Koponen calls on Breakers' Leaders

The BNZ Breakers still have some key spots to fill on their roster for NBL25, but new coach Petteri Koponen is confident his star signings will take the team a long way towards a championship.

One of those players, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, initially departed the club for Galatasaray in the off-season, only to put pen-to-paper on another season with the Breakers.

“That’s a good start,” Koponen told NBL Media.

“(He's) one of the best guards in the league ... with his speed and his talent you can always find pretty good solutions in the offence. 

“But you know … it's only one player, though … we’ve got good local guys also. I think there is some hidden potential.” 

Koponen pointed to recruits Mitch McCarron, Mojave King and Jonah Bolden as vital pieces of the puzzle.

One of the champion players in European basketball, Koponen pointed to a fellow guard, McCarron, to be a leader.

“He (McCarron) has that potential to be that guy to bring the team together and be a vocal leader and a leader by example … and his character is like this,” Koponen said.

Koponen opened up on where the Breakers were looking to fill their roster.

“It’s always an interesting puzzle to put those pieces together and try to be successful, because everybody’s trying to do the same thing, try to win and get their team to play well together, both defensively and offensively,” he said. 

“We are still looking for a secondary ball handler and one big guy to finish the roster. And then the Next Star … they are one of the biggest (signings).”