KEY POINTS:
It's not yet a fully-fledged invasion but the growing Kiwi presence in the Australian NBL is certainly a significant advance party.
This season, 14 New Zealanders scattered among six different clubs are turning out in one of the world's most competitive basketball leagues.
It might not be the NBA or the Euroleague, but the ANBL is a significant step up on the New Zealand league in terms of the standard of play and the money on offer.
Prior to the inception of the Breakers, New Zealanders had to earn an imports spot to make an Australian team's roster. With the plethora of American and European talent on the global marketplace, such an occurrence was rare.
But now they are considered domestic players, Kiwi ball players are increasingly in demand.
Dillon Boucher, who last year became the first New Zealander to win an ANBL title - with Brisbane Bullets - says the long-term benefit to this country's game will be huge.
"It is turning more like the NRL where Kiwis are getting on other teams and then getting recognised by the New Zealand public," said Boucher, whose Bullets began their title defence on Wednesday night with a 115-105 victory over expansion side Gold Coast Blaze. In that match Boucher lined up alongside young Tall Blacks prodigy Craig Bradshaw, while Gold Coast boasted Tall Blacks captain Pero Cameron and naturalised Kiwi Canadian Casey Frank.
"More of us playing in this league can only be a good thing for New Zealand basketball," Boucher said. "The more we get playing here the stronger the Tall Blacks are going to be in the future."
The Breakers might not have yet succeeded on the court but their impact has already been significant.
While Boucher rated this year's title winner as likely to come from a quartet including his Bullets side, Cairns Taipans, Sydney Kings and Melbourne Tigers, he believed the Breakers had the potential to make the playoffs for the first time.
The recruitment of Kiwis such as Kirk Penney and Phill Jones was also a positive step.
"It is tough but they have obviously recruited some good players and it is good to see a few Kiwis back in the team. They have definitely got a team that can do it.
"They have had good teams the last couple of years but have missed out. This team is one of the better ones that's been around and if they play to their potential I expect they'll be in the top eight."
Of the Kiwis plying their trade across the Tasman, Boucher expects his Bullets teammate Bradshaw to make one of the biggest impacts.
"I think he'll surprise a few people over here. They have seen him play for the Tall Blacks and the coaches know what he can do but I think he'll surprise a few fans and players with what he can do."
