NICKNAME/S: Reubs

BIO: Reuben Te Rangi is lauded for his strong defence and the ability to play multiple positions. He was born in Otahuhu (NZ) and raised in the South Auckland suburb of Manurewa where he attended Auckland Grammar School and played junior basketball for Counties Manukau Basketball Association.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Reuben Te Rangi made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

In 2012, Reuben Te Rangi joined a New Zealand Breakers squad aiming to become the second team in NBL history to secure a three-peat. The team retained key players like Cedric Jackson, Leon Henry, Thomas Abercrombie, Dillon Boucher, Mika Vukona, CJ Bruton, and Daryl Corletto. A significant off-season decision was to not re-sign leading scorer Gary Wilkinson (who moved to Europe), opting instead to promote promising Kiwi center Alex Pledger to the starting lineup. Import forward Will Hudson (from Gold Coast) was signed as Wilkinson’s replacement, and Corey Webster returned to the team after serving a 12-month suspension for the use of banned substances.

The Breakers achieved several historic milestones this season. On November 30, 2012, Cedric Jackson recorded his first career triple-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Melbourne Tigers. It was only the second triple-double recorded since the NBL transitioned to 40-minute games at the start of the 2009/10 season.

By February, the Breakers extended their longest winning streak to 11 games, which grew to 15 consecutive wins by mid-March. New Zealand finished the regular season atop the ladder for the second consecutive year with a 24-4 record. Jackson (14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 2.8 steals) led the league in assists and steals for the second straight season, earning the league’s Most Valuable Player award and a spot on the All-NBL First Team for the second consecutive year. Mika Vukona and Thomas Abercrombie were selected to the All-NBL Second and Third Teams, respectively, and Andrej Lemanis was voted Coach of the Year.

In the semifinals, New Zealand faced Sydney and swiftly eliminated them in two games. Abercrombie (15 points and 3 rebounds) and Jackson (11 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led the Breakers in Game One (81-64), while Bruton (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Pledger (18 points and 12 rebounds) took charge in Game Two (99-88).

Advancing to the Grand Final series, the Breakers faced Perth in a rematch of the previous year’s finals. The Wildcats entered the series shorthanded, having lost starting guard Damian Martin to an Achilles injury prior to the playoffs. Brad Robbins came out of retirement to fill the void, but without Martin, the Breakers defeated Perth in two straight games. In Game One (79-67), Daryl Corletto (19 points on 7-10 shooting) was instrumental, and in Game Two (70-66), the team was led by CJ Bruton (16 points) and Cedric Jackson (14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals). Jackson was subsequently named Grand Final MVP as the team secured a historic three-peat victory.

In his first season, Reuben Te Rangi saw limited playing time, appearing in only 11 games and averaging 1.8 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.1 assists.

2013/14
After winning three consecutive championships, head coach Andrej Lemanis was appointed head coach of the Australian men’s national basketball team. His departure led to assistant coach Dean Vickerman being promoted to head coach, tasked with extending the Breakers’ championship streak.

Vickerman inherited a team that had lost star import Cedric Jackson (to Europe) and veteran Dillon Boucher (retired). The Breakers started the season poorly, losing three of their first four games. In response, Vickerman brought back former Breakers favorite and two-time champion Gary Wilkinson (15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) in late October. In December, veteran CJ Bruton (6.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) announced he would retire at the end of the season, just before playing the 500th game of his career. By January, the Breakers added Casey Frank (5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) to replace the injured Alex Pledger (10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks), who managed to appear in only 13 games due to multiple injuries.

American guard Kerron Johnson (12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals), signed as a replacement for Jackson, struggled to fill the void at point guard. Thomas Abercrombie (15.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) shouldered much of the offensive load but faced tight defenses due to Johnson’s lack of perimeter shooting. Unable to secure more than two consecutive wins all season, the Breakers finished in seventh place with an 11–17 record.

A bright spot for the season was the emergence of the young guard duo of Corey Webster (8.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) and Reuben Te Rangi (5.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists), whose improving play showed promise for the Breakers’ future.

2014/15
Following a disappointing season where the team missed the playoffs despite having won the previous three championships, the New Zealand Breakers regrouped by replacing imports Kerron Johnson and Gary Wilkinson with big man Ekene Ibekwe and fan favorite Cedric Jackson, who had previously led the team to back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. The season also saw the departures of CJ Bruton (retired) and Daryl Corletto (to Melbourne), replaced by Rhys Carter (via Adelaide) and Tai Wesley, who qualified as a local player due to being born in Guam under the league’s Asian Player rule.

The Breakers kickstarted the season with back-to-back wins over Perth and Adelaide before suffering consecutive losses to Cairns and Melbourne. In a highly competitive season, New Zealand managed multiple five-game winning streaks, propelled by the offensive talents of Cedric Jackson (14.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.2 steals) and Corey Webster (15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists), who moved into the starting lineup and became one of the league’s premier scorers.

Jackson earned Player of the Week honors for Round 10. On January 18, 2015, he recorded his second career triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in an 88–75 win over Melbourne United. His third career triple-double came on February 12 in a loss to the Adelaide 36ers, posting 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. Following his 22 points and game-winner against the Perth Wildcats on February 15, he was named Player of the Week for Round 19.

During this season, Jackson hit one of the greatest buzzer-beaters in NBL history. In a late-season marquee matchup against the Perth Wildcats, the teams were tied at 68-68 at the end of regulation and 80-80 after the first overtime. Perth seemed poised to win after taking an 87-86 lead with Jermaine Beal’s free throws with two seconds remaining. With no timeouts left, the Breakers inbounded to Jackson, who took three dribbles and launched a shot from just outside his own three-point line. The ball banked off the backboard and into the net, sealing an improbable victory.

Reuben Te Rangi averaged 2.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists as the Breakers battled all season for the top spot alongside Perth and Cairns, eventually finishing in second place with a 19–9 record.

In the semifinals, New Zealand faced third-placed Adelaide, who had won their final ten regular-season games and entered the playoffs as the hottest team. Despite the 36ers’ form, the Breakers dominated Game One (111–82), with Webster (24 points) delivering a career-high scoring effort at Vector Arena. Game Two moved to Adelaide, where the Breakers maintained control, defeating the 36ers (94–83) to advance to the Grand Final.

In the Grand Final, they met the Cairns Taipans, the first regional team to win the minor premiership since the Geelong Cats in 1984. Despite Cairns having home-court advantage, New Zealand easily claimed Game One (86–71), led by Jackson (22 points). Game Two shifted to Auckland, where after a tight contest, Taipans guard Scottie Wilbekin tied the game with two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in regulation. Coming out of a timeout, Ekene Ibekwe caught an inbounds pass, turned, and hit a game-winning fade-away shot to lift the Breakers over the Taipans (83–81), clinching New Zealand’s fourth title in five seasons.

Cedric Jackson (15 points) claimed his third championship and second Grand Final MVP award, becoming the first player in NBL history to win three championships in his first three seasons.

2015/16
The Breakers retained every player from their 2015 championship-winning roster except for Rhys Carter (to Sydney) and Ekene Ibekwe (to Europe). To replace them, the club signed Australian point guard Shane McDonald and rookie American big man Charles Jackson. New Zealand’s pre-season faced challenges, including Alex Pledger recovering from off-season foot surgery, Thomas Abercrombie sidelined with a nagging hamstring strain, and the departure of Corey Webster, who headed to the U.S. to trial with the New Orleans Pelicans. To fill the gaps, the Breakers elevated development players Shea Ili and Tai Wynyard and signed Everard Bartlett as a replacement for Webster.

New Zealand suffered a shock loss to Adelaide in their season opener (71-90). Without Webster, Abercrombie, and Pledger, the Breakers had limited scoring options, with Cedric Jackson (14 points) being the highest scorer. By halftime, the score was 51–26 in favor of the 36ers, marking the team’s second-lowest first-half score and second-biggest halftime deficit in franchise history.

With a dwindling record (1-3), New Zealand was boosted by the return of Corey Webster (19.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists), who rejoined after failing to secure a roster spot with the Pelicans. To make room for Webster, forward Duane Bailey was released, and Everard Bartlett, initially signed as an injury replacement, was retained for the rest of the season. The Breakers experienced a roller-coaster season, winning nine of their next eleven games and reclaiming their status as title favorites by Round 10 (10-5), only to lose five of their next six games (11-10) and fall out of the top four by Round 15. In January, New Zealand endured a five-game losing streak—the team’s worst since the 2008/09 season—before finishing the season on a five-game winning streak, edging out the 36ers to finish fourth (16–12) and claim the final playoff berth.

New Zealand swept ladder leaders Melbourne in the semifinals (2–0) to advance to their fifth NBL Grand Final appearance in six years.

Facing the Perth Wildcats in the Grand Final, the Wildcats relied on the inside presence of Nathan Jawai and the tough defense of Casey Prather to secure victory in Game One (82–76). Game Two was played in Auckland, where the Breakers evened the series (1-1) thanks to a near triple-double from Cedric Jackson (13 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists) that propelled them to a win (72–68).

In the deciding Game Three in Perth, a crowd of 13,090—the ‘Red Army’—witnessed the Wildcats avenge their previous Grand Final loss. Casey Prather (19 points) and Jermaine Beal (14 points) led the scoring for the Wildcats, but it was Damian Martin’s inspirational defensive display that stood out. Martin was named Grand Final MVP after holding star Breakers guard Cedric Jackson scoreless on five attempts and forcing him to foul out early in the last quarter. The Wildcats secured their seventh NBL championship with a blowout victory (75–52).

The loss marked the first time New Zealand had lost to the Wildcats in playoff history and the team’s first-ever Grand Final series defeat.

Corey Webster (19.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) was named to the All-NBL Second Team, while Reuben Te Rangi averaged 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.2 assists for the season.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2016/17
During the 2016/17 season, Reuben Te Rangi joined the Brisbane Bullets. He averaged 2.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists and was part of a squad that finished in eighth place with a 10-18 record.

2017/18
In the 2017/18 season, Te Rangi saw increased playing time and responsibility. He averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists, helping guide the Bullets to an eighth-place finish in the regular season with a 9-19 record.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2018/19
After finishing last in the 2017/18 season, the Brisbane Bullets made significant roster changes. They parted ways with Adam Gibson (to South East Melbourne), Shaun Bruce (to Sydney), and Anthony Petrie (retired). To bolster their lineup, they brought in Boomers sharpshooter Cameron Gliddon (via Cairns), Jason Cadee (via Sydney), Matt Hodgson (via Adelaide), Tom Jervis (via Perth), and Mika Vukona (via New Zealand). The Bullets also welcomed back Rio Olympian and former Chicago Bull Cam Bairstow, who was returning after a knee reconstruction. Additionally, they added Makoto Hiejima under the NBL’s Asian Player rule, making him the first Japanese player to sign with an NBL team, and NBA veteran Alonzo Gee (via Puerto Rico) as an import.

These key signings were intended to strengthen Brisbane’s roster as they faced a tough start to the season, with 12 of their first 15 games against the previous season’s top-four playoff teams.

Four games into the season, Brisbane released Alonzo Gee (7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) after he requested to return to the US for personal reasons. A month later, import Stephen Holt (7.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists), concerned about his playing time (16.6 minutes per game), was granted a mutual release to pursue an opportunity in Europe. To fill the gaps, Brisbane signed Lamar Patterson (via China) to replace Gee in October 2018 and brought in Jeremy Kendle (6.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists), who had been training with the team, to cover the loss of Holt.

In January, a 29-point loss to Cairns left Brisbane mid-table with a 9–9 record. During this period, Nnanna Egwu (0.0 points, 2.3 rebounds) was signed for three games as an injury replacement, and Kendle’s contract was extended for the remainder of the season. Additionally, rarely used Japanese guard Makoto Hiejima was replaced by import A.J. Davis (4.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.3 assists), son of NBA legend Antonio Davis, to further enhance the roster.

Despite the ups and downs, Reuben Te Rangi had a breakout season, averaging 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. He won both the league’s Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year awards. His standout performances included a 29-point, 3-rebound, and 3-assist game against Adelaide on November 1, 2018; an 18-point and 3-rebound effort against Cairns on October 13, 2018; and a 15-point game against Sydney on January 25, 2019.

Alongside Te Rangi, Brisbane was led offensively by Lamar Patterson (17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals), Cameron Gliddon (13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists), and Cam Bairstow (11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists). The Bullets finished the regular season tied with Adelaide at 14–14 but secured the fourth spot due to a higher points percentage, advancing to the playoffs.

In the semifinals, Brisbane faced the Perth Wildcats. In Game One, Terrico White (24 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) and Bryce Cotton (19 points, 2 rebounds, and 10 assists) led Perth to a dominant victory (89–59). Cameron Gliddon (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) was Brisbane’s top scorer, while Te Rangi contributed 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

In Game Two (84–79), White (24 points, 3 rebounds) and Cotton (19 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds) again led Perth. Despite strong efforts from Lamar Patterson (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Brisbane was unable to prevent Perth from advancing to the Grand Final. Te Rangi added 1 point in the final game.

2019/20
During the 2019/20 season, Reuben Te Rangi averaged 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists, helping guide the Bullets to a fifth-place finish with a 15–13 record in the regular season.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
2020/21
South East Melbourne aimed to improve on their debut season, with coach Simon Mitchell providing franchise player Mitch Creek additional talent. Cam Gliddon and Reuben Te Rangi (both via Brisbane) were added to spread the floor, giving Creek more room to operate inside. Rookie Kiwi duo Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa and Mike Karena joined as development players.

Phoenix fans celebrated when Yanni Wetzell, who was on several NBA radars after a standout career at San Diego State University, initially signed with the team. However, he exercised his European out clause and signed with German team Riesen Ludwigsburg. Imports Ben Moore and Keifer Sykes were then added to finalize the roster. Due to COVID-19, the NBL postponed its season to January 2021, and most players agreed to salary reductions because of the pandemic’s financial impact. Passport complications caused by COVID-19 led Wetzell to return to the Phoenix after all.

Wetzell (11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) quickly established himself as one of the best young bigs in the competition. Alongside Creek (18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists), who led the team in scoring and rebounds, they provided a powerful one-two punch. The Phoenix evolved into the highest-scoring team in the NBL, with high-level production from Keifer Sykes (14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists), Kyle Adnam (12.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), Cameron Gliddon (10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals), and Ben Moore (10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists), all of whom topped the team’s scoring in different games.

Te Rangi was a key contributor, playing all 39 games for the Phoenix (starting 35) and averaging 6.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He delivered a season-high 22 points in Game Three of the semifinal series against Melbourne United.

Mid-season, the Phoenix had the opportunity to add Australian Boomers forward Ryan Broekhoff to the roster. Broekhoff (7.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.8 steals) played the last 19 games, signing as an injury replacement for Dane Pineau. His arrival pushed development player Mike Karena out of the rotation.

South East Melbourne finished fourth with a 19–17 record, reaching the NBL playoffs for the first time in their second season. They faced Melbourne United (28–8) in a semifinal series played in empty arenas in Sydney due to COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne.

The team split the first two games at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena. Creek (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the team in scoring in Game Two before returning home for the decider. Leading United by as much as 15 points in the second quarter of the final game (32–15), they surrendered a nearly 30-point turnaround to lose by 10 points (84–74). The Phoenix’s rebounding deficiencies (second last in the league) were a significant factor, compounded by a season-high performance from United’s Jock Landale (27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks), who shot 11-of-13 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

Creek (19 points) and Reuben Te Rangi, who delivered a season-high 22 points, were the key contributors for the Phoenix in their final game of the season.

2021/22
After making their maiden Finals appearance, South East Melbourne aimed to advance further. The Phoenix’s first move was re-signing coach Simon Mitchell (one-year deal). They then retained the majority of their local core, re-signing Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Le’Afa, and Mitch Creek.

Although Keifer Sykes (to the NBA) and Yanni Wetzell (to New Zealand) departed, they were replaced by Tohi Smith-Milner (via Melbourne), Zhou Qi—a member of the Chinese national team—and imports Zach Hankins and Xavier Munford.

South East Melbourne started the season strongly, winning three of their first four games. Qi (11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks) made it extremely difficult for opponents to score inside, and Munford (16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) proved to be an adequate replacement for Sykes. Due to a short-term injury to Qi and Hankins yet to play because of a knee cartilage injury, coach Mitchell brought in import Brandon Ashley (8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists) as a replacement for Hankins.

The Phoenix had no problems scoring, with Mitch Creek (20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) leading the team. They finished in the top three highest-scoring teams in the league (87.7 points per game). However, COVID-19 interruptions led to several postponed games, forcing the team into a 28-day hiatus. They returned rusty and were blown out by Brisbane (84–100) in their first game back.

South East Melbourne quickly regained form, winning eight of their next eleven games to sit second on the ladder (11–5) midway through the season. However, their season took a downturn, going on a four-game losing streak against the Hawks (twice), the Kings, and United. The decline coincided with a season-ending shoulder injury to Ryan Broekhoff (11.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals). Despite a favorable schedule in the last month, the Phoenix struggled, suffering defeats by Adelaide, Cairns, and Melbourne, which ended their playoff hopes.

It was a disappointing second half of the season, with the Phoenix winning only six of their last 14 games. A highlight was an overtime win over Perth (102–100) that ended the Wildcats’ 35-year playoff streak. Te Rangi contributed 3.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 26 games, while South East Melbourne finished sixth with a 15–13 record.

2022/23
The Phoenix entered NBL23 aiming to move past an injury-plagued season. The team’s core group of Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, Cameron Gliddon, Reuben Te Rangi, and co-captains Mitch Creek and Kyle Adnam returned. Imports Trey Kell III and Gary Browne were added to strengthen the backcourt, and big man Alan Williams signed to replace Zhou Qi.

Qi, initially thought to be returning to China, made a last-minute change and re-signed, creating a “twin towers” setup with Williams that intrigued fans. The Phoenix’s opening game was without Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne due to pre-season injuries, and Qi’s arrival was two weeks away. Adnam was inserted into the starting lineup and had a career-high scoring night against Tasmania. The efforts of Adnam (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), Mitch Creek (23 points and 6 rebounds), and Alan Williams (12 points and 7 rebounds) led South East Melbourne to defeat Tasmania (84–79), exciting fans for the season ahead.

When South East Melbourne fielded all five starters, they were one of the most balanced units in the competition. However, this was rare. Qi (6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists) played just nine games before returning home for family reasons. Kell (12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) missed five games due to broken ribs, and Broekhoff (10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) missed a third of the season with a persistent hamstring issue.

Mitch Creek (23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists), the only starter to play every game, elevated his performance, becoming an MVP candidate as he covered gaps across the team.

Qi’s early exit led to increased playing time for first-year players Grant Anticevich (2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds) and Anzac Rissetto (1.2 points and 0.4 rebounds). With perimeter players Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne (12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.5 steals) playing just 61 of a possible 84 regular-season games, opportunities arose for Adnam (8.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) and Te Rangi (5.1 points and 3.0 rebounds) to step into the starting lineup. The injuries also resulted in significant minutes for relative unknowns Junior Madut (4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds) and Owen Foxwell (3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals), who delivered strong performances when called upon.

South East Melbourne reached second place on the ladder after a shaky start, but injuries soon derailed the team, causing them to fall to fifth place (15–13) and face Perth in the Play-In Tournament.

Despite being without sharpshooter Broekhoff, the Phoenix entered the Play-In Qualifier against the Wildcats as favorites. However, explosive games from Perth’s import duo Bryce Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals) and Brady Manek (24 points) ended South East Melbourne’s playoff run (106–99), leaving fans lamenting another “almost” season.

Reuben Te Rangi finished the season averaging 5.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across 22 games.

Reuben Te Rangi currently plays for the Tasmania JackJumpers and has played 333 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 4.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.7 assists since entering the league in 2012.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Tasmania JackJumpers – 1 Year Deal (2024-25)

HIGHLIGHTS:

???? Spin cycle Reuben Te Rangi

???? Tune in on @ESPNAusNZ via @kayosports or @Foxtel pic.twitter.com/oeTXxOGMve

— South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) March 17, 2022

Dan Boyce (815 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.