BIO: Rayan Rupert was born in Strasbourg (France). Rupert, who possesses a 7’3 wingspan, graduated from the INSEP Academy in France, a program which helped developed NBA stars Ousmane Dieng and Clint Capela.

FAMILY: Rupert’s father, Thierry, was a EuroLeague player and captain of the French national team while his sister, Iliana, was the 12th overall pick in the 2021 WNBA draft.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Rayan Rupert made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 18 years of age. He scored 12 points in his first game.

Rayan Rupert, an 18-year-old French guard known for his defensive prowess, joined the New Zealand Breakers as an NBL Next Star, following in the footsteps of Ousmane Dieng, who had been a lottery pick from the Breakers the previous season. Rupert’s 7’3 wingspan and defensive potential immediately made him a prospect to watch, with many projecting him as a top-20 NBA Draft pick.

Projected top-20 pick Rayan Rupert made major contributions in a road win in the NBL, harassing opponents the length of the floor with his 7'3 wingspan, making smart reads and scoring in transition and with his pullup jumper. 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists for the 18-year old. pic.twitter.com/cTVomK0L4C

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) October 16, 2022

At the time, New Zealand was in a rebuilding phase following the departure of head coach Dan Shamir and the loss of six of their top eight players from the prior season, including Yanni Wetzell, Hugo Besson, Peyton Siva, Finn Delany, Ousmane Dieng, and Chasson Randle. Only Thomas Abercrombie, Robert Loe, and William McDowell-White returned, with assistant Mody Maor stepping up as head coach. To strengthen the roster, the Breakers added Tom Vodanovich (via Sydney), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and Cameron Gliddon (both via South East Melbourne) for defense and perimeter shooting off the bench. They also signed imports Dererk Pardon, Jarrell Brantley, and Barry Brown Jr.

The Breakers opened the season with a loss to Melbourne, a game that gave little indication of the defensive force they would become. With Abercrombie sidelined for the first month of the season due to a torn retina, the Breakers leaned on their new additions, and by Round 4, they had already matched their win total from the previous campaign. Rupert played a key role in this transformation, showcasing his defensive capabilities early on.

In Round 5, the Breakers dismantled the Adelaide 36ers with a 99-70 victory. Brown Jr (22 points) and Brantley (22 points and 4 steals) led the way, forcing 18 turnovers and shooting 15 of 30 from beyond the arc. Two nights later, they secured a dominant 94-62 victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers at Spark Arena, marking their biggest-ever win at home and propelling them to the top of the NBL ladder.

After two seasons of playing home games in Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Breakers emerged as contenders. Their defensive resurgence was evident in a top-of-the-table clash against Sydney, where they narrowly fell 81-77 despite a late 31-17 surge in the final 10 minutes, led by Brown Jr (22 points). This game, however, marked a turning point for Rupert, who suffered a broken wrist that sidelined him for two months.

Rupert’s absence did not derail the Breakers’ season, as they engaged in a back-and-forth battle with Cairns for second place. Victories over Brisbane and Illawarra, combined with a last-round loss by Cairns, allowed New Zealand to leapfrog their rivals and secure second place with an 18-10 record, clinching their first playoff appearance in five years. Rupert returned late in the season, seamlessly reintegrating into the lineup with a standout 14-point performance against Perth, showcasing his improved left-hand skills, which he had focused on during his recovery.

Rupert finished the season averaging 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, often tasked with guarding the opposition’s best guards. Meanwhile, Brown Jr (19.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists), Pardon (11.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks), and Brantley (16.2 points, 6 rebounds, 1.7 assists) received league-wide recognition. Brown Jr earned Sixth Man of the Year honours, while Brantley was named the Breakers’ club MVP.

In the semifinals, the Breakers faced the Tasmania JackJumpers. Game 1 saw New Zealand dominate 88-68, led by Pardon’s 15 points and 9 rebounds. Tasmania responded in Game 2 with an 89-78 win, fueled by Milton Doyle’s 23 points. In Game 3, New Zealand secured a 92-77 victory to advance to the Championship Series, with Brown Jr exploding for 32 points and Pardon adding a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double.

The Championship Series against Sydney began with a stunning 95-87 road win for New Zealand, highlighted by McDowell-White’s 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. However, Sydney leveled the series with an 81-74 win in Game 2, despite missing Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr. The Kings took control in Game 3, winning 91-68 in front of a record 18,049 fans. The Breakers forced a Game 5 with an 80-70 victory in Auckland, led by Brantley (23 points) and Brown Jr (20 points).

In the decisive Game 5, the Breakers took an early 11-point lead but faltered late as Sydney mounted a 14-0 run to claim a 77-69 victory. Derrick Walton Jr (21 points, 6 assists) earned Finals MVP honours, while Brown Jr (22 points off the bench) was New Zealand’s top scorer. The series drew 67,811 fans, the highest attendance in NBL Grand Final history.

Rayan Rupert played one season in the NBL. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 28 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (835 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.