new zealand breakers get major late-season boost as Mennenga and Lopez cleared to play
The New Zealand Breakers have received a timely injection of playing power ahead of their final two fixtures of the NBL26 regular calendar week, with big man Sam Mennenga and NBL Next Star Karim Lopez formally cleared to return. The pair are set to suit up for Round 22 against Cairns at Spark Arena and will also be available for the club’s Ignite Cup Final meeting with Adelaide on Sunday.
Key returns alter late-season outlook
Mennenga’s comeback is the standout development. The Tall Blacks international, who fractured his wrist on January 21, has been through a full week of training and medical testing and is confirmed to rejoin the roster. His 2025-26 numbers represent a career leap: averages of 17. 2 points, 6. 8 rebounds, 1. 6 assists, 0. 6 blocks and a 51. 7 field-goal percentage underline the impact he has had when available.
Karim Lopez, one of the competition’s Next Star players, has also been cleared after injury layoff. Lopez has posted career-best marks across the board this season — roughly 11. 8 points, 6. 1 rebounds, 1. 9 assists, 1. 2 steals and 1. 1 blocks per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 31. 5 percent from three. Both players’ returns are timed to give the coach maximum options for the run-in.
Breakers leadership praised the medical staff and the players’ rehab efforts. The reinstatement not only restores two productive rotation pieces but also gives the coaching staff greater flexibility on matchups and minutes management ahead of knockout-style intensity later in the week.
Injury list, roster moves and what to expect Thursday
There are still question marks. Import guard Izaiah Brockington has been ruled out of the Round 22 meeting with a hip flexor injury, prompting the club to activate development player Tukaha Cooper to the game-day roster. Veterans and role players will likely need to pick up extra minutes if Brockington’s timetable stretches beyond this week.
Fellow guard Tai Webster suffered a calf strain late in training and will be a game-time decision; the club will monitor his status closely in pre-game warm-ups. With Mennenga and Lopez back available, the team should be able to maintain interior strength and rebounding presence even if Webster’s match fitness is in doubt.
The Round 22 fixture against Cairns tips off at 5: 30pm AEDT, which converts to 1: 30 AM ET on Thursday. The Breakers then face Adelaide in the Ignite Cup Final on Sunday, a marquee domestic meeting that now carries added intrigue with the returning pair in the mix.
Roster implications and postseason positioning
Adding Mennenga and Lopez back into rotations ahead of a short, decisive stretch offers more than simple numerical depth. Mennenga’s scoring efficiency and interior rim presence change defensive priorities for opponents, while Lopez’s versatile slashing and defensive activity give the backcourt a different look when he shares the floor with the team’s primary guards.
Both players have also been recognised for individual improvement: Mennenga sits among nominees for Most Improved and the Next Generation Award, while Lopez is shortlisted for the Next Generation Award. Their availability will be a factor for match-ups and could influence late-season seeding and momentum heading into post-season contests.
Even with fresh bodies back, the Breakers will need to manage minutes and monitor niggles across the squad. The coaching staff will balance the desire to build rhythm with the need to protect players from a late-season spike in workload.
For now, the return of two impact players has shifted the narrative: the club heads into a crucial two-game window with deeper options, while bench promotions and injury management will be watched closely as the week unfolds.
