Breakers 'Back in Black' as new era begins

As the Breakers embark on a new era under the guidance of new owner, Marc Mitchell, their next focus is bringing back the local flavour so prevalent in their championship years.

"There's a superpower, the amount of talent that's here and the people who want to come back to New Zealand to represent their country,” Mitchell told RNZ.

"You want players who understand about winning and winning culture, but also understand that there is work to be done outside of practice and outside of games, really connecting with our youth and with our community."

The Breakers launched their new vision on Wednesday, with a strong message and identity that is epitomised the new catch cry, 'Back in Black'.

Mitchell’s goal is to bring basketball back to where it belongs in New Zealand and where the club had so much success throughout their rich history. That success is so much more than just winning on a basketball court, he says.

"The sport of basketball in New Zealand, we all need to work together. We need to work together to make sure that we're presenting the best opportunities for our youth," Mitchell added.

"There's an opportunity to really grow our efforts around grassroots, around academy, around junior Breakers to get kids into the game so they can really understand the power of this sport and all the doors that they can open."

In more news that has excited not just the fans, but local players, the Blackwell family returns to help fulfil Mitchell’s goals.

"We loved [Mitchell's] vision and what he wanted to bring back to the club ... also that he wanted to bring back the Kiwi players, which meant a lot to us. We couldn't say no," Liz Blackwell said.

The Blackwells played a key role in building what quickly became a powerhouse in the NBL over a decade ago, and a club that so many wanted to be part of.

"I'm stepping in as a director of the Breakers, but we are there to help them re-establish," Paul Blackwell said.

"They see that the success of four championships came from a period of building the base, growing the people, and bedding down the culture and we are here to help them restart to get that."