Basketball

Izayah Le’afa knows exactly what he’s having to eat ahead of tonight’s Australian NBL clash against his old South East Melbourne Phoenix club in Christchurch.

One of the key off-season additions who have helped catapult the Breakers from serial pretenders to genuine contenders in this league, the in-form Kiwi combo guard is also not one to mess with the basketball fates.

Before last Sunday’s clash against the Brisbane Bullets in Auckland Le’afa changed up his pre-game sustenance routine, and came out on fire, netting 21 firsthalf points. He knocked down 7 of 9 field-goal attempts, 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, and had 3 boards, 3 assists and a trio of steals in 16:58 that set the table for the most lopsided contest of the ANBL season.

That he didn’t add to his points haul over the run home (he took just one more shot in a runaway 116-79 victory), and have a crack at his career high of 29 (set his rookie season), is neither here nor there. Le’afa knew it was others’ time to get theirs up.

Selflessness is just one of the qualities of this special group coach Mody Maor has assembled.

Le’afa has a theory on what fed the most complete half of basketball of his short professional career as the sizzling 10-3 Breakers went top of the ANBL with a fourth straight victory, and seventh in their last eight.

‘‘I changed my pre-game meal,’’ Le’afa trellis Stuff before heading to Christchurch. ‘‘Normally I have a wrap and a smoothie – but this time I had chicken and rice. Maybe I’ll stick with that and see how far it takes me.’’

Something is fuelling the 26-year-old’s breakout campaign with a dialled-in Breakers outfit who have left two years of Covidinflicted agony in their dust to emerge as the success story of this ANBL season.

Le’afa is thriving, averaging 12.5 points, 2.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 40% overall and 35 from 3-point land.

‘‘It’s a blessing to play in front of my parents. Life’s too short not to have them watching.’’ Izayah Le’afa