NICKNAME/S: Finn Diesel

BIO: Finn Delany was born in Nelson (New Zealand).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Finn Delany made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

New Zealand entered the 2015/16 NBL season with much of their championship-winning core intact, retaining every player from their title-winning roster except for Rhys Carter, who signed with Sydney, and Ekene Ibekwe, who moved to Europe. To fill these vacancies, the Breakers signed Australian point guard Shane McDonald and rookie American big man Charles Jackson. Finn Delany joined the team as a development player, marking the beginning of his NBL career.

The Breakers faced significant preseason challenges, including Alex Pledger recovering from off-season foot surgery, Thomas Abercrombie sidelined with a hamstring strain, and Corey Webster trialing with the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. In response, the team elevated development players Shea Ili and Tai Wynyard and signed Everard Bartlett as a short-term replacement for Webster.

Delany made four appearances during the season, gaining valuable experience while playing alongside the Breakers’ veteran core. New Zealand finished fourth on the ladder with a 16–12 record, securing the final playoff berth. In the semifinals, the Breakers swept ladder leaders Melbourne (2–0), advancing to their fifth Grand Final appearance in six years.

In the Grand Final series, the Breakers faced off against the Perth Wildcats for the second consecutive year. Despite strong performances from Nathan Jawai and Casey Prather, the Wildcats narrowly won Game 1 (82–76). New Zealand responded with a win in Game 2 (72–68) in Auckland, led by Cedric Jackson’s near triple-double (13 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists). The deciding Game 3, held in Perth in front of 13,090 fans, saw the Wildcats dominate with a blowout victory (75–52). Casey Prather and Jermaine Beal led the scoring for Perth, but it was Damian Martin’s defensive efforts that earned him the Grand Final MVP after holding Cedric Jackson scoreless. The loss marked the Breakers’ first Grand Final series defeat and their first playoff loss to the Wildcats.

2016/17
Following the 2016 Grand Final loss, the Breakers underwent significant changes. Chief executive Richard Clarke and coach Dean Vickerman departed, with Paul Henare taking over as head coach and Dillon Boucher stepping in as general manager. The team also saw key players Cedric Jackson and Tai Wesley join Melbourne United. However, the Breakers retained Thomas Abercrombie, Corey Webster, Alex Pledger, and Mika Vukona while adding club legend Kirk Penney and imports Ben Woodside and Akil Mitchell. Delany, alongside Shea Ili and Jordan Ngatai, was elevated from a development player to the full-time roster.

The Breakers’ preseason was marred by injuries to Shea Ili (back), Penney (calf), and Webster (hip and back), impacting their early-season performance. Webster returned mid-season but struggled with lingering injuries, seeing his scoring drop from 19.6 points per game to 11.7. Further injuries struck as Abercrombie (11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) and Woodside (8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists) missed games. In January, Mitchell suffered a severe eye injury during a game against Cairns, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Despite these challenges, Delany provided consistent contributions, finishing the season with averages of 3.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.

The Breakers made several mid-season roster changes, adding Paul Carter (9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds) and replacing Woodside with David Stockton, who lasted just 10 games before being replaced by Kevin Dillard. Dillard (18.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists) and Penney (17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) fueled a late-season resurgence, leading the Breakers to a four-game winning streak. However, back-to-back losses in Round 17 ended their playoff hopes as they finished fifth with a 14–14 record.

2017/18
In Paul Henare’s second season as head coach, the Breakers aimed to rebuild after their injury-plagued 2016/17 campaign. Kevin Dillard was retained, but the team parted ways with Corey Webster after repeated disagreements. Webster briefly joined Perth before opting to pursue opportunities in Europe. The Breakers retained much of their roster and capitalized on the NBL’s new rule allowing three imports by signing DJ Newbill and Édgar Sosa.

The Breakers started the season strong, opening with a 6–1 record thanks to standout performances from Newbill (13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists) and Sosa (15.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists). Backup guard Shea Ili (9.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) impressed, earning the NBL’s Most Improved Player award. Delany continued his upward trajectory, finishing the season with career-best averages of 5.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.

A nine-game winning streak propelled the Breakers to a 9–1 record, tying the best start in franchise history. However, a post-FIBA break slump saw them lose four of their next five games, finishing the regular season in fourth place (15–13). In the semifinals, New Zealand faced Melbourne United and suffered back-to-back losses, including an overtime defeat in Game 2 (88–86). The series marked the final games for club legend Kirk Penney, who scored 17 points in his farewell performance.

2018/19
In 2018, a new regime was ushered in at the Breakers organisation. Former NBA player Matt Walsh became the majority shareholder via a newly formed company, Breakers Basketball Ltd, bringing an end to the 13-year ownership of Liz and Paul Blackwell. The off-season saw the departure of long-serving figures, including Paul Henare (15 years as a player and coach), Kirk Penney (retirement), and franchise cornerstones Alex Pledger (to Melbourne), Mika Vukona (to Brisbane), and Robert Loe (to Cairns). These exits marked the end of an era for the Breakers.

Thomas Abercrombie stepped into the captaincy role following Vukona’s exit, and former player Kevin Braswell was appointed as the new head coach. Braswell was tasked with rebuilding the squad, which included adding Tai Wesley (via Melbourne) and Corey Webster (via Europe) on a three-year deal. The roster was further bolstered by the arrivals of Jarrad Weeks (via Cairns) and Majok Majok (via Melbourne), while Patrick Richard, Armani Moore, and Shawn Long filled the import spots.

The Breakers began their season with a NBLxNBA exhibition game against the Phoenix Suns. Despite being heavy underdogs, they pushed the Suns to the limit, losing 91–86. Corey Webster (27 points and 7 assists) and Tai Wesley (15 points and 7 rebounds) were standout performers for the Breakers, while Phoenix relied on Deandre Ayton (21 points and 15 rebounds) and Trevor Ariza (16 points and 6 assists).

New Zealand’s regular season was marked by inconsistency, injuries, and roster changes. The team endured a five-game losing streak in late November and early December and won only four of their first 12 games. The struggles were compounded by underwhelming performances from key players. Corey Webster (10.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) had his worst statistical season in five years, while Thomas Abercrombie (8.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) and Shea Ili (7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) also saw declines in production. Imports Patrick Richard (11.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) and Armani Moore (7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) failed to meet expectations.

Amid the challenges, Finn Delany (7.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists) delivered a breakout season. He stepped up after the departure of several veterans and emerged as a key contributor off the bench. Delany’s standout performances included a 27-point, 7-rebound game against Cairns on 25 January 2019, where he shot 9 of 12 from the field and 5 of 6 from three-point range. He followed this with a 22-point, 7-rebound, and 3-assist effort in a win over Illawarra on 17 February 2019, showcasing his scoring efficiency by making 9 of 15 shots. Another highlight was his 21-point, 4-rebound game against Sydney on 9 February 2019, where he hit 8 of 11 field goal attempts. These performances earned Delany the Breakers’ Most Improved Player award and set the stage for him to secure his first European contract with Serbian club FMP Belgrade after the season.

Jarrad Weeks (10.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) also enjoyed a career-best season, finishing as a runner-up for both the Best Sixth Man and Most Improved Player awards. Tai Wesley (14.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) continued his consistent play, while Shawn Long (18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) was a dominant force inside, ranking second in the league in rebounds and blocks. Long earned a spot on the All-NBL Second Team and was named the Breakers Club MVP.

Despite their efforts, the Breakers finished the season in sixth place with a 12-16 record, missing the playoffs. Delany’s growth during the season was a bright spot, and his performances solidified his reputation as one of New Zealand’s rising basketball talents.

2019/20
After a breakout 2018/19 season which saw him named the Breakers’ Most Improved Player and earn his first European contract with FMP Belgrade, Finn Delany joined the Dallas Mavericks for NBA Summer League before representing New Zealand at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The Breakers had finished sixth with a 12-16 record the previous season and replaced Kevin Braswell with Dan Shamir as coach and Director of Basketball. Shea Ili (to Melbourne), Shawn Long (to Melbourne) and Tai Wesley (to South East Melbourne) departed, while general manager Dillon Boucher and assistant coach Michael Fitchett also left the club. Rob Loe (via Cairns) returned to New Zealand, RJ Hampton (via Little Elm High School) joined through the NBL’s Next Stars program and imports Scotty Hopson (via Hapoel Holon), Sek Henry (via Pınar Karşıyaka) and Brandon Ashley (via APOEL Nicosia) were added.

Following an impressive FIBA World Cup campaign, Corey Webster sought a release to join Darüşşafaka in Turkey, offering $100,000 towards his own buyout while the Turkish club offered another $25,000, but New Zealand rejected the deal. Reports that co-owner Matt Walsh had described Webster as the “worst statistical starting shooting guard in the NBL” added to the dispute, although Walsh later clarified the comment related to statistical comparisons from the previous season.

A pre-season ankle injury kept him sidelined as New Zealand began the regular season and the injury continued to trouble him through October, forcing him to miss the Breakers’ first eight games. Delany (11.8 points and 5.7 rebounds across 20 games) returned in mid-November and played every remaining game, coming off the bench in his first appearance before starting the final 19 games. The Breakers were 2-8 after ten games and later fell to 4-10 as injuries to a number of key players disrupted the first half of the season.

One of Delany’s biggest moments came against South East Melbourne on January 5, where Delany (18 points and 6 rebounds) hit a clutch three-pointer in the final minutes to seal a 97-92 victory at the State Basketball Centre. Abercrombie (24 points and 4 rebounds) provided further support, while Dane Pineau (17 points and 19 rebounds) was one of the Phoenix’s best as New Zealand collected its fifth consecutive victory and continued its unlikely push towards the playoffs.

Delany’s best scoring game of the season came against Adelaide at Spark Arena on January 31, where Delany (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks) shot 8-of-11 from the field and helped New Zealand produce its highest score of the season in a 113-89 victory. Daniel Johnson (24 points and 9 rebounds) led Adelaide as the Breakers improved to 12-13 and remained alive in the playoff race.

Hopson (18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 21 games), Henry (13.2 points and 3.4 assists across 26 games), Abercrombie (11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds across 28 games), Ashley (10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds across 28 games), Loe (9.3 points and 4 rebounds across 20 games), Hampton (8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds across 15 games) and Jarrad Weeks (5.6 points across 25 games) were New Zealand’s other major contributors. Webster (19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across 11 games) returned to being one of the league’s leading scorers before being bought out of his contract in December (to China), while Hampton later left the team (to United States) to continue rehabilitating a hip injury and prepare for the NBA Draft. Glen Rice Jr (25 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 3 games) was signed as an injury replacement for Hopson but was suspended following an off-court incident and ultimately released after a second arrest. Abercrombie became the first New Zealander and only the second NBL player after Daniel Kickert to complete a 50-40-90 season and was named the Breakers’ MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, while Hopson earned All-NBL Second Team honours and was named the Members Choice MVP.

New Zealand’s turnaround saw it win 11 of its final 14 games after falling to 4-10, with the late-season surge earning the Breakers the description “the team no one wants to play in the playoffs.” Delany credited the change under Shamir, saying, “I’ve really enjoyed the change. I loved the Breakers before and I love it now but kinda for different reasons.”

New Zealand entered its final game still fighting for the last playoff position and defeated South East Melbourne 92-83 in Christchurch on February 14, where Delany (8 points) played 31 minutes. Hopson (23 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals) and Abercrombie (18 points and 5 rebounds) led the Breakers, while John Roberson (15 points and 8 assists) led the Phoenix. New Zealand finished sixth at 15-13 and missed the playoffs on points percentage.

2020/21
After finishing sixth with a 15-13 record and missing the playoffs in 2019/20, New Zealand entered NBL21 with Dan Shamir returning as head coach. Scotty Hopson (to Melbourne), RJ Hampton (to Denver), Sek Henry (to Turkey), Jordan Ngatai (to Cairns), Brandon Ashley and Ater Majok departed, while Tai Webster (via Turkey), Lamar Patterson (via Brisbane), Colton Iverson (via Russia), Dan Trist (via South East Melbourne) and Rasmus Bach (via Denmark) were added alongside development players Kyrin Galloway, Taine Murray and Isaac Davidson. Tai Webster returned to the Breakers after last playing for the club in 2013 before heading to Nebraska. COVID-19 restrictions forced New Zealand to relocate to Australia and play its first 29 regular-season games outside New Zealand, including several designated home games in Tasmania, while Corey Webster suffered a severed nerve in his hand cutting an avocado and missed the opening month.

New Zealand opened its season against Adelaide at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 22, where Delany (16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) supported Tai Webster (34 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Patterson (16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals), but Isaac Humphries (24 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocks) led Adelaide to a 94-91 overtime win.

Delany (16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds across 36 games) produced the best season of his career, lifting his scoring from 11.8 points the previous year. Despite New Zealand’s injury problems, he was the only Breaker to appear in all 36 games and did not miss a game through injury.

His best scoring game came against Melbourne at John Cain Arena on April 10, where Delany (33 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) made 12-of-18 shots from the field, while Corey Webster (13 points) and Randolph (11 points) were next best for New Zealand. Scotty Hopson (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Melbourne to an 84-78 win. “He took advantage of it, came very focused and really had a great game,” Shamir said.

After New Zealand’s preparation was disrupted by being forced into isolation following its return from Perth, Delany (32 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) made 13-of-20 shots against South East Melbourne on May 12, with Loe (19 points and 7 rebounds) and McDowell-White (14 points and 5 assists) providing support. Keifer Sykes (21 points) led the Phoenix to a 91-82 win.

His best game of the season came when the Breakers finally returned to New Zealand on May 20, playing in front of their home fans for the first time in more than a year. Delany (28 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) made 9-of-16 shots and four three-pointers, while Randolph (13 points and 7 rebounds) and McDowell-White (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) helped New Zealand defeat Sydney 89-81 at Trusts Arena, with Casper Ware (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) leading the Kings. “I’m just trying to play free, play in the moment and try to get wins ultimately,” Delany said.

?? FINN DIESEL = HIGHLY FLAMMABLE ?@finndelany leads all scorers with 26 points.#NBL21 pic.twitter.com/dJDCD9xlHh

— The NBL (@NBL) May 20, 2021

Away from New Zealand, the Breakers won only one of their first eight games and had fallen to 4-9 after 13. Patterson (10.8 points and 3.6 rebounds across 6 games) suffered a knee injury against Illawarra on February 22 before being released on March 16. Shamir said, “Lamar got to us 12 days before game one, and unfortunately, he was not in top shape to play, and it was a difficult situation. It influenced how he played, and it influenced the whole team. He was getting in shape and getting better, then he got hurt.”

Jeremy Kendle (7 points across 3 games) was added as a short-term replacement, while William McDowell-White (7.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists across 20 games) joined as a nominated replacement player for the injured Corey Webster. Levi Randolph (14.8 points and 3.4 rebounds across 15 games) was then signed to replace Patterson, bringing Kendle’s stint with the team to an end. Jarrad Weeks (3.7 points across 18 games) was also released before joining Sydney (to Sydney) for the final eight games of the season.

Injuries and personal issues continued to disrupt New Zealand throughout the season. Robert Loe (6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds across 17 games) returned home for personal reasons and appeared in only 17 games, while Thomas Abercrombie (10.6 points and 3.4 rebounds across 27 games), Corey Webster (13.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3 assists across 28 games) and Tai Webster (17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.2 steals across 29 games) all missed significant time. Corey Webster’s return from his hand injury was followed by a knee injury in March which kept him out for another four weeks, while Iverson (8.8 points and 8.6 rebounds across 36 games) remained one of the few players available throughout the campaign.

Tai Webster led New Zealand in scoring, while Delany finished second and was named the Breakers’ Club MVP and selected to the All-NBL Second Team. Captain Abercrombie also passed Kirk Penney as the club’s all-time leader in three-pointers made during his 350th appearance before playing his 355th game on April 28 to pass Mika Vukona as the Breakers’ all-time games leader.

The Breakers returned to New Zealand for their final seven games and went 3-4 over that stretch. New Zealand closed the season against South East Melbourne at Trusts Arena on June 5, where Delany (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists), Tai Webster (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Iverson (10 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Breakers, while Sykes (29 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) carried the Phoenix to an 83-78 win as New Zealand finished eighth with a 12-24 record.

2021/22
After playing 29 of their 36 games in Australia and finishing eighth with a 12-24 record the previous season, the New Zealand Breakers were again forced to play their entire NBL22 campaign away from home. Corey Webster (to Egypt) was released to continue his career overseas, while Tai Webster (to Lithuania) departed after choosing not to meet the NBL’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Coach Dan Shamir rebuilt around William McDowell-White and returning forwards Thomas Abercrombie, Robert Loe, Finn Delany and Kyrin Galloway, adding Yanni Wetzell (via South East Melbourne), Peyton Siva (via Berlin), Hugo Besson (via France), Jeremiah Martin (via Cleveland) and Next Star Ousmane Dieng (via France).

New Zealand entered the season following a team-wide COVID-19 outbreak, with Shamir unavailable and Abercrombie sidelined through injury. The Breakers opened against South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on December 4, where Delany (18 points and 9 rebounds) led New Zealand, with Siva (11 points) and Galloway (10 points and 7 rebounds) providing support, while Xavier Munford (27 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) led the Phoenix as the Breakers lost 65-89.

Delany (10 points and 5.6 rebounds across 26 games) started every game he played but was unable to reproduce the career-best form which earned him All-NBL Second Team honours and the Breakers’ club MVP the previous season. Despite receiving interest from European clubs, he allowed the overseas option in his contract to expire and returned for the final year of his deal with New Zealand.
“I definitely have unfinished business with the Breakers and this league and I really want to find success with this team,” Delany said.

His highest-scoring game came in the rematch against South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on December 10, where Delany (23 points) made five three-pointers. Besson (26 points and 8 rebounds), Wetzell (18 points and 4 rebounds) and McDowell-White (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists) also contributed, but Siva suffered a hamstring injury less than three minutes into the game and Mitch Creek (36 points) led the Phoenix as New Zealand lost 88-95.

Delany produced one of his strongest games in New Zealand’s second win of the season against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on January 16, finishing with 21 points and 9 rebounds as the Breakers closed the game with an 18-1 run and won 82-75. Martin (22 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Siva (17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) led the comeback alongside him, while Xavier Cooks (19 points and 12 rebounds) was Sydney’s best.

Early injuries to Siva (11.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 2 steals across 23 games) and Abercrombie, combined with the club’s COVID outbreak, resulted in Chasson Randle (via Orlando) joining as an injury replacement as the Breakers began the season with six consecutive losses. Once Siva returned, New Zealand agreed to release Martin (12.3 points and 3.6 assists across 10 games), retaining Randle (7.8 points across 17 games) for the remainder of the season. Plans to play home games later in the campaign were abandoned because of continuing border restrictions, leaving the Breakers based primarily in Tasmania as they fell to 4-10 by the middle of February.

Delany played New Zealand’s opening 20 games before missing contests against Brisbane on March 24 and Cairns on March 27. The NBL listed him as sidelined for the first game, but neither the league nor the club publicly disclosed a specific injury, illness or selection reason for the two-game absence. No confirmed injury was reported during his season.

Delany’s best all-around game came against Sydney at Bendigo Basketball Stadium on April 12, where he made four three-pointers and finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals without committing a turnover. Wetzell (22 points and 14 rebounds) and Besson (16 points and 4 rebounds) provided support, while Jaylen Adams (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Sydney as New Zealand lost 70-76.

Wetzell (17.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 22 games) led New Zealand in scoring and rebounding and was named club MVP despite being released (to Spain) to join Baskonia before the final two games. Besson (13.9 points and 3.9 rebounds across 25 games), Dieng (8.9 points and 3.2 rebounds across 23 games), McDowell-White (6.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 24 games) and Abercrombie (7.4 points across 13 games) were the team’s other major contributors. Besson and Dieng returned (to France) before the final game to begin preparing for the NBA draft, while Delany left New Zealand following the season and signed with Telekom Baskets Bonn (to Germany).
“The club gave me an opportunity to chase my ambitions. I’m grateful for the many ups and downs with amazing teammates, coaches and staff,” Delany said.

With Wetzell, Besson and Dieng unavailable, Delany (9 points and 6 rebounds), Randle (14 points) and Rasmus Bach (14 points) led New Zealand against Adelaide at MyState Bank Arena on April 24, while Sunday Dech (19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) led the 36ers as the Breakers lost 60-93. It was New Zealand’s tenth consecutive loss as the club finished tenth with a franchise-worst 5-23 record.

2023/24
Finn Delany returned to New Zealand on a two-year deal after spending the previous season with Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany. Delany helped Bonn win the Basketball Champions League and reach the German Bundesliga finals before representing New Zealand at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where he averaged 16.4 points across five games and scored 27 points in an 88-86 victory over Egypt.

The Breakers also re-signed William McDowell-White and retained captain Thomas Abercrombie, Cameron Gliddon and Izayah Le’Afa. Mangok Mathiang (via Hapoel Eilat), Dane Pineau (via South East Melbourne) and Next Star Mantas Rubstavicius (via Lietkabelis) were added, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Zylan Cheatham and Justinian Jessup replaced outgoing imports Barry Brown Jr., Jarrell Brantley and Dererk Pardon.

Delany immediately returned to the starting lineup and finished with 18 points and 2 steals in New Zealand’s season-opening 98-87 victory over Cairns. Jackson-Cartwright (25 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 steals), Jessup (15 points) and Mathiang (11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) provided support as the Breakers celebrated Abercrombie’s 400th NBL appearance.

A groin injury then kept Delany out of New Zealand’s 89-85 loss to Brisbane and the club’s NBLxNBA trip to the United States, where the Breakers faced the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz. He returned against Melbourne on October 22 before producing one of his best all-round performances four days later against Adelaide.

Delany finished with 17 points and 3 blocks against the 36ers, while Anthony Lamb (25 points) and Cheatham (17 points) also contributed. DJ Vasiljevic (24 points and 5 assists) led Adelaide to a 97-85 victory, extending New Zealand’s early-season struggles.

Two days later, Delany delivered his highest-scoring performance of the season against South East Melbourne, making 9-of-17 field goals to finish with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. Jackson-Cartwright added 33 points and 8 assists as the Breakers recovered from a 16-point deficit and scored 32 points during the fourth quarter, but Alan Williams (21 points and 13 rebounds), Mitch Creek (20 points) and Gary Browne (18 points and 10 assists) helped the Phoenix hold on for a 103-100 victory.

Delany (8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks across 19 games) provided New Zealand with shooting, defensive versatility and the ability to play either frontcourt position. However, the groin injury that interrupted the opening weeks was followed by a torn calf suffered before Christmas, ruling him out for another four to six weeks.

Dom Kelman-Poto was added as injury cover while Delany rehabilitated, with the forward beginning running and change-of-direction work during January. He returned to the active roster in early February and scored 6 points in an 89-78 road victory over Perth, helping the Breakers collect their first win at RAC Arena since 2021.

Jackson-Cartwright (20.6 points and 5.8 assists), Lamb (19.5 points and 6 rebounds) and Cheatham (15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds) carried most of the offensive load, while Delany settled into a reduced role following his return. New Zealand recovered from an 8-12 record to win five of its final eight regular-season games and finish sixth at 13-15, advancing ahead of Brisbane through points percentage.

The Breakers defeated Sydney 83-76 in the Play-In Qualifier behind Jackson-Cartwright’s 34 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Delany then scored 8 points and made two three-pointers against Illawarra, but Justin Robinson (26 points) and Sam Froling (21 points and 9 rebounds) led the Hawks to an 88-85 victory, ending New Zealand’s season one game short of the semifinals.

Delany and the Breakers parted ways during the off-season, ending his return after one season of the two-year agreement.

MELBOURNE UNITED
2025/26
Melbourne’s off-season followed another Championship Series defeat, with Dean Vickerman keeping Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Tanner Krebs and Kyle Bowen as the main returning pieces. Matthew Dellavedova (to Sydney), Flynn Cameron (to Adelaide), Akech Aliir (to South East Melbourne), Rob Loe (to New Zealand), Marcus Lee (to Cairns), Jack White (to Turkey), Ian Clark (to South East Melbourne) and Joel Foxwell (to NCAA) moved on, while Vickerman added Milton Doyle (via Tasmania), Finn Delany (via Japan), Fabijan Krslovic (via Tasmania), Tyson Walker (via Texas Legends), Jesse Edwards (via Iowa Wolves), Tom Wilson (via Melbourne Tigers) and Next Star Dash Daniels (via Centre of Excellence).

Melbourne opened the season in Hobart on September 18, where Delany (12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) started at power forward and helped United defeat Tasmania 88-84, with Doyle (22 points and 3 assists) and Walker (14 points and 3 steals) leading the scoring, while Bryce Hamilton (24 points) was Tasmania’s best.

Delany (11.4 points and 5.5 rebounds across 33 games) gave Melbourne another experienced frontcourt piece, returning to the NBL after time in Japan and starting throughout the season. His best regular-season scoring game came in Wollongong on November 5, where Delany (21 points and 3 assists) led Melbourne, but Illawarra defeated United 107-93 behind JaVale McGee (37 points and 14 rebounds), while Edwards (19 points and 6 rebounds) and Doyle (16 points and 11 assists) were Melbourne’s next best.

Delany had one of his biggest moments later that month against Illawarra on November 21, hitting the go-ahead three-pointer in the final seconds and finishing with 13 points and 5 rebounds as Melbourne defeated the Hawks 105-102, with Goulding (23 points) and Doyle (19 points and 7 assists) leading United, while McGee (28 points and 12 rebounds) and Quentin Peterson (22 points) kept Illawarra close.

Another strong game came in Adelaide on December 12, where Delany (20 points and 9 rebounds) helped Melbourne erase an 18-point deficit before falling 114-105 in overtime, with Goulding (24 points) and Doyle (17 points) supporting him, while Bryce Cotton (33 points, 7 rebounds, and 13 assists) led the 36ers. Six days later, Delany (18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) helped Melbourne snap a four-game losing streak with a 97-75 win over Illawarra, with Walker (21 points and 10 assists) and Krebs (17 points) leading United, while McGee (18 points and 10 rebounds) and Tyler Harvey (18 points) were Illawarra’s best.

Doyle (16 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists) led Melbourne in scoring, while Walker (14.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals) gave United another creator and point-of-attack defender. Edwards (13.3 points and 8.4 rebounds) anchored the interior and won Melbourne’s club MVP award, while Goulding (12.8 points), Delany, Krebs (7.9 points and 3.3 rebounds) and Ili (7.3 points and 3.1 assists) rounded out the main contributors. Krslovic (4.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) won the SHARE award and Bowen won the United Belt.

Melbourne opened 9-0 before a difficult December and January stretch dropped United from the top of the ladder into the play-in race. United closed the regular season against South East Melbourne on February 19, where Delany (7 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Melbourne defeat the Phoenix 95-91, with Doyle (25 points) and Walker (23 points and 5 assists) leading the scoring, while Nathan Sobey (29 points and 7 rebounds) led South East Melbourne as United finished fifth with a 20-13 record.

Melbourne hosted Tasmania in the Play-In Qualifier at John Cain Arena, where Delany (33 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists) delivered his biggest game for United and led them to a 82-68 win, with Doyle (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Krebs (11 points) supporting him, while Nick Marshall (20 points and 6 rebounds), David Johnson (16 points) and Josh Bannan (16 points and 5 rebounds) led an injury-depleted Tasmania.

The Play-In Game moved to RAC Arena, where Perth ended Melbourne’s season 95-77 behind Lual-Acuil Jr (28 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks), Doolittle (24 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Windler (18 points and 9 rebounds), while Doyle (13 points), Walker (12 points) and Edwards (12 points and 8 rebounds) led United, and Delany (7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) played 23:56 minutes in the 95-77 loss.

Finn Delany currently plays for the Melbourne United and has played 215 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists since entering the league in 2015.