New Zealand eyes its big Break

Monday, August 18, 2025

The Breakers are gearing up for NBL26 under coach Petteri Koponen, who emphasises consistency and effort as keys to success.

The New Zealand Breakers are entering a fresh chapter ahead of NBL26, with coach Petteri Koponen confident they can be genuine contenders if everything comes together.

“[We’re] not going to have the same talent as the big-spenders, but we have enough,” Koponen told the Star-Times.

“You have to hit with your imports, then it’s building chemistry, and building guys’ habits. The pieces need to fit together, everybody needs to feel it and the guys need to buy in.”

>> Feature: Petteri Koponen’s basketball collective

Now in his second year leading the Breakers, Koponen uses a colourful analogy to explain how he hopes to bring the best out of his new roster.

“But like I tell all the guys, everybody can have one great game. It’s about how consistent you can be. Do you do the little things that win basketball games?

“It’s like diapers. I’ve got three boys, and if you don’t change the diaper properly, you’re going to get s*** all over the place. It’s the same with basketball. You don’t box out, you’re not playing at full speed, you’re not doing the little things properly … these have to be the non-negotiables. The Breakers’ diapers, kinda.

“Shooting can come and go, but if everybody does the other things all the time at full speed, with maximum effort … how consistent we can be on those things gives us the base to find our level.”

Encouragingly for Koponen, despite the number of new faces, the team will be anchored by returning star and MVP candidate Parker Jackson-Cartwright.