Paul Henare on the NZ Breakers’ Early Years, the Tall Blacks’ 2002 World Champs Run, and Japan’s Basketball Boom
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Release Date: 12/13/2024
Jermaine Beal on Wildcats Championships (2014 & 2016), Life Lessons, and Becoming an Author
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Former Perth Wildcats star and 2014 NBL Grand Final MVP, , joins the podcast to reflect on his basketball journey—from his standout college days at Vanderbilt, to his championship-winning years in the NBL, and beyond. We dive into his time playing alongside future NBA and NBL talent like Festus Ezeli and AJ Ogilvy, his experiences in the NBA Summer League, and his journey through professional leagues in Europe and South America before landing in Australia. Beal shares his insights on playing for the Wildcats under Trevor Gleeson, winning two NBL championships, and setting...
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Paul Henare on the NZ Breakers’ Early Years, the Tall Blacks’ 2002 World Champs Run, and Japan’s Basketball Boom
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Former Tall Blacks head coach and New Zealand Breakers legend joins the podcast to reflect on his illustrious basketball journey. From being a cornerstone of the New Zealand Breakers’ early days to coaching in Japan’s rapidly growing B.League, Henare shares his unique insights into the game across multiple continents. We dive into the 2002 Tall Blacks squad that stunned the basketball world with a fourth-place finish at the FIBA World Championships, the evolution of the New Zealand Breakers from their beginnings to championship glory, and Henare's transition into coaching. Now leading the...
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Jamie O'Loughlin on NBL25 Coaching Trends and building the Wildcats’ 2016-17 Back-to-Back championship teams
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Former Perth Wildcats and Cairns Taipans assistant Jamie O'Loughlin joins the podcast to share his insights into the NBL's elite coaching landscape. With a career spanning back-to-back NBL championships with the Wildcats and navigating the unique challenges of coaching less-resourced teams like the Taipans, O'Loughlin provides a deep dive into what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of Australian basketball. Jamie reflects on the Wildcats’ championship runs, the arrival of Bryce Cotton, and how Gregg Popovich’s “pounding the rock” philosophy influenced their success. He also...
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Shawn Dennis on Whether Too Many Foreign Coaches Are Hurting the NBL, Plus Japanese Stars Who Belong in the NBL and Aussies Who Should Be Playing in Japan
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Head coach of Japan's Nagoya Dolphins, joins the podcast to discuss the evolution of Japanese basketball and its strong connection with Australian players and coaches. Since its launch in 2016, the B.League has become one of the highest-paying leagues worldwide, attracting both seasoned Australian coaches and NBL talent. Dennis, going into his sixth season in Japan, joins host Dan Boyce to shed some light on how the NBL and B.League could benefit from closer collaboration, Japanese players who should be playing in the NBL and vice versa, and the rapid growth of basketball in Japan....
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New Wildcats Owner Mark Arena on the NBL Team Sale Process, Financial Upsides of Sports Ownership, and Expanding Basketball’s Reach in Asia
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
New Perth Wildcats owner Mark Arena joins the podcast to break down the intricate details behind purchasing an NBL team and his vision for the club's future. As a lifelong Wildcats fan and successful tech entrepreneur, Arena shares insights into the business side of sports ownership and how he plans to elevate the Wildcats' brand, both locally and internationally. In this episode, Mark discusses: What makes owning a sports team financially advantageous (2:30) The complex process of buying the Wildcats and how NBL approvals work (12:00) Why his focus is on winning championships rather than...
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Mark Dalton on what the ceiling is for each NBL team and what's stopping them from achieving it
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
NBL legend Mark Dalton, who played 17 seasons across five NBL teams, joins host Dan Boyce on the podcast to review the early performances of all ten NBL teams. Together, they explore each team's potential ceiling for the season and discuss the key challenges that could prevent them from reaching their full potential. With a career that included stints with the Canberra Cannons, Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets, and Wollongong Hawks, Dalton brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. His unique perspective highlights the adjustments teams need to make and the issues they face...
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Brian Goorjian on the Boomers’ Olympic Run, the Brutal Realities of Player Selection and why he's proud of their result
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian returns to the podcast to provide an inside look at how he prepared the Australian Boomers for the Paris Olympics. Despite being in a tough group with Spain, Greece, and Canada, the Boomers managed to reach the quarter-finals. However, they were knocked out after a hard-fought crossover game against Serbia, a team widely regarded as one of the top contenders in the tournament. Goorjian reflects on re-tooling the roster after the FIBA World Cup, the brutal decisions involved in player selection, and how the team is focused on building toward future Olympic success....
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Jeremy Loeliger on Bringing Japanese Teams into the NBL, the Future of the Next Stars Program, and the Biggest Hurdles the League Has Faced This Decade
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Jeremy Loeliger served as the NBL’s CEO from 2015 to 2019 before transitioning to Commissioner from 2019 to 2024. Loeliger was instrumental in launching the NBL Next Stars program, driving the NBLxNBA preseason games, expanding the league’s reach with international tours, and building strong global partnerships. His leadership also led to groundbreaking CBA agreements with the Players’ Association and introduced new audiences to the game through NBL Oz Gaming. In this episode, Dan Boyce sits down with Jeremy to explore a decade of shaping the NBL. Visit for your next...
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Keli Leaupepe on signing with Sydney, rookie goals and going from unknown junior to wanted by multiple NBL teams
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Keli Leaupepe carved his own path to the NBL after being unable to earn a scholarship to Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence. The versatile forward spent four years at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), delivering a solid performance in his junior season, where he averaged 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. As he prepares to take the court for the Sydney Kings this season, Dan Boyce caught up with him to find out what he's working on, why he chose to play for the Kings and what motivates him. Visit for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... How...
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Flynn Cameron on the Tall Blacks falling short of the Olympics, what his dad means to NZ hoops and improving his game for NBL year two
Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast
Growing up the son of Kiwi basketball legend Pero Cameron, Flynn Cameron followed in his father's footsteps, making his mark in the NBL as a rookie last season. Currently on a three-year deal with Melbourne, the talented young guard spent five years in college, playing two seasons at DePaul University and then moving to the University of California, Riverside. Coming off a strong showing at the FIBA Olympic Qualifing tournament where New Zealand fell short against Luka Doncic and Slovenia, he joins Dan on the podcast to update us on how he's preparing for his second NBL season. Visit for...
info_outlineFormer Tall Blacks head coach and New Zealand Breakers legend Paul Henare joins the podcast to reflect on his illustrious basketball journey. From being a cornerstone of the New Zealand Breakers’ early days to coaching in Japan’s rapidly growing B.League, Henare shares his unique insights into the game across multiple continents.
We dive into the 2002 Tall Blacks squad that stunned the basketball world with a fourth-place finish at the FIBA World Championships, the evolution of the New Zealand Breakers from their beginnings to championship glory, and Henare's transition into coaching.
Now leading the Shimane Susanoo Magic, Henare discusses the explosive growth of Japanese basketball, the challenges of coaching in a foreign league, and the exciting prospects of the upcoming Premier League competition in Japan.
Topics Include:
- The NBL coaching contingent in Japan: Henare, Trevor Gleeson, Aaron Fearne, Shawn Dennis, Kevin Braswell, and Mody Maor (2:00)
- The explosive growth of Japan’s basketball scene and the upcoming Premier League (11:00)
- The early days of Paul Henare’s basketball career (15:00)
- The 2002 Tall Blacks squad and its impact on New Zealand basketball (18:00)
- Toughest opponents faced in NBL and FIBA competition (30:00)
- The New Zealand Breakers’ early struggles and rise to prominence (34:00)
- Reflecting on the Breakers’ 2011 championship triumph (44:00)
- Transitioning into coaching and overcoming challenges (55:00)
- Recruiting NBL talent to Japan, including Nick Kay and Perrin Buford (1:01:00)
- Bryce Cotton’s potential move to play in Asia next season (1:03:00)
- Lessons from Henare’s basketball journey and what’s next (1:05:00)