The Future Breakers Club is a great way for kids to get weekly basketball training in the professional environment of the Burger King NZ Breakers, plus it's out of the winter rain - so you never have to worry about the trainings being cancelled! Kids can learn the fundamental skills of basketball in a fun and active programme that will challenge the players.

If your school doesn't have trainings or a coach send your team to us!

The groups are lead by full time professional Breakers coaches Lawrence Lianda and Hayden Allen who are assisted by Breakers Academy players and coaches. PLUS a few Burger King Breakers themselves will be making appearances at a few sessions throughout the term!

The club is open to all Primary and Intermediate aged children and is run every school term.

Club Night is Wednesday with the following training times:

- Year 4 and under 4.00 - 5.00pm

- Year 5 and older 5.15 - 6.15pm 

Enrollments are taken at any time and it is suggested that you enrol early to avoid missing out.

Cost per term is only $90** 

**On the first term that you join there is a one off $30 membership form which includes a club t-shirt.

Enrol NOW! Click here for the enrolment form

Tall Blacks camp took place at Breakers Headquarters Friday to Sunday last week with New Zealand's most talented players all vying for a spot in the squad. Congratulations to five of our Burger King Breakers who made the squad: Tom Abercombie, BJ Anthony, Kirk Penney, Aled Pledger and Mika Vukona.

Penney, team vice-captain, will be making his third appearance at the World Championship together with ex-Breakers Phill Jones and Pero Cameron. Dillon Boucher will also be heading over to the World Champs, however, in a  different role this year as Assistane Coach.

The world championship preparations commence on July 26, with build up matches and mini tournaments and training camps to be held in Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey.

The team leave today with a schedule that will see the Tall Blacks take on Iran, Serbia and Turkey in Istanbul in early August. Then, a training camp in the same city is followed by matches against Russia, Serbia and Slovenia in Maribor, Slovenia, with another camp afterwards.

A mini tournament in Zadar, Croatia, features matches against Russia, Jordan and the home side.

New Zealand’s group at the world champs consists of reigning champions Spain, sixth-ranked Lithuania, France at No15, Canada (19) and Lebanon, coached by former Tall Black coach Tab Baldwin, with a ranking of 24.

The Tall Blacks are ranked at 13th in the world according to FIBA rankings. Their first game at the world championships is against Lithuania, August 28.

The Tall Blacks tour squad is Thomas Abercrombie (Waikato Pistons), Benny Anthony Jnr (Harbour Heat), Craig Bradshaw (unattached), captain Pero Cameron (Wellington Saints), Casey Frank (Wellington Saints), Phill Jones (Nelson Giants), Jeremy Kench (Christchurch Cougars), Mike Fitchett (Nelson Giants), vice-captain Kirk Penney (NZ Breakers), Alex Pledger (Waikato Pistons), Lindsay Tait (Wellington Saints) and Mika Vukona (Nelson Giants).

Information courtesy of Basketball New Zealand: http://www.basketball.org.nz/

Across the Tasman, Andrej Lemanis is busy with the Boomers preparing the team for the World Champs. Boomers will be without Burger King Breaker CJ Bruton, who announced his retirement from the international scene last week during the Boomers camp in Gold Coast.

Basketball Australia chief executive Larry Sengstock praised the 34-year-old for his immense contribution to the Boomers programme.

"It was with great sadness that we heard the news that CJ had decided to end his international basketball career, but we respect his decision and thank him for all he has contributed to the Boomers and Australian basketball.

"He is a major part of the reason why the Australian men's programme has consistently ranked in the top 10 countries in the world and he will be sorely missed."

Boomers' head coach Brett Brown said niggling injuries had convinced Bruton it was time to step back from international hoops.

"He just felt that after coming into camp and giving it his best effort, he physically would be a liability to the group," Brown said from the Gold Coast, where the Boomers are undergoing a six-day training.

"He feels with the short preparation he wouldn't be able to get to 100 percent and he wanted to declare that to us early so we could make plans in a reasonable time-frame.

"It's a hell of a thing to admit you can't play a world championships and it highlights the class he's handled himself with from day one."

Congrats CJ on a fantastic international career - you are an inspiration to the basketball community as well as the youth of the game who have big dreams of playing for their country.

The squad came together for a short and sharp period over the past week, with the majority of players returning from NZ NBL action or commitments offshore before heading into the Australian and New Zealand international programmes building up for the World Championships in Turkey in August/September.

The pre-season camp included on court workouts getting familiar with new plays and with the new Spalding balls to be used by the NBL this season, plus off court sessions with sponsors, Breakers community partner and media training and photo shoots with the NBL’s new AND1 uniforms.

New faces to the Breakers were development players Josh Bloxham and BJ Anthony. Anthony had previously joined the 2009 pre-season tour against Athletes in Action, however this was his first time officially as part of the main Breakers squad. For Bloxham it was his first taste of being a Breaker, and he wasn’t slow in making an impression as he came through on top of the fitness testing sessions.

Bloxham had a familiar face to introduce him to the club, with Nelson Giants team mate Mika Vukona returning to the Breakers after a 2 year absence in which time he won a championship with the South Dragons and went to the playoffs with the Gold Coast Blaze.

Lindsay Tait, another former Breaker, was also part of the pre-season group. Tait remains an option for the club for the vacant guard position in the roster, and took the opportunity to work out under the eye of Head Coach Lemanis and push his credentials.

CJ Bruton re-joined the squad following his charge through to the semi finals in Puerto Rico, although took a limited part in training due to a bruised foot. Bruton and Lemanis left the camp on Saturday to join the Australian Boomers on the Gold Coast to start their preparations for Turkey.

Paul Henare, Dillon Boucher, Corey Webster, Alex Pledger and Tom Abercrombie returned from their NZ NBL commitments, although Abercrombie’s time was even more hectic than the rest fo the group as he made a pitstop in Sydney to be part fo the filming of Channel Ten’s new advertisement for the NBL season.

Webster, Pledger and Abercrombie will join Tait, Vukona and Anthony at the Tall Blacks trials from Friday as they attempt to make their way on to the 12 man list for the World Champs.

Boucher at least knows his name will be on the list, as he moves out of playing mode and into this role as Assistant Coach with the Tall Blacks. His Breakers team mates will be hoping he gives Head Coach Nenad Vucinic a quiet word when it comes to the final selections for Turkey.

One name also sure to be on that Tall Blacks list is Kirk Penney, who returned to Auckland on Tuesday following an off season which included some eye catching form in the NBA Development League for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, workouts with the Milwaukee Bucks, not to mention the small matter of getting married.

The Tall Blacks trials will be held at Atlas Place from July 23-25.

The Breakers Academy team opened their campaign with a 82-71 defeat at the hands of Waitakere. A much closer game than the final score line suggests, the Academy held a handy 23-17 advantage at quarter time. Academy ‘veteran’ Brad Anderson led the way with 9 points including a couple of long range threes ably supported by Morgan Nathan whose 5 points included an emphatic tip in dunk. Adam Dunstan also nailed a couple of threes but he and his team mates found the going a lot tougher in the second period as the Waitakere defence limited the home team to just 12 points, scoring 19 themselves and trailing by just one, 35-36 at half time. Zach Makavilitogia was impressive for Waitakere pulling down 6 rebounds and contributing 5 assists and a couple of points. 

The third quarter was a see saw affair with neither team able to establish more than a four point lead. Houston O’Riley and Jivarne Joseph had 7 points apiece for Waitakere, Nathan and Anderson replying in kind for the Academy. The final quarter followed the same pattern and with 4 minutes remaining and Waitakere leading 68-66 a real dog fight was anticipated. Unfortunately the young Academy team lost their way at this point and only managed one further field goal in the game.

Burger King NZ Breakers head coach Andrej Lemanis came along to the game to check our how our talented Academy players' have developed their game over the past few months. If you want to see the Breakers Academy in action in the Super City League, head down to our training facility - 7 Atlas Place, Mairangi Bay - every Saturday at 1pm for the games. 

Final Score;

Breakers Academy 71 (Brad Anderson 23, Morgan Nathan 20 (plus 12 rebounds), Tim Wyatt 9)

Waitakere 82 (Houston O’Riley 22, Josh Tuaiti 19, Patrich Bolstad 13, Jivarne Joseph 13)

On June 30^th, forty of New Zealand future basketball stars left our shores to battle it out with their peers across the Tasman in the Melbourne Tigers tournament.

An additional girls and boys team this year meant two boys teams and two girls teams in the U14 and U13 age group were selected from the Breakers Elite training group to have the opportunity to represent the Breakers at the tournament.

Burger King NZ Breakers Coaching and Development Manager, Dave MacKay, looked forward once again to his teams testing themselves.

“It’s exciting to measure their development against their Aussie counterparts as well as give them a great experience on an international tour. The kids put so much effort in throughout the year –  this is a way for us to reward them for all their hard training, effort, and commitment.”

With the boys and girls kitted out in their own Breakers uniforms, they looked the part and were determined to play the part too!

First up, the teams played in pre-tournament games against Frankston and Dandenong – two of the top clubs in Australia - and Melbourne Tigers. The teams had mixed results in the pre-tournament games but learnt valuable lessons in how the games were officiated in Australia.

After warming up in the pre-tournament games, it was onto the Melbourne Tournament itself. The boys showed enormous promise with the U14 boys being challenged every step of the way and subsequently found the going tough eventually finishing fifth. The U13 boys started off the tournament extremely well finishing top of their Pool, but lost out on the win in the semi-final to the eventual winners.

The girls teams were the stars of the tournament with both the U13 and U14 teams claiming the title! The U13 girls had mixed results in Pool play before finishing strong to win the final by 17 points, beating the team that took the win earlier in the Pool play. After failing to win a game pre-tournament, the U14 girls improved every game to win each of the tournament games comfortably – including a 22 point win in the final!

Coach Angela Perrott-Hunt was thrilled for the girls teams.

“I was ecstatic with their improvement over the nine games. The girls have made massive strides in their development  from this experience. I thought the consistency in the officiating helped make the kids more disciplined in their defense.”

MacKay was pleased with the tournament overall.

“I was very pleased with the progress the kids made in their game – this tournament definitely helps develop their game and makes each player aware of where his/her strengths and weaknesses lie. The tournament itself is a great platform for these kids to play tough competition in a well-organised environment.”

The junior development programmes run year round at the Breakers, working to build the depth in New Zealand Basketball through professional coaching on a consistent basis.

The tour was yet another highlight for the Burger King NZ Breakers Development Programme and we can’t wait for more of these young talented stars to have the opportunity to have this same international experience next year.

Boys: Vishan Perera (North Harbour), Mitchell Watts (North Harbour), Ken Smith (West Auckland), Jack Castle (North Harbour), Luke Day (West Auckland), Keejon Sloan (North Harbour), Trent Kimiangatau (Basketball Waitakere City), Anton Eagle (Basketball Waitakere City), Mathew Freeman (North Harbour), Logan Hunt (West Auckland), Isaac Davidson (Basketball Waitakere City), Josh Day (West Auckland), Isaac Claasen (North Harbour), Judson Seumanu (West Auckland), Patrick Elisaia-Hopa (North Harbour), Alex Wheeler (North Harbour), Tai Wynyard (West Auckland), Liam Thornton (North Harbour), Ben Thomas (North Harbour), Caleb Ruha (Counties Manukau)     

Girls: Christine Ling (North Harbour), Emily Maclean (North Harbour), Kayla Reed (West Auckland), Katy Potts (North Harbour), Sophie Bond (North Harbour), Michelle Nicholls (Basketball Waitakere City), Georgia Perrott-Hunt (North Harbour), Zara Jillings (North Harbour), Katelin Noyer (North Harbour), Vanja Schaumkel (North Harbour), Abigail Malbon (North Harbour), Rachel Kerr (North Harbour), Courtney Scott (West Auckland), Jessica Nicholson (Basketball Waitakere City), Maia Wilson (Basketball Waitakere City), Lavinia Soloman (Basketball Waitakere City), Lyric Wolfgramm (Basketball Waitakere City), Jordan Firth (North Harbour), Caitlin Dowden (North Harbour)

Following an NZ NBL game for the Harbour Heat last month, Webster tested positive for cannabis in a random drugs test. While he still has to face a Sports Tribunal hearing to learn the official sanctions imposed as a result of that positive test, Webster has clearly breached the Breakers own values and code of conduct, grounds for termination of his contract with the club. 

“We have spent a lot of time talking with Corey, and discussing what the club’s position was going to be on his behaviour” said Breakers General Manager Richard Clarke. “We are all incredibly disappointed by his actions, and definitely do not condone drug use in any way. 

“We have put a lot of effort in to building a culture based on our values and what we expect of everyone involved as a Breaker. Corey has shown a lack of respect for those values in his behaviour and actions in this case, but has to his credit also shown huge remorse and regret for what he has done. 

“In determining the clubs response, the Breakers organisation decided that it will help no one to simply cast Corey adrift. Instead, we have put in place a strict set of conditions with which to comply in order to remain a Breaker. He will also have to face whatever sanction the Sports Tribunal determines for him in terms of his international aspirations.” 

In addition to apologising to his team mates, club staff, sponsors and members of the Breakers Academy Programme, Webster will be involved in a personal mentoring relationship with Breakers and Tall Blacks veteran Dillon Boucher. 

“Corey identified Dillon as a player and person he had a lot of respect for, and Dillon has offered to take on this relationship with Corey as a part of giving him a second chance at the club” said Clarke. “It is a vote of confidence in Corey from Dillon, which other players have also expressed. They wanted to give Corey a second chance, and we have taken that into account.” 

Webster will also be involved in community projects for Starship Hospital, and will be involved with the Breakers community coaching programme in addition to his basketball commitments. He will also be involved in a youth mentoring programme with another Breakers community partner, the Foundation for Youth Development. 

“Like many young athletes, Corey is dealing with the issues of needing greater interests and involvement than just his sport. We are looking to provide some structures and support that help him achieve this.” 

“This is not an easy out for Corey – he knows that if he slips up again, that’s it for him here. From spending time with him over the last week I know that he will make that commitment to be better, and earn back the trust of people around the club.” 

Webster expressed his own disappointment with his actions, and thank to the Breakers for giving him a chance to make amends. 

“I know I have let a lot of people down – it was a stupid thing to do and one that has almost cost me my place at the Breakers” said Webster. “I am very grateful that the club has given me a second chance, I promise not to let them or our fans down again. I need to make some changes, and the club is going to help me with that.” 

Webster will also be involved in a drug education programme as part of the conditions of retaining his position at the club.

“This is an exciting outcome for us” said Breakers General manager Richard Clarke. “Sky are the premier sports broadcaster in New Zealand, and to have them back as broadcast partner in New Zealand is a positive result for the Breakers, for the NBL and for basketball”. 

The broadcast partnership will see all 14 Breakers home games broadcast live on SKY Sport, with the network also screening a mix of live and delayed coverage of all NBL games produced in Australia by TEN including playoff games.

“The inclusion of the Australian games in the broadcast partnership is an important one for us. Fans will get a greater opportunity to follow the league and also to follow our away games when we are covered by TEN” said Clarke. 

Clarke paid tribute to the contribution of Maori Television as broadcast partner over the past 3 seasons. “Maori Television has been an important part of the Breakers over the past 3 seasons, and have been a fantastic partner. Without their support and commitment we would not have had the growth in viewership and popularity that we have had over those 3 years.” 

The confirmed broadcast partnership has required some change to the previously published season draw, in order to provide the best possible live broadcast opportunities. 

“We are very happy with the final draw, it gives us the result we wanted in terms of both or live audience and our broadcast audience” said Clarke.  

“We conducted research with both Breakers fans and sports fans in general last season, and the indication was that while Thursday nights were popular as our game night, fans would like some variation, in particular Fridays and Wednesdays, and were less supportive of weekend games.“ 

“The outcome of 3 Wednesdays, 2 Fridays and the remainder of games on our now traditional Thursday night is a great outcome for us.”

The Burger King Breakers 2010-11 NBL campaign starts in Sydney vs the returning Sydney Kings, with the first home game at North Shore Events Centre on Wednesday, October 20. 

Burger King Breakers 2010-11 ANBL Schedule 

To the 60 kids who enrolled for the camp, we can't wait for you to get here and join in all the basketball fun from 7th-9th July.

If you didn't get your enrolment form to us on time make sure you're the first to do so for our next Holiday Camp! Complete our online form here and you will be the first to know when we open enrolments for our next Holiday Camp or if there are any absentees/withdrawals from next week's July Holiday Camp.

With Anthony and Bloxham confirmed as Development Players, 10 of the 12 Breakers roster spots have now been confirmed – with 9 of the positions being filled by New Zealanders, the most in the club’s history. 

Versatile forward Anthony and Point Guard Bloxham have been strong performers for Harbour Heat and Nelson Giants respectively in the Bartercard NZ NBL and now will have the chance to press for a place in the Breakers ANBL roster. 

21 year old Anthony is a previous member of the Breakers development Academy, and also joined the Breakers squad for the 2009-10 pre-season tour, playing games against Athletes in Action in Auckland, Rotorua, Napier and Porirua. Anthony’s performances on that tour prompted his inclusion in the Tall Blacks for the international season, and laid the foundation for his elevation to a Development Squad position. 

20 year old Bloxham is also familiar to the Breakers set up, having previously been invited to join the squad for a week in the 2008 season as part of the club’s apprentice player programme.  

Bloxham was a part of the Junior Tall Blacks at the FIBA Under 19 World Championships in Auckland in 2009, where he was under the guidance of Breakers Assistant Coach Judd Flavell. Flavell is also very familiar with Anthony, as Head Coach of the Breakers Academy and now also the Harbour Heat. 

“It is exciting for the Breakers to have good young New Zealand talent such as Josh and BJ coming through as Development Players” said Flavell, who has the responsibility of identifying the Breakers Development Players for Head Coach Andrej Lemanis.  

“We have had our eye on both of these guys for a number of years and it is great that they now have the opportunity to join the club and show us what they can do.”

 “To have BJ come through as another graduate of the Development Academy is also very pleasing, and shows the value of what we have been trying to achieve with that programme. Corey was the first graduate to make the step up, I think BJ will be the next of a number of Academy players to be challenging for Breakers places in the future.” 

Anthony and Bloxham will be hoping to follow the success of Tom Abercrombie, Corey Webster and Alex Pledger, who have all made the transition from Development Squad to full roster player in the past 2 seasons. 

“The opportunity is there for them” said General Manager Richard Clarke. “We think both Josh and BJ have the talent to be Breakers players, and are really looking forward to having them in our environment and seeing how they grow over the coming season”. 

As nominated Development Players, Anthony and Bloxham are able to suit up and be on the bench for all 14 Breakers home games, and are eligible to play up to 7 of the team’s away games as part of the ANBL’s development player rules.  

Bloxham and Anthony will join the Breakers squad officially on July 12, when the squad assembles for a 2 week pre-season camp prior to the Tall Blacks international campaign, and Lemanis and CJ Bruton joining the Boomers for their own World Championship preparation. 

The squad will reassemble in September following the World Championships to begin the build up for the 2010-11 Australian NBL season, which for the Burger King Breakers will commence on Saturday October 16 in Sydney.

The Harbour Heat has had a disappointing end to the season with eight losses out of nine games. The only win was against a winless Otago Nuggets side that has been lack luster at best. The Harbour Heat will end their campaign at home against the Taranaki Mountain Airs who have been impressive throughout the season. Burger King Breakers Corey Webster and Dillon Boucher need to be on top of their game to disrupt a team that have pulled off some key victories including a scalp against the reigning champions, Waikato Pistons.

The Heat’s last outing was against the Christchurch Cougars who were successful in out hassling Judd Flavell’s side. Dillon Boucher was nursing an ankle injury so did not play. He has played an important role for the Heat this year, sharing his knowledge and experience with the promising talent the Harbour roster boasts. The point guard position has been in safe hands with young gun, Corey Webster playing beyond his years with many fine displays both at the offensive end of the court and the defensive end. This is a good sign for the Breakers as the guard is

Harbour head coach Judd Flavell is confident that if his side plays the way he knows they can the Heat will win games.

“Come to playoff time it doesn’t matter who you play. If we play well and believe we will beat anyone”

Flavell’s side will hope to join Burger King Breaker Mika Vukona’s Nelson side who are already guaranteed a playoff berth along with the Wellington Saints and Dean Vickerman’s led Waikato Pistons. All three teams have been outstanding in adapting following shock losses. The business end to the competition can’t come soon enough for some players who want to show they can handle the pressure in big games. The Playoff commences on the 22^nd of June and goes until the 1^st of July.

It will be an exciting time that hopefully will produce some entertaining games of basketball.  This will give Tall Blacks fans hope before the World Camps in August.