BIO: Dane Pineau was born in Fitzroy (VIC) where he attended Melbourne Grammar High School. He first began playing basketball as a junior with the Melbourne basketball program where his father Brad had played as a import.
Pineau received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2013. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2013).

FAMILY: Dane Pineau is the son of Brad Pineau who played 52 games in the NBL.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Dane Pineau made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 23 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Dane Pineau signed with the Sydney Kings straight out of college, taking on a backup role to Boomers legend Andrew Bogut. During his rookie season, he played in 24 games, averaging 2.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists, while winning the club’s Best Defensive Player award in 2018.

This season, the Kings finished in seventh place with a record of 11-17.

2018/19
Sydney entered the 2018-19 season with high expectations after making several key signings, including Andrew Bogut, who returned to Australia after a 14-season NBA career, which included a championship in 2015 with the Golden State Warriors.

The Kings also became the first team to utilize the NBL’s newly created Next Stars program, signing highly touted prospect Brian Bowen, a McDonald’s All-American, who opted to play in the NBL to prepare for the NBA Draft. Key signings included Jerome Randle, who rejoined the team after a strong previous season, and other notable additions like Daniel Kickert (via Brisbane), David Wear (via Spain), Deng Deng (via Big V – McKinnon), Kyle Adnam (via Melbourne), and Tom Wilson (via Melbourne).

The Kings participated in the NBLxNBA series, facing the Los Angeles Clippers in a preseason game in Hawaii on September 30, 2018. In that game, Brad Newley (8 points), Kevin Lisch (16 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists), and Jerome Randle (25 points) led the scoring for the Kings. Despite a spirited effort, Sydney fell short, losing to the Clippers (110-91). The Kings kept the game competitive, coming within one point twice, but ultimately struggled to match the Clippers’ NBA-level speed and size.

Dane Pineau (0.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.3 assists) saw his minutes significantly reduced this season. Despite a promising rookie campaign, the influx of talent and the improved roster depth resulted in fewer opportunities for Pineau. While his contributions were mainly felt in practices and in limited game appearances, Pineau remained an energetic presence off the bench.

Alongside Pineau, the Kings relied on the contributions of Kevin Lisch (14.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), Jerome Randle (17.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists), and Andrew Bogut (11.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 blocks), who anchored the defense and was named both the NBL’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

Mid-season, the Kings brought in Ray Turner (1.7 points, 0.7 rebounds) from Bendigo in the state league to provide additional depth and cover for injuries to Bogut.

In the playoffs, Sydney faced Melbourne United in the semifinals. Pineau’s role was limited during the postseason, consistent with his minimal minutes during the season. In Game 1 (95-73), Melbourne’s depth proved too much for the Kings, and in Game 2 (90-76), Sydney’s season ended despite strong performances from the core players.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
2019/20
Following two seasons as Bogut’s backup, Pineau returned to his hometown of Melbourne, signing with the NBL’s newly formed franchise, South East Melbourne Phoenix.

South East Melbourne appointed Simon Mitchell as their first head coach and soon signed Mitch Creek, the Boomers and fringe NBA talent, as their marquee player. Building a core team around Creek, they added Ben Madgen (via Europe), Kyle Adnam (via Melbourne), and Adam Gibson (via Adelaide). Imports John Roberson, Tai Wesley (via Melbourne), and Devondrick Walker (via the state league) were later signed to complete the roster.

South East Melbourne’s debut game, dubbed ‘The Throwdown,’ pitted them against cross-town rivals Melbourne United. The Phoenix emerged victorious, winning by three points (91-88), thanks to an impressive 12-of-23 shooting from beyond the arc. This high-paced perimeter shooting became the team’s hallmark for the season, leading the league in points per game (95.4 ppg).

The win came at a cost, however, with Tai Wesley suffering a hamstring injury after scoring eight quick points in the game’s first five minutes, sidelining him for the next ten weeks. To compensate, Jaye Crockett (8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals) was brought in as an injury replacement.

After their Round 1 victory, the Phoenix continued strong, defeating the Bullets (113-93) and the Hawks (106-102) at home, beginning their inaugural season with a 3-0 record. Their first true test came in Round 4 with their first away game against Perth. Despite slow starts by Wildcats stars Bryce Cotton (16 points) and Terrico White (17 points), Perth handed South East Melbourne their first defeat (110-79), ending the Phoenix’s season-opening win streak.

Following their loss in Western Australia, victories became rare, as the Phoenix suffered defeats against teams such as the 36ers, Kings, and United. By mid-season, South East Melbourne’s record was six wins and six losses, a balanced but unspectacular result. During this period, the Phoenix opted to replace import Devondrick Walker (7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), who struggled to regain form after a foot fracture two years prior. Keith Benson (5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks) was signed as his replacement but did not significantly improve the team’s performance.

Due to injuries, Pineau found himself thrust into the starting lineup and averaged 8.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1 assist across the season. Pineau’s efficiency was notable; he led the league in field goal percentage (66.4%) and was the Phoenix’s leading rebounder.

While South East Melbourne heavily relied on Creek (20.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals) and import John Roberson (20.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists), they faced a turbulent path for the remaining ten rounds. Across 16 games, the Phoenix posted a disappointing 3-13 record and ended the season on an eight-game losing streak. After 20 rounds, South East Melbourne finished second to last with a 9-19 record.

Pineau’s breakthrough season saw him as runner-up to Will Magnay for the NBL Most Improved Player award.

2020/21
Limited by various injuries, Pineau appeared in only one game this season (Round 10 vs 36ers).

2021/22
2021/22
After a playoff appearance, South East Melbourne aimed to advance further in the 2021/22 season. Their first move was re-signing head coach Simon Mitchell (one-year deal) and retaining key players, including Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and Mitch Creek.

The team saw both Keifer Sykes (to NBA) and Yanni Wetzell (to New Zealand) depart, replaced by Tohi Smith-Milner (via Melbourne), Zhou Qi, a Chinese national team player, and imports Zach Hankins and Xavier Munford.

South East Melbourne started strong, winning three of their first four games, with Qi (11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) and Munford (16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 steals) impressing.

Qi’s injury and Hankins’s delayed debut led to Brandon Ashley (8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists) stepping in as a replacement.

Pineau, recovering from a previous season-ending injury, resumed as backup center to Qi. Despite Qi’s challenges with officiating (2.5 fouls per game), Pineau averaged 1.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.

South East Melbourne excelled offensively, finishing in the league’s top three with 87.7 points per game, led by Creek (20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals). However, COVID-19 interruptions caused a 28-day break, resulting in a rusty return and a heavy loss to Brisbane (84-100).

After winning eight of their next eleven games, South East Melbourne reached second on the ladder at 11-5 but later dropped to a four-game losing streak, ending their playoff hopes despite defeating Perth in overtime (102-100), ending the Wildcats’ 35-year playoff streak.

2022/23
The Phoenix entered NBL23 with hopes of bouncing back from a season riddled with injuries. Their core group—Ryan Broekhoff, Izaya Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, Cameron Gliddon, Reuben Te Rangi, and co-captains Mitch Creek and Kyle Adnam—all returned. The additions of imports Trey Kell III and Gary Browne were aimed at strengthening their backcourt, while big man Alan Williams came on board to replace Zhou Qi.

Qi, initially expected to return to China, made a last-minute decision to stay, creating a formidable “twin towers” combination with Williams. This lineup excited fans and raised questions about how both players would coexist on the court.

The Phoenix’s season opener saw Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne out due to preseason injuries, with Qi arriving two weeks later. Adnam stepped into the starting five and had a standout performance against Tasmania with 30 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Creek added 23 points and 6 rebounds, while Williams contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds in the win over Tasmania (84-79), sparking high expectations.

In games where the Phoenix’s starting five were on the floor, they looked like one of the league’s most cohesive units. Unfortunately, this was rare. Qi (6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.2 assists) played only nine games before leaving 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, 0.9 assists) missed a third of the season with a lingering hamstring injury.

Mitch Creek, the only starter to play every game, had a career-best season, averaging 23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, positioning himself as an MVP contender while covering gaps left by injured teammates.

Qi’s early departure provided increased opportunities for rookies Grant Anticevich (2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds) and Anzac Rissetto (1.2 points and 0.4 rebounds), while Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne, who collectively played only 61 of 84 games, opened space for Adnam (8.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists) and Te Rangi (5.1 points, 3.0 rebounds) in the starting lineup. Relative newcomers Junior Madut (4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds) and Owen Foxwell (3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals) also stepped up with impressive performances.

Despite a rocky start, South East Melbourne climbed to second place in the standings. However, a series of injuries led to a drop to fifth place (15-13), and they found themselves facing Perth in the Play-In Tournament.

Entering the Play-In Qualifier as favorites despite missing Broekhoff, South East Melbourne couldn’t hold off the Wildcats. Stellar performances from Perth’s imports Bryce Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals) and Brady Manek (24 points) ended the Phoenix’s playoff hopes with a 106-99 defeat. Pineau completed the season with averages of 2.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 27 games.

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
2023/24
The Breakers’ offseason focus was on re-signing standout guard William McDowell-White for a two-year contract. Following a breakout season, McDowell-White attracted considerable interest in free agency, but he chose to remain in New Zealand under coach Mody Maor, aiming to build on his success. Former Breaker Finn Delany, who had spent the previous season in Germany, also returned on a two-year deal. This allowed the Breakers to retain much of their core, including Cameron Gliddon, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and captain Thomas Abercrombie. They added Dane Pineau (via South East Melbourne), Mangok Mathiang (via Illawarra), and Lithuanian prospect Mantas Rubstavicius through the NBL Next Star Program.

Pineau, who signed a two-year deal with New Zealand after four seasons with South East Melbourne, took over the spot left by the retiring Rob Loe and reunited with former Phoenix teammates Izayah Le’afa and Cam Gliddon at the Auckland-based team.

“Dane is one of the toughest players in the NBL, and he’s proven that consistently over recent years, regardless of his role,” shared coach Mody Maor upon signing Pineau.

“Dane has great Pick and Roll skills, making him a natural fit for our environment and play style. I’m confident that the transition to Auckland will be seamless for him.”

To complete their roster, Coach Maor replaced departing imports Barry Brown Jr. (to China), Jarrell Brantley (to France), and Dererk Pardon (to Italy) with Parker Jackson-Cartwright (via Turkey), Zylan Cheatham (via Germany), and Justinian Jessup, who returned to the NBL after a stint in the G-League.

The Breakers started the season with a win over Cairns (98–87) and a close loss to Brisbane (84–89) before embarking on an NBLxNBA exhibition tour in the USA, where they played the Phoenix Suns. With several players injured, the Breakers temporarily added former NBA forward Anthony Lamb. Despite being underdogs, New Zealand nearly upset the Suns, closing to within four points in the final minute but ultimately falling 91–86. Corey Webster (27 points, 7 assists) and Tai Wesley (15 points, 7 rebounds) led the charge for New Zealand, while Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton (21 points, 15 rebounds) and Trevor Ariza (16 points, 6 assists) helped the Suns secure the win.

Upon returning from the USA, New Zealand’s season was plagued by roster changes and injuries, leading to a five-game losing streak. They rebounded with a win against Cairns (91–81), but significant absences from Delany (11 games), Cheatham (11 games), McDowell-White (6 games), and Rubstavicius (5 games) impacted continuity. Jessup, who struggled to recover from a pelvis injury, was released in January. By mid-season, New Zealand (8–12) had dropped to the bottom of the standings. However, they closed the season strong, winning five of their final seven games to finish 13–15, level with Sydney and Brisbane. Based on points percentage, Sydney (fifth) and New Zealand (sixth) advanced to the play-in tournament, eliminating Brisbane (seventh).

Pineau contributed off the bench, providing reliable defense and energy. He averaged 1.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game, with standout performances including a 6-point, 2-rebound, and 1-block effort against Brisbane (27 Dec 2023), a 6-point, 3-rebound showing against Brisbane (16 Feb 2024), and a 5-point, 1-rebound, 2-block outing against Melbourne (22 Oct 2023). Pineau’s presence bolstered the Breakers’ defensive depth, particularly in the paint.

Alongside Pineau, the Breakers were led by Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who averaged 20.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists with 1.9 steals per game, while Anthony Lamb contributed 19.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists with 1.1 steals. Zylan Cheatham (15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals), Mantas Rubstavicius (9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists), and William McDowell-White (9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists) also made significant contributions.

In the play-in tournament, New Zealand faced Sydney and emerged victorious in a hard-fought 83–76 win, led by Jackson-Cartwright’s 34 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, with Mathiang adding 10 points and 9 rebounds. In the subsequent game against Illawarra, Jackson-Cartwright (19 points, 9 assists) and Cheatham (12 points, 9 rebounds) led the Breakers, but season-long inconsistency reappeared, resulting in a narrow 88–85 loss, ending their playoff hopes just short of the NBL semifinals.

15365Dane Pineau currently plays for the New Zealand Breakers and has played 161 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 2.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists since entering the league in 2017.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

New Zealand Breakers – 2 Year Deal (2023-25)

Dan Boyce (823 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.