New Zealand Breakers sign Kouat Noi on two-year deal
kouat noi has joined the New Zealand Breakers on a two-year deal, with the second year a mutual option and the move still pending NBL approval. The signing gives the Breakers a reigning NBL champion and a sharpshooter as they build toward a roster they believe can contend in the 2026-27 season.
Breakers add a championship scorer
Noi arrives with two NBL championships, one Sixth Man of the Year award and 127 games across four seasons for the Sydney Kings in regular season and playoff basketball. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 14.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 38.4% from three-point range.
Dillon Boucher said, “Kouat is a proven winner who brings an incredible level of intensity and flair to the court. He has the ability to score the ball in multiple ways and is an elite offensive spark.” Marc Mitchell added, “Kouat’s championship mindset and team-first approach make him exactly the type of player we want. He is an athlete who leaves everything on the floor, and we know our fans are going to make him feel at home in New Zealand.”
New Zealand’s perimeter problem
The timing points to a specific roster need. New Zealand finished sixth in offensive rating at 113.4 last season, attempted the fifth-most three-pointers per game at 27.6, and ranked second-last in three-point percentage at 30.8%. Noi’s 38.4% clip from beyond the arc gives the Breakers a more efficient perimeter option than they had on hand last season.
That need has grown sharper after the arrival of Dejan Vasiljevic, who previously played with Noi during Sydney’s 2022-23 championship-winning campaign. Noi and Vasiljevic combined to shoot 37.3% from deep that season, a pairing the Breakers can now try to recreate in Auckland rather than Sydney.
Auckland, Lebanon and the roster build
Noi, 28, started his professional career with the Cairns Taipans in 2019 before joining the Sydney Kings in 2022. He is spending his off-season in Lebanon after recently signing with Riyadhi Beirut Club, which sits atop the standings heading into the playoffs.
Noi said, “I’m coming to Auckland to win. Look at the roster we’re building, we’re going to be one of the most entertaining teams to watch. Personally, my mindset is locked in on an MVP-calibre season.” He also said, “I’m ready to fully embrace Aotearoa, the culture, the fans, and the whānau. Strap yourselves in, Breakers fans.”
The Breakers still have not appointed a head coach, so this signing arrives before the club has completed the rest of its basketball leadership structure. If the NBL approves the deal, Noi becomes one of the clearest signals yet that New Zealand is betting on shooting and proven playoff experience rather than a full reset.
