2010-11
With Tony Ronaldson retiring, Oscar Forman surplus to requirements, and Rick Rickert later taking a job in Germany a a free agent, the Breakers re-added Mika Vukona to their ranks, whilst adding former Utah State standout Gary Wilkinson to the mix. The Breakers successfully re-signed Kevin Braswell for the season, after Braswell hinted that he wanted to stay.
The Breakers' pre-season was hampered by the involvement of Tall Blacks' Penney, Abercrombie, Vukona and Dillon Boucher (the assistant coach) in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Penney was later signed to a non-guaranteed contract with NBA franchise the San Antonio Spurs, but was later cut during the preseason. Penney drew interest from former club Maccabi Tel Aviv, but it is understood that Penney's Breakers' contract only has an NBA out-clause, which he exercised to go to San Antonio.
The Breakers opened the new season with an 83-70 win over the returning Sydney Kings in Sydney's first home game back in the competition after a two-year hiatus due to financial problems.
In the first home game of the regular season the Breakers played the Perth Wildcats and won 96-94 after coming back from a 13-point third-quarter deficit.
The Breakers won their first five games of the season - four of which were without Penney - before losing 114-74 to the Perth Wildcats in Perth.
The Breakers led the NBL from 17 December onwards after a gripping 89-85 over the Wollongong Hawks in Wollongong, snapping their 15-game home winning streak.
The Breakers finished the regular season with a 22-6 record, qualifying as the top seed in the playoff series.
In the finals series, the Breakers lost Game 1 of their semi-final series to the Perth Wildcats 78-101 on 7 April at home, but summoned the strength to win Game 2 in Perth (93-89) on 10 April before closing out the series at home 99-83 on 13 April.
The Breakers met the Cairns Taipans in the best-of-three Grand Final series that was to result in one of the teams winning their maiden NBL championship (it was also the first time that both teams had made the Grand Final). The Breakers coasted to a 85-67 win in Game 1 after leading by as much as 31 in the third-quarter. The teams then fought out a gripping Game 2 in Cairns. Tied 60-60 at the end of the regulation and 73-73 at the end of overtime, it was Cairns who prevailed 85-81 to send the Grand Final series to a third and deciding game. In front of a sold-out North Shore Events Centre crowd, the Breakers scored a comfortable 71-53 win to claim their maiden championship title.
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