Gordon Herbert: New Breakers Coach on signing on with the team for the next two years
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Who is Gordon Herbert and what are his biggest coaching achievements?
New Zealand or the new New Zealand Breakers coaches uh made some headlines many suggesting this could well be the best signing the league has ever seen. So that's quite something. Gordon Herbert's his name. He's done a lot of winning over the years, Bundesliga. Uh French Cup, Finnish Cup, one in Austria. He also coaches currently these days the Canadian national side. So so let's meet and welcome Gordon Herbert. Morning to you. Good morning. And what do I say? Do I say welcome to New Zealand? Welcome to the Breakers. Welcome to the NBL. Um, all three works. How what's your contact so far, given you've been off with Canada of late? What what what do you know and what are you thinking?
Yeah, it's b it you know, it's been somewhat of a difficult pre season. Um I I was here for a short time, then I was off with Canada for almost two weeks and then We were in Australia, just got back to New Zealand last on last last week Friday. So, you know, it's been somewhat of a short pre season with our team, but It is what it
is. We gotta move forward. What have you told the players? How have you introduced yourself and what have you said?
No, we've just um I thought S Sebastian Glem, the lead assistant, did an outstanding job when I was gone. And But also our tall black players were gone too, not only myself. So But you know, a lot of teams are are dealing with that same situation with the FIBA window. So this is um something we have to deal with in today's world. And We just gotta move forward. Uh I thought the players are being very professional. They're they're um
How did a hectic pre‑season and international travel affect the Breakers' preparation?
Their work ethic has been outstanding. Um, you know, we just have not spent a
lot of time together. What are you looking to do with the side in terms of an imprint that tell the world that Gordon Herbert's been here?
You know, basically I you know, I believe in one of the biggest things n for a coach nowadays is You know, sure I have my philosophy, but before that it's creating a team mentality. I do believe there's I and when we need the individuals. But we need to create the team mentality first. And for me, that's one of the biggest things with coaching nowadays. As as you as you know, we live in a very individualized world and we we need to create a team out of these individuals.
What do you have an expectation as specific of a place at the end of the season, playoffs winning, et cetera, or too early?
You know, we we set our goal yesterday to be a top four team in the league and um You know, that's that's in front of us. Um You know, we've had some injury problems in the pre season. But to a certain extent, you know, we can control our own destiny, the way we practice, the way w the way we prepare. Obviously we got probably the toughest travel in the league, but uh that's what we
have to deal with. Exactly. What was your knowledge coming into this of the NBL in general and its quality as a competition?
Um, a year ago not very much. Um you know, I had planned to stay in Europe, but um This this job really aligned with basketball Canada. And um And the breakers aligned with basketball canada. That's kinda how it works. There were certain situations in Europe that did not align. Um, you know, last year I watched the finals. Um, I was very impressed with the level of basketball. The infrastructure in the league is outstanding. And I think you see by what the breakers have done. Is you know they they've got new management, new infrastructure. going forward and you know it's not only talk it's The offices are new, a new weight room. They're showing They're not only talking about what they want to do, they're showing about what they want to do.
So from your point of view outside looking in, they are a good organization within a good competition.
Yes, um very good organization is and it's only gonna get better. You know, they're building В'яна процес о будівні championship culture. And for me it's very it's very kind of N need to need to be a a part of that to begin with to help this go forward.
Fantastic. Now listen, do you see, Gordon, do you see this as a long term gig?
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
Who is Gordon Herbert and what are his biggest coaching achievements?
0:00–1:33
2
How did a hectic pre‑season and international travel affect the Breakers' preparation?
1:33–5:55
3
What team‑first philosophy is Herbert bringing to the Breakers?
5:55–7:32
4
What are the Breakers’ specific goals for the upcoming NBL season?
7:32–8:32
Speakers
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