{"id":76793,"date":"2025-08-18T06:36:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T06:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/76793\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T06:36:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T06:36:08","slug":"new-zealand-eyes-its-big-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/76793\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand eyes its big Break"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

\u201c[We\u2019re] not going to have the same talent as the big-spenders, but we have enough,\u201d Koponen told the Star-Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to hit with your imports, then it\u2019s building chemistry, and building guys\u2019 habits. The pieces need to fit together, everybody needs to feel it and the guys need to buy in.\u201d<\/p>\n

>> Feature:\u00a0Petteri Koponen\u2019s basketball collective<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut like I tell all the guys, everybody can have one great game. It\u2019s about how consistent you can be. Do you do the little things that win basketball games?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like diapers. I\u2019ve got three boys, and if you don\u2019t change the diaper properly, you\u2019re going to get s*** all over the place. It\u2019s the same with basketball. You don\u2019t box out, you\u2019re not playing at full speed, you\u2019re not doing the little things properly \u2026 these have to be the non-negotiables. The Breakers\u2019 diapers, kinda.<\/p>\n

\u201cShooting can come and go, but if everybody does the other things all the time at full speed, with maximum effort \u2026 how consistent we can be on those things gives us the base to find our level.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Parker Jackson-Cartwright.<\/p>\n

Supporting their dynamic guard are local big man Sam Mennenga and Next Star Karim Lopez, who is tipped to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

The Breakers began their pre-season last week, but are still waiting for their full roster to come together.<\/p>\n

Taylor Britt, Max Darling and Carlin Davidson are yet to return from the Asia Cup, while Rob Baker II remains away at the AmeriCup.<\/p>\n

Read more >>\u00a0NZ Breakers coach Petteri Koponen soaks up lessons on his return to Australian NBL<\/a><\/p>\n

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