Vukona Looks Elsewhere
Tagged in: NZ Breakers
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Power forward Mika Vukona, on the final list of free agents released by the Australian National Basketball League today, won’t be with the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers next season.
Breakers general manager Richard Clarke said the club was proud to have helped Vukona progress from a first-season development rookie to an exciting NBL player, voted the third most improved in the recently completed Hummer Championship.
“We’re sad to see him go after five years of development,” Clarke said.
“He has been with us since the club’s inception and is one of only three players to have clocked up 100 NBL games in a Breakers singlet.
“The disappointment is more acute given the progress the team made last season in reaching the play-offs for the first time. Mika made a telling contribution to our success and was an integral part of the coaching staff’s plans for the team going forward.”
Clarke said the club wished Vukona well in achieving his new goals.
“Mika assures us the decision isn’t about money, it’s a basketball decision,” he said.
“He wants to take his game in a different direction and feels he needs to look around at other opportunities.
“We believe he’s been very effective in the role he’s played for us and while we’d prefer he stayed, we understand he has to do what he thinks is best for his career.”
Vukona’s departure means the club will tweak the final stages of its recruitment plans. With the six players already signed for next season to be complemented by two imports, two spots remain in the 10-strong roster.
“We are looking at how we best utilise Ryan Kersten, whether he continues in a development role or becomes part of the full roster, and we’re also looking at our options for a local big man.”
Already committed to the 2008-09 season are Paul Henare, Kirk Penney, Phill Jones, Oscar Forman, Tony Ronaldson and Tim Behrendorff.
Meanwhile, Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis has left for an off-season expedition to the United States where he is spending four days with the San Antonio Spurs, before attending the Final Four and a coaches’ symposium at the Portsmouth Invitational.
He will also be catching up with the Breakers’ USA-based scouts and some Kiwi and Aussie players in American colleges.
