Breakers secure final import

Saturday, August 10, 2024

"Matt is mentally tough, and he brings that competitiveness playing hard defence."

New Zealand Breakers coach Petteri Koponen has signed former Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks' shooting guard Matt Mooney to a one-year deal for NBL25.

The 29-year-old has just finished a season with Aquila Basket Trento, where he played 16 regular season games and averaged 11.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists over 26.5 minutes of court time in Italy's Serie A.

Koponen says Mooney fits the profile of the type of player he wants at the Breakers.

"Matt is mentally tough, and he brings that competitiveness playing hard defence," Koponen said.

"He can play pick-and-roll, he shoots outside, and those were things that we were looking for in this position.”

However, Koponen is particularly excited to see the combination Mooney creates with returning All-NBL First Team Star Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

"We were looking for someone to play next to Parker; we have to build the right chemistry and identity in the team," he said.

“Matt had a great season last year in Terento, and I think he will fit well on the team.”

The 6'3" Chicago native signed his first NBA contract with the Cavaliers in 2020 and made four appearances. He also made an appearance for the Knicks in 2021.

In recent times, Mooney has played across Europe, with stints for Niners Chemnitz in the German Bundesliga and Besiktas, Darussafaka and Samsunspor in Turkey.

Before becoming professional, Mooney played 135 NCAA Division One games for Air Force, South Dakota, and Texas Tech over four seasons.

Mooney joins Jackson-Cartwright, Mojave King, Sam Mennenga, Max Darling, Mitch McCarron, Jonah Bolden, Dane Pineau, Sean Bairstow, Grant Anticevich, Freddie Gillespie, and DP’s Alex McNaught, Carlin Davison and Kaia Isaac.

The team assembles on August 12 in Auckland, with the Breakers' NBL25 season tipping off on September 21 against the Bullets at HoopsFest in Perth.