NBL EXPERIENCE

Mantas Rubstavicius made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 21 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

The New Zealand Breakers entered the 2023/24 season with a focus on building a competitive roster to match the success of previous years. The key move of the off-season was re-signing standout guard William McDowell-White to a two-year deal. McDowell-White, coming off a stellar NBL23 campaign and being one of the most sought-after free agents, chose to remain with the Breakers, citing coach Mody Maor as a crucial factor in his decision. Finn Delany also returned to the club after a stint in Germany, bolstering the team’s experience and leadership. The Breakers retained core players Cameron Gliddon, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and captain Thomas Abercrombie, while adding Mangok Mathiang (via Illawarra), Dane Pineau (via South East Melbourne), and Lithuanian prospect Mantas Rubstavicius under the NBL Next Star Program.

Coach Maor finalized the roster with the addition of new imports Parker Jackson-Cartwright (via Turkey), Zylan Cheatham (via Germany), and Justinian Jessup, who returned to the NBL after a year in the G-League. These players replaced key outgoing imports Barry Brown Jr. (to China), Jarrell Brantley (to France), and Dererk Pardon (to Italy), completing a lineup expected to challenge for a playoff berth.

Mantas Rubstavicius arrived at the Breakers with significant expectations. The young Lithuanian, initially projected as a second-round pick in the NBA Draft, chose to withdraw and join the NBL to develop his game and increase his draft stock. Having impressed at the Under-20 Euro Championships, where he led Lithuania to the final and topped the scoring charts, Rubstavicius caught the attention of coach Mody Maor. “He led the competition in scoring and Lithuania to the final, and this is when he put himself on the radar for the Breakers,” Maor said. “He has experience in high-pressure situations in competitive environments and has been playing against adults, which is not the case when you get an 18-year-old.”

The Breakers began their season with a win over Cairns (98–87) and a close loss to Brisbane (84–89). They then traveled to the USA to face the Phoenix Suns in the NBLxNBA exhibition game. Despite injuries impacting the squad and the late addition of former NBA forward Anthony Lamb, New Zealand pushed the Suns to the brink, falling just short in a 91–86 defeat. Corey Webster (27 points and 7 assists) and Tai Wesley (15 points and 7 rebounds) led the Breakers in scoring, while Phoenix, playing without Devin Booker, leaned on Deandre Ayton (21 points and 15 rebounds) and Trevor Ariza (16 points and 6 assists).

Rubstavicius began the season as a high-upside player, ranked in ESPN’s 2024 NBA mock draft as a potential second-round pick. His early performances showed glimpses of his potential, but injuries across the squad disrupted the Breakers’ cohesion. Jessup was released mid-season after failing to recover from a pelvis injury, while Delany, Cheatham, McDowell-White, and Rubstavicius all missed significant time. Despite these challenges, Rubstavicius showcased his talent in several games, including a 21-point, 8-rebound, and 3-assist performance in a win over Cairns on December 15, 2023, a 17-point outing against Sydney on December 22, 2023, and a 17-point, 2-steal effort against Illawarra on January 28, 2024, where he shot 75% from the field (6 of 8).

New Zealand struggled with consistency throughout the season, enduring a five-game losing streak before a crucial win over Cairns (91–81). Lamb (19 points), Mauriohooho-Le’Afa (14 points and 4 assists), McDowell-White (14 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals), Jackson-Cartwright (13 points and 7 assists), and Rubstavicius (11 points) all contributed to the victory. However, by January, the Breakers found themselves at the bottom of the ladder with an 8–12 record. A late-season turnaround saw them win five of their last seven games to finish 13–15, tied with Sydney and Brisbane. Due to points percentage, Sydney (fifth) and New Zealand (sixth) advanced to the play-in tournament, while Brisbane missed out.

Rubstavicius averaged 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists during the season, providing solid depth for the Breakers and demonstrating his scoring ability in key matchups. Alongside him, Parker Jackson-Cartwright (20.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists) led the team offensively, while Anthony Lamb (19.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) and Zylan Cheatham (15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists) offered strong contributions.

In the play-in tournament, New Zealand faced Sydney and earned a hard-fought victory (83–76), led by Jackson-Cartwright’s 34 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, and Mangok Mathiang’s near double-double of 10 points and 9 rebounds. However, the Breakers fell short in the second play-in game against Illawarra, losing by three points (88–85) despite Jackson-Cartwright’s 19 points and 9 assists and Cheatham’s 12 points and 9 rebounds. This loss ended their season and denied them a semi-final berth.

Mantas Rubstavicius played one season in the NBL. He averaged 9.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 25 NBL games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (836 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.