Basketball: Lemanis chasing more success

New Zealand Breakers head coach Andrej Lemanis. Photo / Sarah Ivey

For New Zealand Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis, the bottom line is not always about winning.

The former accountant hasn't lost sight of the importance of success. But one of the great joys of his job is helping promising players reach their potential.

By that tally, Lemanis is a rich man.

"There is no greater satisfaction than seeing an Alex Pledger or a Tom Abercrombie come through and grow into very good basketball players and play very significant roles in the team," Lemanis said.

Of course, the 42-year-old also has an ANBL title in the bank after guiding his side to victory last season. It is a great achievement but none of that would have been possible without the Breakers' superb development programme.

The likes of Pledger and Abercrombie are already making an impact and came through the programme. And the next wave of players like Dion Prewster and Josh Bloxham are pushing hard for playing opportunities.

It is dynasty building and is something the club has done extremely well. Lemanis has played a key role and will continue to do so, having signed a contract which will take him through to the end of the 2014/15 season.

"It is a fantastic club and I think we have built something pretty special and have put a lot of effort in. To get the opportunity to stay with the club and continue building is exciting."

Success brings expectation and with it a new type of pressure - everyone wants to beat the champions. Defending a title can be harder than winning it in that respect.

"Last year was great. We won it, it was fantastic but we're not defending anything. It is in the record books and no one can take that away from us.

"This year is a new challenge, it is a new group and has to form is own identity. It has something to win not defend."

The question everyone asks is, how will the Breakers manage without Kirk Penney? His ability to hit the outside shot is uncanny and his decision to pursue an opportunity in Spain is a big loss for the club. So, too, is the retirement of experienced point guard Paul Henare.

"Paul is a big one just from what he brought to the club in terms of unity," Lemanis said. "He is going to be quite a big hole to fill but I think we have some good experience behind him. Obviously CJ [Bruton] and Dillon Boucher can help fill the void. But I'm also looking forward to seeing how some of the young guys grab their opportunities.

"It is evolution. People move on, others come in and have to take the reins. I think it is a really exciting time for the club. We will look different from last year but this group will have to find its own identity."

As for Penney's departure, it is huge. But Lemanis points out the Breakers won their first five games last year when Penney was unavailable.

"You have to find a way to get the most out of your available talent and be the best you can be. One of the things we've done as a club is tried to empower everybody and give them the opportunity to influence results and accept their piece in the puzzle. It is a team game and, if everyone plays their part, then we all win together or we all lose together."