Basketball: Breakers turn to Frank

Casey Frank, who played for the Tall Blacks against Australia last year, has signed a short-term deal with the Breakers. Photo / Getty

A flabbergasted Casey Frank could only turn to film's greatest franchise to explain his own personal trilogy.

"It's along the lines of the Godfather clause,'' he said of his short-term return to the Breakers. "Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in.''

The defending champions, in dire straits and in desperate need of reinforcements, this week made Frank an offer he couldn't refuse, luring him from the commentary booth to the playing court for Friday night's game against Melbourne.

The naturalised New Zealander was a foundation member of the club 10 years ago but, after a second stint in 2005, could usually be heard calling home games alongside Andrew Mulligan.

Now, instead of critiquing players, he has been tasked with helping them improve, a leap that speaks volumes about the position in which the Breakers currently find themselves.

With Alex Pledger on the sidelines through injury for a month, the Breakers are undersized and have been overpowered on the boards in the absence of their big man.

The 2.03m Frank will do his best to aid in those areas and, having remained a regular with the Tall Blacks while playing for Wellington in the NBL, his signing is not from as far from leftfield as first appears.

That doesn't mean the player saw it coming, though, ignoring Dean Vickerman's first SOS calls while away on holiday.

"Dean's number wasn't in my phone and I normally don't answer that many calls that I don't know, so it went to voicemail a couple of times,'' Frank said.

"I had no inkling whatsoever. I've just been doing what I normally do and I was about to start getting ready for the New Zealand season ... it certainly changed my holiday plans.''

The Breakers (5-10) will hope Frank can change the fortunes of their own holiday period, with last weekend's heavy loss against Adelaide followed by tough trips to Melbourne (10-6) and Perth (12-3).

The 36-year-old was confident he could slot straight into his old club's rotation, revealing he had rejected approaches from other Australian NBL clubs in recent seasons.

"I've always thought I could play.'' he said. "I've turned back offers from teams in Australia from the last few years, because this is my home and I didn't want to relocate.

"When I play with the Tall Blacks on the world stage at a very high level of competition, I think I've proven that I have the ability to be on the court to be a contributing factor.''

Frank thought his contribution across a minimum of two games could only be aided by the hours spent watching the team for his commentary duties, a feeling shared by his new coach.

"It helps, because he's at least seen us play all year and understands what we do,'' Vickerman said. "It will be good to get his feedback on some of the things that he feels in the two games and some of the things we might be able to improve on.''

Frank's feedback in the commentary box will also be fascinating if Pledger returns, as expected, against Wollongong later in the month.

Or perhaps, having been welcomed back into the Breakers' close-knit environment, he will recall the advice of Michael Corleone - don't ever take sides with anyone against the family.