Unfinnished Business

By Liam Santamaria

There’s a bit going on with the New Zealand Breakers right now.

Currently stuck in lockdown, the Breakers are also facing the difficult prospect of another extended stay in Australia to open the upcoming season.

Couple that with recent developments that have seen two of their highest-profile locals, Corey and Tai Webster, released from their contracts and there’s a bit to digest across the ditch.

Despite all that, there are also plenty of reasons for optimism among Breakers fans.  

Particularly in terms of their roster, after the Kiwis pulled off a number of impressive off-season signings. They include import point guard Peyton Siva, exciting French Next Star Ousmane Dieng and Kiwi big man Yanni Wetzell. 

They’ve also, don’t forget, got Finn Delany.

Delany was a standout for New Zealand last season, putting up career-best numbers and earning selection into the All-NBL Second Team, and says he’s driven by a sense of “unfinished business” as he looks towards NBL22.

It’s a feeling that exists after Delany’s impressive play saw him receive numerous offers this year from overseas clubs. That’s no surprise. After all, Breakers head coach Dan Shamir – a man with considerable Euroleague experience – is on the record saying he believes lucrative offers from powerful European clubs are definitely in Delany’s future. Ultimately, however, the athletic forward allowed his Euro out-clause to expire back in mid-July and is gearing up for another season with the Breakers in the NBL.

“I had a look around but, long story short, I'm exactly where I want to be,” Delany told NBL Media. 

“I definitely have unfinished business with the Breakers and this league and I really want to find success with this team.

“That would mean so much to me because there are people here that have done a lot for me and taught me so much.”

What happens after this season remains to be seen. The 26-year-old, who suited up for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2019 NBA Summer League, is currently entering the final year of his contract and says that when this deal expires, he’ll closely assess his options.

“I definitely want to play at a higher level at different places,” Delany explained. 

“I want to go on and play on basketball courts all around the world but I'm present right now where I am, in the journey of trying to find success with this team and this group. 

“Post this season, what will be, will be. I'm an ambitious guy and Dan (Shamir), Matt (Walsh) and Mody (Maor) all know that and are supportive of that.”

Truth be told, that’s exactly what Delany has done across each of the past few seasons: take his game to higher levels.

From a talented youngster loaded with potential, he has grown into one of New Zealand’s most important players and a genuine star of the league. 

Last season, Delany was an absolute beast. He led the Breakers in minutes played and was, without question, the team’s most consistent performer; averaging a career-high 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He made plays in transition, got buckets from the block and knocked down shots from long range, all while providing a physical presence on both D and on the glass.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to Finn Delany for taking home an All NBL Second Team selection last night at the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> awards!<br><br>Our own MVP Finn is the first non-import Breaker to win an All NBL spot since Corey Webster 5 did in 2016.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNBREAKABLE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNBREAKABLE</a> <a href="https://t.co/PnmD1yYHL6">pic.twitter.com/PnmD1yYHL6</a></p>&mdash; Sky Sport Breakers (@NZBreakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers/status/1405308582640242689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The best part: amidst all the intensity and aggression, there’s a calmness about Delany’s game these days that didn’t previously exist. 

“I just know my game and know myself so much better,” he explains.

“I’ve found a deeper understanding of my role on the court; what I can do, what I'm not so good at and what to focus on. I’ve just found more depth to my game rather than trying to find variety. 

“To be honest, I’ve gone through a pretty steep maturation period the last couple of years and am just a lot more confident and know my game a lot more.”

All of that comes with experience, of course, however Delany credits the Breakers coaching staff for helping take his game to the next level. Especially Mody Maor, the team’s Associate Head Coach, whom Delany describes as the brains behind his development.

“Since I was very young I had the capacity to work but Mody Maor has taught me how to work,” Delany said. 

“He’s also taught me how player development should take place; how to really work smart and how to break down the game. What sort of things I need to work on physically and mentally and what sort of things will translate to my game. 

“He's been huge for my development over the last two years and, really, has been the architect of it.” 

Unfortunately, that kind of work has been made difficult in recent times while New Zealand has been responding to its latest COVID outbreak. For the past five weeks the Breakers have been stuck in lockdown with the entire team unable to access their practice facility.

It’s been a situation that Delany admits would’ve caused a younger version of himself to be completely “freaking out.” Instead, he’s approached it pragmatically; getting both his mind and body ready for a grueling season ahead.

The good news this week is that those restrictions are slowly starting to ease. The lockdown in Auckland was yesterday lowered from ‘level four’ to ‘level three’, meaning Breakers players have been allowed to re-engage in some elements of on-court work, albeit it under tight regulations.

It’s a key step forward towards what Delany believes could be really successful season. That’s despite losing the Webster brothers and one or two additional players to be added to the mix.

“There are some moving parts and some pieces of the puzzle still to put together but so far I think Matt, Dan and Mody have done an amazing job with our roster,” he says.

“(We’ve got) very high-level guys who I'm excited to play with and play with again. I definitely think they've created a team that we control what we're capable of from this point onwards. 

“It’s in our hands and that's extremely exciting. I think the sky's the limit.”