarrybrown5)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Biggest win
The best of everything Breakers was on show in their Round 8 demolition of the Brisbane Bullets. The stifling defence, the physicality on both ends of the floor, and the free-flowing, high-powered offence.

The Breakers scored 30 points in ever quarter except the third in a dominant display, and even in that quarter they kept Brisbane to 11 points to extend their lead.

The inside duo of Jarrell Brantley and Dererk Pardon did most of the damage with 45 points and 12 rebounds between them, while Izayah Le’Afa added some outside flair and added 21 points of his own.

Between them, Le’Afa, Brantley and Pardon shot an incredible 27-37 for the game, or 73 per cent.

The Bullets just had no answer for a red-hot Breakers outfit.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dererk Pardon is drop-stepping his way to a highlight jam ?<br><br>Catch the action live and free on 10 Peach and 10play | live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/yKCjSzC3NX">pic.twitter.com/yKCjSzC3NX</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1596704677797588992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Season-definer
After dropping three consecutive games to a Melbourne side chasing a Play-In spot, top two challengers Cairns, and bottom side Illawarra, the Breakers looked wounded.

Their weaknesses had been exposed, their stars were being bottled up by defenders, and their incredible season looked set to fall by the wayside like so many unlikely success stories do.

They travelled the Sydney to take on a Kings side that was running rampant having won seven of their last nine games. In short, the Kings looked near unbeatable, while New Zealand looked incredibly vulnerable.

Enter Jarrell Brantley.

The Breakers started the game on fire but fell away in the third quarter to lead by just two points at the final break.

As the clock wound down the import forward took the game over. He scored his team’s final 13 points of the game – including seven points in the final 15 seconds that included a perfect 4-4 from the line, to end the contest with 30 points and a huge win for the Breakers.

Will McDowell-White was immense with 20 points and 10 assists, while Rob Loe hit 15 points in 15 minutes from the bench.

 A huge win to get the season back on track.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Open up the bank ?<br><br>Watch live and free on 10 Peach and 10 play | Live on ESPN2 via Kayo Sports + Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/VXJxXExJdg">pic.twitter.com/VXJxXExJdg</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1617055722063396864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Doubts starting
If the loss to Melbourne was disappointing, and the defeat to Cairns was heart-breaking, New Zealand’s Round 16 loss to Illawarra was incredibly alarming.

Yes, it took a near half-court shot from Tyler Harvey to secure the result, but the Hawks – at that time – were not only on a 21- game losing run, but they should have iced the game far before the final seconds.

Despite hitting back to win the second and fourth quarters, New Zealand put itself behind the eight-ball after giving up a 13-point lead to quarter time.

While the Hawks had admittedly been pushing good sides all the way in NBL23, whoever lost to them would have a red mark against their name heading into the post-season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TYLER HARVEY TO WIN THE GAME. HE IS MAGIC ?<br><br>UNRIVALLED DRAMA<br><br>WHAT A GAME OF NBL BASKETBALL ? <a href="https://t.co/218UNw8XkS">pic.twitter.com/218UNw8XkS</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1615989417155637250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gauntlet thrown
The Breakers came out the gates firing in NBL23.

An overtime loss to Melbourne kicked off proceedings and gave hope that New Zealand would, at least, be competitive this year. Wins over Tasmania, South East Melbourne and Illawarra followed before the Phoenix got their revenge. Then the Breakers earned a low-scoring win over fellow surprise packets Cairns.

At 4-2 by Round 5 New Zealand was at the right end of the table, and championship fancies Adelaide were not. If they wanted to do anything with their season the 36ers had to turn things around, and quick. There was no better place to start than at home to the Breakers.

New Zealand absolutely dismantled Adelaide though. The 36ers were down by two at quarter time, but they were kept to just 28 points in the second and third quarters combined.

Barry Brown put his early Sixth Man of the Year credentials on show with 22 points, while Jarrell Brantley put up 22 points of his own. He also added nine rebounds and four steals.

This win proved the Breakers were no flash in the pan early season success.

And, for good measure, they smashed Tasmania by 32 in their very next game.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZBreakers</a> make a STATEMENT against the 36ers ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> <br><br>Jarrell Brantley takes home the Foot Locker Player of the Game ? <a href="https://t.co/EK4Ima7VCJ">pic.twitter.com/EK4Ima7VCJ</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1585938022373027840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Toughest loss
By the last month of the season the battle for the top two was heating up. Cairns and New Zealand were pushing all the way, and the early noise suggested whoever won this game would put themselves in the box seat for a Playoff position.

It was basically a post-season game, just a few weeks early.

Cairns entered the clash off of four straight wins, while New Zealand had just lost to Melbourne.

Jarrell Brantley was lethal on offence in the absence of Keanu Pinder and Will McDowell-White put in one of the best performances of his NBL career with 29 points, five boards and five assists.

It wasn’t enough though as three of Cairns’ starting five finished on 18 points.

The first quarter proved crucial – and the Taipans outscored New Zealand by seven in the opening stanza. A lead the Breakers would never be able to cut down.

The Breakers had the last laugh though as they finished above the Snakes in the final round.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lock that ladder in ?<br><br>After some unrivalled final day drama the top six is set - and finals hoops is coming your way ?<br><br>Who takes home the title from here? ? <a href="https://t.co/fQr40zOJkd">pic.twitter.com/fQr40zOJkd</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1622138375921893377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Best moment
There could only be one.

After the better part of two years on the road, the New Zealand Breakers finally returned home to Spark Arena for their Round 2 clash with Tasmania.

Over 5000 raucous Breakers fans filled out Spark Arena to watch their team take on last season’s grand finalists Tasmania – and regardless of the result New Zealand was always going to walk away the winner.

The Breakers put on a defensive masterclass through to emerge as six-point victors despite scoring just six points in the third quarter.

Jarrell Brantley acclimatised easily to his new home with 19 points and six rebounds, while Rob Loe had seven points and seven boards off the bench.

This is not only the Breakers’ moment of the season, but it’s quite possibly the best moment of NBL23, period.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Catching a break ?<br><br>Checking out the best bits from the <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZBreakers</a>&#39; long overdue return home and their matchup against the <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a> thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/HungryJacksAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HungryJacksAU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> <a href="https://t.co/tBvzPlKt9F">pic.twitter.com/tBvzPlKt9F</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1578504645085106177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Sydney Kings host the New Zealand Breakers in Game 1 of their Championship Series on Friday, March 3.