NBA Shooting Guard Signs with BNZ Breakers

New BNZ Breakers' Head Coach Petteri Koponen has signed former Cleveland Cavalier and New York Knicks' Shooting Guard Matt Mooney to a one-year deal for NBL25.

The 29-year-old has just finished a season with Aquila Basket Trento, where he played 16 regular-season games and averaged 11.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists over 26.5 minutes of court time in Italy's Serie A.

Koponen says Mooney fits the profile of the type of player he wants at the BNZ Breakers.

"Matt is mentally tough, and he brings that competitiveness playing hard defence", says Koponen.

"He can play pick-and-roll, he shoots outside, and those were things that we were looking for in this position.”

However, Koponen is particularly excited to see the combination Mooney creates with returning All-NBL First Team Star Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

"We were looking for someone to play next to Parker; we have to build the right chemistry and identity in the team," he says.

“Matt had a great season last year in Terento, and I think he will fit well on the team.”

The 6'3" Chicago native signed his first NBA contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020 and made four appearances.  He also made an appearance for the New York Knicks in 2021.

In recent times, Mooney has played across Europe, with stints for Niners Chemnitz in the German Bundesliga and Besiktas, Darussafaka and Samsunspor in Turkey. 

Before becoming professional, Mooney played 135 NCAA Division One games for Air Force, South Dakota and Texas Tech over four seasons.

The acquisition of Mooney means the BNZ Breakers' roster is complete.

It is spearheaded by the returning Jackson-Cartwright, 2023 LA Lakers draft pick and Kiwi-born Mojave King, talented young Kiwis Sam Mennenga and Max Darling, 2021 NBL Champion Mitch McCarron, former Philadelphia 76er Jonah Bolden, returning big man Dane Pineau, Guard Sean Bairstow, Power Forward Grant Anticevich and former Toronto Raptor Freddie Gillespie.

The development players are Alex McNaught, Carlin Davison and Kaia Isaac.

Isaac, who also played an integral role for the champion Rams this season, has been signed after his stellar NZ NBL season, taking the development spot vacated by Darling.

The 21-year-old played every game in the Rams' championship-winning season, averaging 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.

Despite naming his roster, under league rules, Koponen still has the option of signing an NBL Next Star.

The team assembles on August 12 in Auckland, with the BNZ Breakers' NBL25 season tipping off on September 21 against the Bullets at Hoopsfest in Perth.

The first home game is on September 29 against South East Melbourne Phoenix at Spark Arena.