Basketball: Paul Henare breaks silence over exit from Breakers

Paul Henare parted ways with the Breakers at the end of the 2017-18 ANBL season. Photo / Photosport

Former Breakers head coach Paul Henare has lifted the lid on his sudden exit from the club.

After leading the side for two seasons in the ANBL, Henare chose to leave the club at the end of the 2018 campaign.

Speaking to Trackside Radio, Henare indicated he wasn't on board with the direction the new ownership group wanted to take the team in.

"Through discussions, going through a process of where the club was going, I just decided it wasn't for me," Henare said.

"Since they've come in they've made a few changes as well in the playing roster. They've got their ideas and direction about which way they want to do, as they have that right to do.

"It's all good. I'm happy with where I'm at and everything that's going on, so all the best to them."

The new ownership group, fronted by former NBA player Matt Walsh, had wasted no time in changing things up at the club since taking the reins.

Since the end of the most recent campaign, veteran Breakers forwards Rob Loe and Mika Vukona have signed with Australian teams, while centre Alex Pledger has reportedly been told he's free to chase other opportunities despite being contracted with the Auckland-based club for another year.

The new-look Breakers will be shaped around a young Kiwi core of Finn Delany, Jordan Ngatai, Shea Ili and Thomas Abercrombie, while Australian sharpshooter Jarrad Weeks has been signed.

Melbourne's Tai Wesley has been long linked with a return to the Breakers, and the signing of the dominant Guam international is expected to be announced by the club shortly.

Additionally, the Breakers are understood to be targeting Australian forward Majok Majok, who is currently playing under new Breakers coach Kevin Braswell with the Wellington Saints in the New Zealand NBL.

Henare remains at the helm of the Tall Blacks, which would be his key focus as the side head into two Fiba World Cup qualifying games at the end of June and further windows in September, November, and next February.

"I thought that was best for me, for the Tall Blacks and probably for any club team I ended up at as I'd be doing a disservice going into a new role, then buggering off three times at important stages of the season."