Breakers finalise roster signing Dane
The Breakers have confirmed 25-yearold Danish international Rasmus Bach as their 10th and final full roster player for the upcoming 2021 Australian NBL season.
Coach Dan Shamir could not be more delighted.
‘‘He’s got the body, he’s got the potential, he’s got the drive, and he’s very hungry to play in the NBL, and that’s why we’ve signed him,’’ he said.
After holding out as long as they dared to keep their options open for their final spot, the Breakers felt compelled to pull the trigger on their final addition. The 1.93m shooting guard will essentially cover the two and three spots for the Breakers, backing up the likes of import Lamar Patterson, swingman
Tom Abercrombie and experienced sharpshooter Corey Webster.
Bach played most recently for
Randers Cimbria in the Danish national league where he averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists a game before the competition was shut down because of the pandemic. He has also been part of Denmark’s national squad setup, though has yet to play an international game for his country.
The Dane, currently on day 12 of Melbourne border isolation, qualifies to play as a local in the NBL courtesy of the Australian passport he holds. He moved to Australia with his parents when he was two and lived there for over a decade.
‘‘Growing up in Australia, the NBL was the league I watched, and the first NBL games I ever went to was the Brisbane Bullets against the Breakers in 2008,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m all about winning. Whatever the coach and team want me to do, I’m willing to do.’’
Bach attended high school in Texas and played his NCAA basketball for Fort Lewis College in Colorado where he averaged 14.5ppg over his career before graduating in 2018.
He will join his new Breakers teammates tomorrow in Melbourne where they have started pre-season preparations.
Shamir also confirmed that Patterson would not join the team until the new year due to a prolonged playoff display on assignment in Puerto Rico.
The Breakers will meet Melbourne United next Friday to tip off pre-season preparations, closely followed by a clash against crosstown rivals South East Melbourne Phoenix to start a run of five buildup fixtures.
The Kiwi club is basing itself in Melbourne for the first part of the NBL season (tipping off January 15 at Melbourne United).