Rob Loe announces retirement from NBL

Centre Rob Loe is retiring from the Breakers and the A-NBL.

The 31-year-old is leaving the game in his prime after 172 games, including 145 for the Breakers.

In his final season he provided the Breakers blowtorch firepower off the bench shooting at 50 percent from beyond the arc across 31 games, playing all five games in the championship series against the Sydney Kings.

Across his NBL career, he averaged 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds.

“Retiring from the Breakers has not been an easy decision,” says Loe.

“From the early days as part of the Breakers Academy to now I have enjoyed a great career and made some lifelong friends.”

A product of Westlake Boys High School, less than five kilometres away from Breakers Headquarters in Auckland, Loe played a record 133 games for St Louis University between 2010-2014 before joining the club in 2016.

Loe has also been a commanding presence on the world stage making 86 appearances for the Tall Blacks, including representing New Zealand at the 2019 World Cup in China.

“Rob will always have a home with the Breakers,” says Head Coach Mody Maor.

“I’m extremely pleased and glad his final season as a professional basketballer was one where he played arguably his best basketball and felt valued.

“He competed and contributed to winning.”

In total, Loe played six seasons for the Breakers, including the two where the team was based out of Australia because of COVID.  He also played one season for the Cairns Taipans making 28 appearances for the Queensland club.

He currently plays for the Auckland Tuatara in the NZ NBL where his form has been so good that he is a leading contender to be league MVP at season’s end.

The 6’11” Centre’s best performance for the Breakers came against the Tasmania JackJumpers at MyState Bank Arena in April last year where he top scored with 27 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

However, those two NBL seasons locked out of New Zealand took its toll.

“What I've learned most about myself over the past few years in particular is how much I value my family, how much I value my wife and my son,” says Loe.

“Putting myself in a position where I can be with them full time is my priority now.”