NICKNAME/S: Rob

BIO: Robert Loe was born in Leicester, England and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand where he attended Westlake Boys High School, less than five kilometres away from Breakers Headquarters.

At Westlake, he helped the team win two national championships and was a Westlake Sportsman of the Year recipient after averaging 19.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 63 percent from the field.

He also earned the ASB college sport Sportsman of the Year award in 2009 and the ASB college sport Basketballer of the Year award in 2008 and 2009, while being named Westlake’s most outstanding basketball player three years in a row.

In April 2010, he was a member of the World Select Team that competed at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon.

Loe went on to play college basketball for Saint Louis University and represented the New Zealand national team.

He holds a British passport which allows him to play as a unrestricted player in Europe.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Robert Loe made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 25 years of age. He scored eight points in his first game.

Following the Breakers’ 2016 Grand Final loss, both chief executive Richard Clarke and head coach Dean Vickerman left the organisation, with assistant coach Paul Henare stepping up to the head coach role and Dillon Boucher moving into the front office as general manager.

Joining Vickerman in departure were Cedric Jackson and Tai Wesley, who both signed with Melbourne United. The Breakers retained Thomas Abercrombie, Corey Webster, Alex Pledger, and Mika Vukona and brought club legend Kirk Penney back to the squad. To fill two vacant import slots, the Breakers signed Ben Woodside and Akil Mitchell. Additionally, New Zealand players Finn Delany, Shea Ili, and Jordan Ngatai were promoted from development roles to full-time roster spots.

An injury-plagued pre-season saw Shea Ili (back), Penney (calf), and Webster (hip and back) sidelined for multiple games, impacting the first half of the season. When Webster returned mid-season, he was still hampered by injury, with his scoring dipping from 19.6 ppg to 11.7 ppg. After 20 games, the Breakers had recorded just eight wins, and the “injury bug” continued to bite. Abercrombie (11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists) and Woodside (8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.3 steals) missed time due to injuries. In a January matchup against Cairns (81-94), Mitchell (9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) suffered a severe eye injury after being poked by Nnanna Egwu, resulting in his left eye temporarily dislodging. Though his vision was restored, he returned to the US for further medical consultations.

Webster made a courageous return, but his recurring injuries led to him being shut down for the season based on medical advice. The Breakers added Paul Carter (9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) as an import replacement, and eventually swapped out an underperforming Woodside for David Stockton, son of NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton. Stockton averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 10 games before succumbing to injury himself and being replaced by Kevin Dillard.

The combined play of Dillard (18.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals) and Penney (17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) rejuvenated the Breakers, leading to a four-game winning streak and a brief playoff hope revival. However, back-to-back losses in Round 17 dropped them to fifth place (14–14), ending their postseason aspirations.

Despite closing the season with two consecutive wins, the Breakers missed the playoffs, finishing fifth (14–14). Rob Loe contributed solid numbers, averaging 7.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

2017/18
In 2017/18, Loe continued his impact in the Breakers’ rotation, posting averages of 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. His efforts were instrumental in helping New Zealand secure a fourth-place finish in the regular season with a 15-13 record.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2018/19
The Taipans ushered in a new era in 2018, parting ways with longtime coach Aaron Fearne after an eight-year tenure and appointing Mike Kelly to rebuild a roster that had lost key players such as Cameron Gliddon (to Brisbane), Mitchell McCarron (to Melbourne), Jarrad Weeks (to New Zealand), and Stephen Weigh (retired).

With limited time before the season start, Kelly signed free agent Rob Loe (via New Zealand) and an import trio of Melo Trimble, Devon Hall, and DJ Newbill to bolster the lineup.

Cairns kicked off the season with a decisive win over Brisbane (88-70), but struggled with consistency, experiencing a six-game losing streak from October 21 to November 9, 2018. Despite their difficulties, the Taipans managed notable wins over Perth (81-79) and Brisbane (109-80), though their inability to secure victories at home (3-11) or on the road (3-11) saw them finish the season at the bottom of the standings.

Though the season yielded few wins, Trimble (21.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.2 steals) and Newbill (14.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals) formed a formidable offensive duo. Trimble was named to the All-NBL Second Team and earned the Taipans’ MVP award.

Rob Loe contributed a steady presence in the frontcourt, averaging 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Playing alongside him, Nathan Jawai (10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists) had a productive season with increased minutes, and Devon Hall (8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists) also provided solid support.

Loe’s standout games included a 19-point, 7-rebound, 2-steal, 1-block performance against Brisbane (January 19, 2019), a 16-point, 7-rebound, 3-assist effort versus Illawarra (February 2, 2019), and a strong showing against Melbourne (February 14, 2019) with 9 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.

The limited pre-season preparation and significant roster turnover prevented the Taipans from gaining momentum, culminating in a franchise-worst record of 6-22.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2019/20
During the 2019/20 season, Rob Loe averaged 9.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, contributing significantly to the Breakers’ record of 15-13, which placed them sixth at the end of the regular season.

2020/21
The 2020/21 season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the start to January 2021. With the Breakers primarily based in Australia, they played a substantial portion of their ‘home’ games in Tasmania before finally returning to New Zealand for their last seven games in May. The team had added former Brisbane star Lamar Patterson and Colton Iverson as imports, while Tai Webster rejoined the squad after leaving in 2013 to play college ball at Nebraska. Early setbacks struck when Corey Webster sliced a nerve in his hand while cutting an avocado, sidelining him for the first month.

New Zealand’s extended road stretch led to a challenging start, as they won just one of their first eight games. Patterson, who had been an NBL First Team All-Star twice with the Bullets, struggled with his form for the Breakers, averaging only 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists before being released following a knee injury. His departure prompted the team to bring in Jeremy Kendle as a short-term replacement, and the Breakers briefly improved, going 3-1 over the next four games.

Ongoing injuries and personal matters caused rotation disruptions throughout the season, affecting players like Loe (20 games), Abercrombie (9), and the Webster brothers, leading to further roster adjustments. McDowell-White (7.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5 assists) joined as a replacement for Corey Webster (13.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists), while Levi Randolph (14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals) stepped in for Patterson, replacing Kendle, who left with an average of 7.0 points.

Despite these moves, New Zealand continued to struggle, winning just one of their next six games. With frequent disruptions from COVID-19 lockdowns, they constantly relocated from city to city. When finally back in New Zealand, they managed a 3-4 record in their final stretch.

Tai Webster emerged as the team’s leading scorer (17.2 points, 5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.2 steals), while Finn Delany (16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists) enjoyed a breakout season, earning the club MVP award.

Loe played 17 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists, as the Breakers finished second-to-last with a 12-24 record.

2021/22
Despite expectations of playing home games in the latter half of the season, ongoing COVID-19 restrictions forced the Breakers to base themselves in Tasmania, finishing last in the standings.

The team initially planned to retain Corey Webster but allowed him to pursue opportunities in Europe. Tai Webster also exited due to the NBL’s vaccine mandate. The Breakers then signed Yanni Wetzell from South East Melbourne and recruited imports Peyton Siva, Hugo Besson, and Jeremiah Martin, while French prospect Ousmane Dieng joined under the NBL Next Stars program.

A tough start saw injuries to Siva and Abercrombie, along with a COVID outbreak just as the season began. Chasson Randle (7.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) joined as a temporary replacement for Siva, though the team endured a 0-6 start. When Siva returned, the Breakers released Martin (12.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals) to retain Randle.

With Wetzell emerging as the Breakers’ standout player (17.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks), he was named club MVP despite leaving mid-season for Europe. Besson (13.9 points, 4 rebounds, 2.3 assists) and Delany (10 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2 assists) stepped up in Wetzell’s absence, but the team struggled to gain momentum and dropped to 4-10 by mid-February.

Loe recorded his best scoring night in April with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists against Tasmania, although the Breakers closed the season with a franchise-worst 5-23 record.

2022/23
After Dan Shamir’s departure, Mody Maor was promoted to head coach, marking the first time in two seasons that the Breakers could play regular home games. The team saw major turnover, losing six of their top eight players, including Yanni Wetzell, Hugo Besson, Peyton Siva, Finn Delany, Ousmane Dieng, and Chasson Randle, leaving only Thomas Abercrombie, Rob Loe, and William McDowell-White from the previous season.

To rebuild, the Breakers added Tom Vodanovich (via Sydney), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and Cameron Gliddon (both from South East Melbourne) for defensive depth and perimeter shooting. They also signed import trio Dererk Pardon, Jarrell Brantley, and Barry Brown Jr. and brought in French NBA prospect Rayan Rupert through the NBL Next Star Program.

With Abercrombie sidelined in the season’s first month due to a torn retina, the Breakers opened with a loss to Melbourne but quickly showed promise. By Round 4, they had matched their total wins from the previous season. In Round 5, they thrashed Adelaide (99-70), led by dominant performances from Brown Jr. (22 points) and Brantley (22 points, four steals), forcing 18 turnovers and hitting 15 of 30 from beyond the arc. Shortly after, they secured their largest-ever victory at Spark Arena, defeating Tasmania 94-62 and overtaking the Sydney Kings atop the NBL ladder.

After two seasons of constant travel, the Breakers had re-emerged as contenders, leading to a high-stakes matchup against Sydney. Despite a 31-17 surge in the final 10 minutes, led by Brown Jr. (22 points), the Breakers fell just short, 81-77, and lost Rupert to a broken wrist for two months.

The Breakers bounced back with a win over Adelaide, thanks to Brown Jr.’s explosive fourth quarter (14 of his 22 points) and Pardon’s third double-double in four games (19 points, 10 rebounds). The team continued their momentum, securing their fifth consecutive victory by dismantling South East Melbourne (110-84) and reaching an 11-2 record by early December. They then dropped a game to Perth (84-92), where ex-Breaker Corey Webster posted 26 points. Brown Jr. kept New Zealand competitive with 27 points.

A dramatic Tyler Harvey half-court shot gave Illawarra a 78-76 win over New Zealand, their first road win of the season. The Breakers quickly recovered, defeating Sydney (93-88) with a clutch three-pointer by Brantley and Melbourne United (80-74) to secure a playoff spot. Brantley (18 points) and Loe (15 points) contributed significantly off the bench.

In the final month, New Zealand jockeyed with Cairns for second place. Wins over Brisbane and Illawarra allowed them to finish second in the regular season (18-10) and secure their first playoff berth in five years. Loe averaged 5.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.4 assists, shooting over 43% from three-point range. Brown Jr. (19.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Pardon (11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks) earned All-NBL Second Team honors, with Brown Jr. also named Best Sixth Man. Brantley (16.2 points, 6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals) was awarded the Breakers’ MVP.

Tasmania, having defeated Cairns (87-79) in the play-in tournament, set up a semi-final matchup with the Breakers.

New Zealand dominated Game 1, winning 88-68 with Pardon contributing 15 points and 9 rebounds and McDowell-White adding 13 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. Rashard Kelly led the JackJumpers with 12 points.

Tasmania fought back in Game 2, defeating New Zealand 89-78, as Milton Doyle scored 23 points in a game-defining third-quarter run. Pardon recorded a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds), and Brantley added 17 points and 9 rebounds for the Breakers.

New Zealand clinched the series in Game 3, winning 92-77. Brown Jr. led with 32 points (10/16 shooting, 2/2 from three), while Pardon contributed a double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds) and Brantley added 14 points and 7 rebounds. This victory marked the Breakers’ first Championship Series appearance since 2016.

In the Championship Series, New Zealand stunned Sydney with a Game 1 win (95-87) at Qudos Bank Arena. McDowell-White (19 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists) excelled, with Brown Jr. and Brantley providing key contributions. Walton Jr. left late in the game with a leg injury.

Game 2 saw Sydney even the series at Spark Arena, defeating a New Zealand team that struggled against the Kings’ resilience, as Walton Jr. played only four minutes. The Kings’ supporting cast, led by Justin Simon, secured a 81-74 win.

In Game 3, Sydney took a 2-1 series lead with a decisive 91-68 win in front of an NBL record crowd of 18,049 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. Walton Jr. contributed 12 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds, while Cooks, having just signed with the NBA’s Washington Wizards, added 10 points and 8 rebounds. McDowell-White led the Breakers with 11 points.

New Zealand fought back in Game 4, claiming an 80-70 win at home to force a Game 5. Brantley (23 points), McDowell-White (19 points), and Brown Jr. (20 points) shone for the Breakers, while Walton Jr. led Sydney with 18 points.

Game 5 was a nail-biter, with the Breakers leading by 11 in the first quarter and again in the fourth before the Kings mounted a 14-0 run to secure a thrilling 77-69 victory. Sydney set another attendance record at Qudos Bank Arena, with 18,124 fans witnessing the Kings claim their first back-to-back titles since their 2003-2005 three-peat. Walton Jr. (21 points, 6 assists) was named Finals MVP, with Cooks’ contributions (19 points, 11 rebounds) vital in securing the title. Brown Jr. led the Breakers with 22 points off the bench.

The Championship Series saw an unprecedented attendance of 67,811 fans, marking the highest Grand Final turnout in NBL history.

MELBOURNE UNITED
2023/24
After a challenging season, United sought to rebuild by bringing back former starters Jo Lual-Acuil, who had been playing in China, and Matthew Dellavedova, who returned from the NBA. They also added NBA prospect Luke Travers to form a roster resembling the 2022 team that came close to reaching the Grand Final.

United aimed for stability, signing Ian Clark (via Adelaide) as their primary import to bolster bench scoring, a role previously held by Scotty Hopson. Promising players Tanner Krebs (from Brisbane), Kyle Bowen, and Flynn Cameron joined the team. In an unexpected move, Rob Loe signed on as a replacement for Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, who was sidelined with a wrist injury, just one month after Loe had announced his NBL retirement.

“I’d only been retired a few weeks, but when Dean reached out about stepping in for Jo to start the season, it was a tempting offer,” Loe said upon joining United.

“Helping a successful club strive towards its goals while keeping my basketball journey alive was something I couldn’t pass up.”

Loe appeared in eight games for United as their Nominated Replacement Player, averaging 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in under 15 minutes per game. With Loe in the rotation, United posted an impressive 7-1 record.

Melbourne advanced to the Grand Final series, ultimately falling to Tasmania in a hard-fought five-game series.

2024/25
After his successful stint, Loe came out of retirement once more, signing a one-year contract for NBL25 under coach Vickerman.

“During his time with us, Rob demonstrated elite qualities across the board,” Vickerman commented on Loe’s signing.

“His high basketball IQ, defensive skills within our structure, playmaking, and his shooting ability make him a standout contributor.”

In November, Loe set a career high with a 30-point performance.

Big man getting it done ????

Rob Loe dropped a career-high 30 points in @MelbUnited’s win over the Bullets ???? pic.twitter.com/Xj1v3mYoco

— NBL (@NBL) November 7, 2024

Robert Loe currently plays for the Melbourne United and has played 185 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 6.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists since entering the league in 2016.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Melbourne United – 2 Year Deal (2024-26)

HIGHLIGHTS:

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.