SEASON 2024/25 of the National Basketball League (NBL) is already approaching the halfway mark, and the race for a top-six spot is as tight as ever.

10 rounds into the fixture has seen record-breaking performances, dominant team displays and thrilling finishes as the NBL produces its most exciting season yet, with the championship race wide open as it stands.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be putting each side under the microscope, and the final team on the agenda is the New Zealand Breakers, who have been strong for majority of the fixture and are shaping for another finals appearance.

New Zealand Breakers

Record as of Round 10 – seven wins, three losses

How its happened

It was a delayed start to NBL25 for the Breakers, who travelled to the United States to face some NBA sides as a part of that competition’s preseason. Upon returning to the NBL, the Breakers did not take too long to find their rhythm, and have secured a spot inside the top two at the halfway mark of the season. New head coach Petteri Koponen has the team playing a more European style of basketball, and additionally, the Breakers are the best defensive team in the competition. New Zealand has allowed just 82.5 points per game, and have proven extremely restrictive, even against the best offensive sides in the league. Their most impressive result came earlier this month, when they defeated the ladder-leading Melbourne United by 34 points on their own court in a dominant display.

MVP – Parker Jackson-Cartwright

Jackson-Cartwright appears to be the favourite for the NBL’s MVP award at the halfway point of the fixture, playing as important of a role as anyone in the competition. The point guard has taken his game to another level, and has adapted to Koponen’s style of play perfectly. Not only can he score the ball at a high clip himself, but Jackson-Cartwright makes life extremely easy for his teammates with precisely timed passes. He is currently leading the league in assists (7.4), is second in steals (2.0) and fifth in scoring (18.6), showing how well-rounded his game is. Jackson-Cartwright even had the opportunity to strut his stuff against NBA sides earlier this year, dropping 19 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. As it stands, he is the clubhouse leader for the NBL’s top gong and has become the face of the NBL.

Where to from here?

The Breakers will be looking to maintain their pace in the second half of the season and finish the fixture with a guaranteed spot in the semi-finals with a top-two finish. New Zealand has proven capable of besting all nine of the other teams in the competition, and will look to keep its restrictive defence intact as the season progresses. One storyline to keep an eye on will be the fit of new recruit Tacko Fall, who replaces big man Freddie Gillespie. Fall is a former NBL talent, and is most known for his towering height, standing a whopping seven-foot-six. If Koponen and Jackson-Cartwright can get the most out of the big man, it could be a game-changer for the Breakers.