The New Zealand Breakers (also known as the BNZ Breakers for sponsorship reasons) are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Auckland. The Breakers are the only non-Australian side currently competing in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL), and one of only two non-Australian sides to have done so (the other being the now-absent Singapore Slingers). They play their home games at multiple venues, mainly Spark Arena in Auckland. In 2011, the Breakers won their first NBL championship and successfully defended it in 2012 and 2013, claiming the second three-peat in NBL history. They won their fourth title in 2015.
From 2005 to 2018, the Breakers were owned by Liz and Paul Blackwell. In 2018, a consortium led by former NBA player Matt Walsh acquired a majority stake through a newly established company, Breakers Basketball Ltd. In March 2025, Kiwi-American businessman and attorney Marc Mitchell acquired the club.
In March 2003, a New Zealand basketball team was confirmed to be entering the Australian National Basketball League in the 2003âÂÂ04 season. Three Waikato businessmen, Michael Redman, Dallas Fisher and Keith Ward, were persuaded to start the Breakers franchise.
A driving force behind establishing the Breakers was inaugural coach Jeff Green. Green stepped down as coach two months into the season and was replaced by assistant coach Frank Arsego. The Breakers finished their first season in tenth place with a 12âÂÂ21 record.
After finishing the 2004âÂÂ05 season in last place, the Breakers replaced Arsego with Andrej Lemanis for the 2005âÂÂ06 season. In 2005, Liz and Paul Blackwell took over ownership of the Breakers.
With the addition of Kirk Penney for the 2007âÂÂ08 season, the Breakers made their first playoff appearance. The Breakers returned to the playoffs in 2008âÂÂ09 behind Penney and C. J. Bruton. Penney was sidelined for nine games with a back injury in 2009âÂÂ10, with a mid-season slump leading to the Breakers missing the playoffs.
The 2010âÂÂ11 season saw the Breakers earn their first minor premiership with a first-place finish and a 22âÂÂ6 record. They went on to reach their inaugural NBL grand final with a 2âÂÂ1 semi-final victory over the Perth Wildcats. In the grand final series, the Breakers defeated the Cairns Taipans 2âÂÂ1 to win their maiden NBL championship. They became the first New Zealand side to win a major Australian championship. The team was led by Penney, Bruton, Mika Vukona, Gary Wilkinson, Paul Henare and grand final MVP Thomas Abercrombie.
The 2011âÂÂ12 season saw the Breakers claim the minor premiership with a 21âÂÂ7 record and reach the NBL grand final series, where they defeated the Perth Wildcats 2âÂÂ1 to win their second championship. The team was led by Wilkinson, Abercrombie, Vukona, Daryl Corletto, Cedric Jackson and grand final MVP C. J. Bruton.
The 2012 off-season saw the departure of Gary Wilkinson and the elevation of Alex Pledger to the starting line-up, while guard Corey Webster returned to the squad after a 12-month suspension for the use of banned substances. The 2012âÂÂ13 season saw the Breakers win the minor premiership behind a 15-game winning streak. They went on to reach the NBL grand final series, where they defeated the Wildcats 2âÂÂ0 to win their third straight championship behind grand final MVP Cedric Jackson. The Breakers became just the second team to win a three-peat of championships after the Sydney Kings in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
The 2013 off-season saw the departure of long-time coach Andrej Lemanis.
After missing the playoffs in 2013âÂÂ14, the Breakers brought back Cedric Jackson for the 2014âÂÂ15 season. They finished the regular season in second place with a 19âÂÂ9 record and defeated the Adelaide 36ers 2âÂÂ0 in the semi-finals to return to the NBL grand final. In the grand final series, the Breakers defeated the Cairns Taipans 86âÂÂ71 in game one and 83âÂÂ81 in game two. Ekene Ibekwe hit the game-winning buzzer beater in game two to lift the Breakers to their fourth championship in five seasons. Jackson was named grand final MVP for the second time.
The Breakers returned to the NBL grand final series for the fifth time in six years in 2015âÂÂ16, where they lost 2âÂÂ1 to the Perth Wildcats. Following the 2015âÂÂ16 season, chief executive Richard Clarke and coach Dean Vickerman parted ways with the organisation, with Paul Henare becoming head coach and Dillon Boucher becoming general manager.
After missing the playoffs in 2016âÂÂ17, the Breakers had a 9âÂÂ1 record early in the 2017âÂÂ18 season, setting their best start in franchise history. They went on to finish the regular season in fourth place with a 15âÂÂ13 record and lost to Melbourne United in the semi-finals. Kirk Penney retired following the season.
In 2018, a consortium headed by former NBA player Matt Walsh became the majority shareholders via a newly formed company called Breakers Basketball Ltd. Under head coach Kevin Braswell, the Breakers missed the playoffs in 2018âÂÂ19 with a sixth-place finish and a 12âÂÂ16 record.
The 2019âÂÂ20 season saw the appointment of new coach Dan Shamir and the acquisition of R. J. Hampton as part of the NBL Next Stars program. The Breakers subsequently had record home crowds and engagement. Despite winning 11 of their last 14 games to finish the season, the team missed the playoffs on points differential.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020âÂÂ21 season start date was delayed until January 2021. As a result of the pandemic, the Breakers were forced to commit to being based in Australia for the majority of the season. They hosted a number of games as the 'home' team in Tasmania and only returned to play their last seven games in New Zealand in late May. A number of players missed large portions of the season due to injury and personal issues, including Robert Loe (20 games), Thomas Abercrombie (9), Corey Webster (8) and Tai Webster (7). The team also had a mid-season import change, with Lamar Patterson being replaced by Levi Randolph. They finished the season in eighth place with a 12âÂÂ24 record.
As a result of the pandemic, the Breakers played their entire 2021âÂÂ22 season in Australia, basing themselves in Tasmania. The team faced a COVID outbreak on the eve of the season, which they had to play through en route to a 0âÂÂ6 start. With a 5âÂÂ23 record, the Breakers had their worst season in their 19-year history.
With the departure of Dan Shamir, assistant coach Mody Maor was elevated to head coach for the 2022âÂÂ23 season and helped the Breakers become championship contenders. The Breakers finished the regular season in second place with an 18âÂÂ10 record, as they clinched their first playoff appearance in five years. They went on to reach their first grand final series since 2016. In game one against the Sydney Kings, the Breakers won 95âÂÂ87. After losing games two and three, the Breakers tied the series with an 80âÂÂ70 win at home in game four in front of their biggest ever crowd of 9,742. They went on to lose the deciding game five 77âÂÂ69, as the Kings claimed the championship.
The Breakers started the 2023âÂÂ24 season with a 3âÂÂ7 record. They went on to finish sixth with a 13âÂÂ15 record and lost in the play-in game.
Thomas Abercrombie retired following the 2023âÂÂ24 season, ending his NBL career with 429 games and finishing as the Breakers' most-capped player. Head coach Mody Maor parted ways with the Breakers during the off-season to pursue a coaching opportunity in Asia.
The Breakers started the 2024âÂÂ25 season with a 6âÂÂ2 record following a 34-point win over Melbourne United on the road. The Breakers entered the FIBA break in second place with a 7âÂÂ3 record and subsequently signed 7'6" Senegalese import, Tacko Fall. Following the FIBA break, the Breakers suffered six straight losses by an average of 22 points per game. They lost their eighth straight on Christmas day, going down 97âÂÂ82 to the Tasmania JackJumpers. The Breakers finished the regular season in second-to-last place with a 10âÂÂ19 record.
In March 2025, the club was acquired by Kiwi-American businessman and attorney Marc Mitchell. Mitchell assumed the role of majority owner and formed a partnership with local figures Leon Grice, Stephen Grice, and Sean Colgan, while former owners Paul and Liz Blackwell returned as shareholders. Thomas Abercrombie joined the ownership group as a special advisor. Following a mass front office personnel cleanout, including chief executive Lisa Edser, the club's first appointment under the new ownership was Dillon Boucher to the role of president of basketball operations.
In November 2025, the Breakers announced they would not wear the Pride insignia during the NBL and WNBL Pride Round (21 JanuaryâÂÂ1 February 2026). The club said the decision was made collectively under the league's voluntary participation policy, citing religious and cultural concerns raised by some players and an "all wear it or none wear it" approach to avoid individuals being singled out for their beliefs. The decision attracted criticism, including from former NRL player Ian Roberts.
In the 2025âÂÂ26 NBL season, the Breakers finished outside the finals spots in seventh at the end of the regular season but won the inaugural NBL Ignite Cup Final, defeating the Adelaide 36ers 111âÂÂ107 to claim a $300,000 prize.
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In February 2019, former owners Paul and Liz Blackwell were honoured by the Breakers with a banner in the rafters at Spark Arena.