Petteri Koponen Makes Huge Import Signing

Petteri Koponen has made his first import signing with a player who has nearly 100 combined appearances in the NBA and the EuroLeague, joining the BNZ Breakers for NBL25.
 
2.08 metre Centre Freddie Gillespie has made 20 appearances for the Toronto Raptors, nine for the Orlando Magic and 47 appearances for German powerhouse Bayern Munich, the club where the BNZ Breakers recruited Zylan Cheatham last season.
 
Bayern is also the club "Coach Kop" won the Bundesliga title as a player in 2019.
 
"Playing for the Breakers is so attractive and I'm excited to work with him," says Gillespie, from his base in Texas.

"Forget the tactics, from a player's viewpoint, I think he (Koponen) understands my game, and he understands the game of basketball."
 
Koponen says 27-year-old Gillespie will be the BNZ Breakers' defensive cornerstone in NBL25.
 
"Freddie has a great motor and is an excellent rebounder who will have a huge role for us this season," he says.

In two seasons with Bayern, Gillespie played 34 games, averaging 16.1 minutes. His best season was 2023, when he averaged 5.7 points and 6.8 rebounds.
 
His best season in the NBA was 2021, when he averaged 5.6 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Toronto Raptors.
 
"Playing in the NBA taught me confidence; you have to believe in yourself to play at that level," he says.
 
"Every night, you are going up against guys who are some of the best players in history, and you have to find out how to compete.
 
"I know a bit about the NBL because former Breaker RJ Hampton used to be my teammate at the Orlando Magic."
 
Gillespie will arrive at the Breakers fresh off winning the Serbian League and Cup double with Crvena zvezda.
 
He is the third player announced this week after Sean Bairstow and Power Forward Grant Anticevich were revealed two days ago.
 
The roster is spearheaded by All-NBL First Team Parker Jackson-Cartwright, 2023 LA Lakers draft pick and Kiwi-born Mojave King, talented Kiwi Sam Mennenga, 2021 NBL Champion Mitch McCarron, former Philadelphia 76er Jonah Bolden, and returning big man Dane Pineau.
 
Now, just one import spot and one local spot remain to be filled, and the BNZ Breakers are also likely to sign another NBL Next Star.
 
The team assembles on August 12 in Auckland, with the BNZ Breakers' NBL25 season tipping off on September 21 against the Bullets at Hoopsfest in Perth. 
 
The first home game is on September 29 against South East Melbourne Phoenix at Spark Arena.