Rob Loe is back with the Breakers after time with Melbourne United. Photo: photosport
The Breakers' oldest player is realistic that he needs to refuel before rattling the rim these days but centre Rob Loe returns to the club that both started and temporarily ended his NBL playing career full of vigour.
The last time Loe pulled on a Breakers singlet in 2023 - after six seasons across two stints - he was not planning on coming back.
He thought he would stop playing professionally and start community coaching.
"I was just trying to land on my feet a little bit," Loe said of the decision to call time on his career for family reasons.
Retirement did not last long before former Breakers coach Dean Vickerman had convinced Loe to sign with Melbourne United, first as an injury replacement and then in 2024/25 as a roster player. The move across the Tasman resulted in Loe recording career-best statistics last season.
The 34-year-old, who now has more than 200 NBL games of experience, came into pre-season in Auckland "a bit out of shape" and carrying an ankle injury but he was building back to game fitness ahead of this week's pre-season tournament, the NBL Blitz, in Canberra.
"It's part of being a veteran, you've got to look after your body a little bit.
"It's understanding you can't wake up and dunk the ball anymore, I've got to wake up and warm up and have a coffee, and then I might be able to dunk it."
A bad ankle is not the worst injury Loe has had.
In 2019 Loe had a literal hole in his head. A stray elbow from an Illawarra Hawks player fractured his skull.
"It was obviously quite a major injury, when you get to my age you have quite a few major injuries ... it's working with physios and doctors to get back to full health and things, so I'm feeling pretty good right now."
Rob Loe and Karim Lopez have gone from opposition to teammates. Photo: Photosport
Adding some spring to Loe's step is the connection with his new Breakers teammates, including teenage Next Star Karim Lopez who is nearly half his age.
"I think every year you kind of get wiser and smarter a little bit. It's definitely my job to lead a little bit but also just to be there and help and teach a little bit.
"But the other way around they're keeping me young. Hanging out with Karim, he's the youngest, keeps me going it's been fun.
"As a basketball player you want to win and you want to be around groups that share the same goal."
The Breakers have made no secret of the plan to change a few things under new owners and Loe said he felt the difference from when he was last with the club.
"It's definitely changed a lot. I think they're pretty public with that. The last few years might not have been great for the team but new people involved and everyone's just really excited to go out and compete and try and get back to the championship ways that we had in the past."
Part of the mission was to get more New Zealand players back on the Breakers' roster and Loe is one of 11 Kiwis this season.
Some of the players like Reuben Te Rangi, Izayah Le'Afa and Sam Mennenga, Loe has a long history with at club competition and international level.
"It's been cool getting to link up with them again and working together," Loe said of the group of players who did not go away with the Tall Blacks to Asia Cup.
Working with coach Petteri Koponen, who is going into his second season with the Breakers, Loe had been impressed with the coach's "attitude" and "openness".
"He's positive with us and that's been really good for the group, we love coming into training every day and trying to get better.
"That's really important for us to keep building throughout the season and hopefully come the business end we're in the fight."
The NBL Blitz starts on Wednesday and the Breakers play their first game against SE Melbourne Phoenix on Friday and then play Cairns Taipans on Sunday.
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