New Zealand Breakers - 2007-08

2007-08

In the following off-season the Breakers signed Australian veteran Tony Ronaldson, and current Tall Blacks Phill Jones and Paora Winitana. The biggest signing however for the Breakers was New Zealand's marquee player Kirk Penney after a distinguished overseas career. Penney was only the second New Zealander to play in the NBA (behind Sean Marks) and had also played for European powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv.

In the 2007-08 season, with the overhauled roster, the Breakers set out on intent on making the playoffs for the first time in their history, thanks in part to the form of import Rick Rickert, a friend of Penney. Despite season-ending injuries to Rickert and fellow import Wayne Turner, their replacements Derrick Alston and Orien Greene helped the Breakers to seal their maiden NBL playoff berth. In their first playoff match, they defeated the Cairns Taipans in Cairns 100-78 to set up another elimination final against the defending champion Brisbane Bullets. However, this proved a bridge too far for the Breakers, defeated in Brisbane to bring the curtain down on their season.

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