The New Zealand Breakers, coached by Petteri Koponen, have started basketball with two wins in the Australian NBL league.
Finnish basketball legend Petteri Koponen36, has gotten his protégé off to a good start in basketball’s Australian NBL league, where the New Zealand Breakers play as the only New Zealand team in the series.
The Brisbane Bullets fell in the opening round a week ago 91-87 and now on Sunday South East Melbourne 81-79. The Breakers Parker Jackson-Cartwright was the power man of the second winning game with 19 points and 7 assists leading to baskets.
Koponen, who spent two years as head coach in the summer, will next lead the Breakers to the United States, where they will play two games with the Utah Jazz and the Philadelphia 76ers, who are preparing for the NBA season.
The Breakers have sent a 229-centimeter giant center to the US game trip Tacko Fallinwho has represented the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics in the NBA.
Breakers meet Lauri Markkanen represented by Jazz on October 5 as well as Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George star-studded Sixers on Oct. 8.
The Australian basket series continues for the New Zealand Breakers on October 17.
In the summer, Koponen was a member of the NBA club San Antonio Spurs’ summer league coaching team.