Tom Vodanovich Granted a Release from Breakers’ Contract

The New Zealand Breakers have agreed to release Power Forward Tom Vodanovich from the remaining year of his contract.
 
It allows the 28-year-old to accept a lucrative opportunity from the Philippines that presented itself to him after his one-and-done game for FiberXers in March, where he put up 39 points, ten rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
 
As a result of that performance, Vodanovich, who has a young family, was offered a contract too good to pass up.
 
“I am grateful to Mody that the door remains open for me to return,” says Vodanovich.
 
“The experience of playing for the Breakers in the Championship Series last season, against the team I won a championship with the year before, will stay with me forever.”
 
Head Coach Mody Maor is disappointed to lose the Tall Black but is philosophical.
 
“Tom has been a valued member of the Breakers since returning last season, but we understand this is an opportunity too good for him to ignore,” he says.
 
“Everyone at the club wishes him the best, and we hope to bring him back here in the future.”
 
Vodanovich has played 124 NBL games, including 33 for the Breakers last season, where he came off the bench averaging 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds.
 
His best performance was against the Brisbane Bullets in February, where he scored 10 points and three rebounds in the game that clinched the Breakers’ playoff spot.
 
In total, he has had two stints at the club, playing a total of 57 games, with the remaining 67 NBL appearances coming from two seasons at the Sydney Kings, with whom he won a championship ring in 2022.
 
He originally signed with the Kings as an injury replacement player for Xavier Cooks, who is now in the NBA.
 
Despite leaving the Breakers for a second time, Vodanovich says he will be watching from afar.
 
“I will always be a Breakers fan, and I look forward to following the team’s progress in the upcoming season,” he says.
 
Vodanovich’s departure means the Breakers have eight players confirmed for NBL24.
 
They are Tom Abercrombie, Will McDowell-White, Izayah Le’afa, Dan Fotu, Cam Gliddon, Mangok Mathiang, Dane Pineau and NBL Next Star Mantas Rubštavi?ius.
 
There are 11 players in an NBL roster, with each team allowed a maximum of three imports.
 
An NBL Next Star has a special exemption to play alongside the 11 senior professionals.