Finn Delany returns to a different Breakers team

Finn Delany is back with the New Zealand Breakers and says he is "the same me" but acknowledges the basketball club he is returning to has moved on from when he left in the middle of last year.

While he was gone the Breakers changed coaches, switched up the playing roster and came close to securing the Auckland-based club's first trophy in eight years.

"It's a much different place to when I left, it feels like a completely new club to be honest with you, which is just great," the 28-year-old forward says.

Delany first joined the Breakers in 2015 going on to play more than 160 games - including all played in Australia during the 2021 Covid-19 exile - before he sought a change of scene in Europe with a season playing for the Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany where he won the Basketball Champions League earlier this year.

The decision to return home is about winning too.

The Breakers won the last of their four Australian NBL Championship titles the season before Delany arrived at the club so he hasn't tasted success but has been there for the struggle.

Delany didn't watch much of the Breakers' successful last regular season but he started to pay more attention when the trophy was on the line against the Sydney Kings.

The Breakers fell short in the best-of-five finals series giving the Kings a second consecutive title.

What Delany missed he says isn't talked about much as the Breakers look ahead to this season which tips off on Saturday against the Cairns Taipans in Auckland.

"We have a different team and every year is a different journey so not so much talk [about being runners-up] it's a much different roster and it's a different kind of challenge."

Delany will slot back into a roster that has three new imports in Americans Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Justinian Jessup and Zylan Cheatham and a new Next Star in Lithuanian NBA prospect Mantas Rubštavičius.

The stint overseas hasn't changed him Delany says.

"As you mature you pick up things and refine things in your game but it's the same me".

Joining the Breakers pre-season late after playing for the Tall Blacks at the Basketball World Cup in the Philippines last month Delany is impressed with the potential he has seen from the team so far.

"Very athletic, extreme intensity, extreme competitiveness, some creative ball handlers and guys that can really run a team and get guys involved so an extremely exciting group one that the Breakers fan base should be very excited about coming out and supporting."

One player who has been around for the Breakers' good times and bad is captain Tom Abercrombie who will bring up game 400 for the club on Saturday.

Abercrombie started with the Breakers as a development player in 2008 and when he ends his career will be considered one of the best players the club has had.

He leads the Breakers in all-time games played and points scored and has featured in all four club championships including Grand Final MVP in the first ever championship win in 2011.

Coach Mody Maor, who is in his second season in charge, is well aware of what Abercrombie brings to his hometown club.

"I will keep signing Tom Abercrombie until he can't walk any more.

"The things that Tom brings to a team, to a club, to a locker room and to the floor are exceptional."

For his part Abercrombie doesn't know if he would have retired after 14 seasons in the league if the Breakers had won the title last season but the 36-year-old is back and says he has unfinished business he wants to attend to.

The Breakers won one of three pre-season games at the NBL Blitz against other NBL sides this month but Delany isn't worried.

"It's just about refining and learning what we need to get better at in those kinds of pre-season games. So lots to work on as always to improve on but I think we're in a great position."

Delany will be back at Spark Arena for the first time in three years on Saturday hoping to make his mark on his return to the NBL.