Maor: Roster Continuity "Unattainable"

In a perfect world the New Zealand Breakers would bring back their entire NBL23 roster for another tilt at the NBL championship this season. But, unfortunately, it’s impossible for that to happen.

Veteran centre Rob Loe has retired from the NBL, while Next Star Rayan Rupert will likely be sporting NBA colours next season – at the time of writing the French star is projected to be selected by Miami with the 18^th selection of the draft.

The signing of Mangok Mathiang also indicates Dererk Pardon may not return for the new season, after the Breakers website hailed the former Hawk as “better” than last season’s Defensive Player of the Year runner-up

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SIGNED ??<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZBreakers</a> have confirmed the signing of Mangok Mathiang for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> season.<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/CeiJKUzqIZ">https://t.co/CeiJKUzqIZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/FDM3pcj613">pic.twitter.com/FDM3pcj613</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1668367549208363010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Barry Brown Jr has also been lighting it up in France alongside international star Victor Wembanyama, and Jarrell Brantley used his immense NBL form as a platform to return to the NBA.

Stuff has also reported the Breakers are not pursuing a contract renewal for local big Sam Timmins.

In short, the Breakers – like every other NBL side – will look different than last season, and head coach Mody Maor says he was never targeting “bringing the band back”.

“Last year we recruited players we felt were very good, but hadn’t been able to show it because of certain circumstances,” Maor told Stuff.co.nz. “We believed in our ability to create structure to allow them to show this, allow us to win, and in turn allow them to further their careers.

“Bringing the band back was never our goal. It’s unattainable.

“Continuity is a buzzword for people that don’t understand sport. It doesn’t exist. There are five months between seasons, it’s a fluid market.

“You want to keep guys you really like … but the process works the other way around.”

Despite the departures from the program ahead of the new season – both confirmed and likely impending – New Zealand has managed to secure it’s ‘big fish’ of the off-season, in the form of the retention of star guard Will McDowell-White.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will McDowell-White has his dancing shoes on tonight ?<br><br>He has a boogie with the defender before nailing the triple ?<br><br>Catch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and FOxtel. <a href="https://t.co/NNgG2r5D1b">pic.twitter.com/NNgG2r5D1b</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1598934033362132992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

McDowell-White was out of contract with the club following the conclusion of NBL23, and, following a breakout campaign that saw him nominated for the competition’s Most Improved Player award, interest in his from around the league was inevitable.

The 25-year-old guard elected to continue with New Zealand though, much to the delight of Maor.

“The first step, and number one priority, was the retain Will,” Maor said. “There is no local that can replace him.

“He’s elite, young, has size, competes, he’s a great person, and one of the sharpest, most instinctive decision-makers I’ve worked with.

“He’s the best local point guard in the NBL.”

Despite the signing of Mathiang, the Breakers look a step behind the rest of the competition in terms of confirmed signings for the new season.

Melbourne United already have ten fully rostered players confirmed for the new campaign, while Perth has locked away 11 players.

That being said, ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc has previously reported the signing of Mathiang could kickstart a “flurry” of movement for last season’s runners-up.

“There are 10 to 15 kids in college every year from New Zealand,” Maor said. “There are six kids of left to play high school basketball in the US.

“There’s a talent pool growing and emerging, and I want all of them to aspire to be Breakers. I want it to be their pinnacle outside of the NBA.

“This is home for the best Kiwis, but sometimes we have to wait to get them here.”

New Zealand’s first game of the NBL24 season will come against Cairns on Saturday, September 30 at 4:30pm AEST.