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 two points in his first game.

After finishing the previous season at the bottom of the ladder with a 5-23 record, New Zealand entered its first campaign with regular home games in two years following the departure of head coach Dan Shamir and the promotion of assistant Mody Maor. The Breakers lost six of their top eight scorers, with Yanni Wetzell (to Spain), Hugo Besson (to France), Peyton Siva (to Illawarra), Finn Delany (to Germany), Ousmane Dieng (to Oklahoma City) and Chasson Randle (to Denver) departing, leaving Thomas Abercrombie, Robert Loe and William McDowell-White as the main returning members of the rotation.

Maor added Tom Vodanovich (via Sydney), Izayah Le’Afa (via South East Melbourne) and Cameron Gliddon (via South East Melbourne), while imports Dererk Pardon (via Israel), Jarrell Brantley (via the G League) and Barry Brown Jr (via Beijing) were recruited. French prospect Rayan Rupert (via Pôle France) joined through the NBL Next Stars program, following compatriot Dieng’s move from the Breakers to the NBA as the 11th selection in the 2022 NBA Draft.

The French guard entered the season as a projected first-round NBA Draft selection, with his 7’3 wingspan, defensive pressure and ability to guard several positions making him one of the NBL’s leading young prospects. Abercrombie suffered a torn retina during the preseason and missed the opening month.

New Zealand opened the season against Melbourne at John Cain Arena on October 2, where the French guard finished with 2 points and 2 rebounds in 11:46 as Pardon (23 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Brown Jr (23 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Breakers, while Xavier Rathan-Mayes (33 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Chris Goulding (24 points) carried United to a 101-97 overtime victory.

Rupert (5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks across 28 games) became a regular member of Maor’s rotation, providing defence and energy from the bench while often being assigned to the opposition’s leading perimeter scorer.

One of his strongest early performances came against South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on October 15, where Rupert (10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped New Zealand defeat the Phoenix 85-77. Loe (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block), Le’Afa (14 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals) and Brantley (13 points and 5 rebounds) led the Breakers, while Mitch Creek (20 points and 4 rebounds) was South East Melbourne’s leading scorer.

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

Two nights later, Rupert (11 points and 4 rebounds) produced another double-figure performance as McDowell-White (17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Gliddon (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) led New Zealand to an 88-62 victory over Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre, while Tyler Harvey (12 points and 2 steals) was the Hawks’ leading scorer.

New Zealand matched its total number of victories from the previous season within four rounds before defeating Adelaide 99-70 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on October 28. Rupert (9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) contributed as Brantley (22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block), Brown Jr (22 points and 4 assists) and Le’Afa (15 points and 3 steals) led the Breakers, who forced 18 turnovers and made 15 three-pointers, while Kai Sotto (16 points and 7 rebounds) led the 36ers.

Two nights later, Rupert (7 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) helped New Zealand defeat Tasmania 94-62 at Spark Arena. Brown Jr (24 points), Pardon (15 points, 14 rebounds, and 1 block) and McDowell-White (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the Breakers to their largest victory at the venue and moved them above Sydney into first place, while Milton Doyle (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the JackJumpers.

The league’s top two teams met at Spark Arena on November 6, where Rupert (1 rebound) suffered a broken right wrist after slipping during the first quarter and left the game after 4:38. Brown Jr (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals), Le’Afa (15 points and 4 assists) and Pardon (11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks) helped New Zealand outscore Sydney 31-17 during the fourth quarter, but Justin Simon (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals) and Xavier Cooks (13 points and 4 rebounds) led the Kings to an 81-77 victory and reclaimed first place.

The injury sidelined Rupert for two months and eight games before he returned against Perth at TSB Stadium on January 4. His best scoring game of the season saw him make five of seven field goals and two of three three-pointers to finish with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block as New Zealand defeated the Wildcats 97-94. Brown Jr (23 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists), Le’Afa (18 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Brantley (11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) helped the Breakers take control with a 14-0 run during the third quarter, while Bryce Cotton (32 points and 5 assists), Brady Manek (20 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Corey Webster (19 points and 2 steals) led Perth.

“I think I’m a better player because I worked very hard physically on my left hand,” Rupert said.

Rupert (12 points and 1 steal) helped New Zealand secure its place in the playoffs against Melbourne at Spark Arena on January 28, with Brantley (18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Loe (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal) leading a 19-0 Breakers run during an 80-74 victory. Rathan-Mayes (15 points and 7 rebounds) and Rayjon Tucker (14 points and 6 rebounds) led United.

The Breakers overcame a 16-point halftime deficit against Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre on February 2, outscoring the Hawks 29-9 during the third quarter before winning 91-81. Rupert (7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) contributed as Brown Jr (22 points) and Brantley (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led New Zealand, while Harvey (22 points and 2 steals) and Sam Froling (17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) were Illawarra’s best.

New Zealand completed the regular season against Brisbane at Nissan Arena on February 4, where Rupert (3 rebounds and 1 steal) contributed as Brantley (19 points and 5 rebounds), McDowell-White (15 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) and Abercrombie (14 points and 4 steals) led the Breakers to an 80-75 victory. Aron Baynes (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Brisbane as New Zealand secured second place with an 18-10 record and returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years.

Brown Jr (19.6 points and 1.2 steals across 27 games) and Brantley (16.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 35 games) carried much of New Zealand’s offence, while Pardon (11.8 points and 8.2 rebounds across 35 games) anchored the interior and McDowell-White (10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.8 assists across 33 games) directed the offence. Le’Afa (10.1 points across 34 games), Loe (5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds across 30 games) and Abercrombie (5.6 points and 1.3 steals across 27 games) completed Maor’s main rotation.

Brown Jr and Pardon were selected to the All-NBL Second Team, with Brown Jr also winning the NBL Best Sixth Man award. Brantley was named the Breakers’ club MVP, while Rupert’s defence and length remained important throughout New Zealand’s rise from the bottom of the ladder to the Championship Series.

Tasmania defeated Cairns 87-79 in the play-in tournament to set up a best-of-three semifinal series against New Zealand.

New Zealand opened the semifinals at Spark Arena with an 88-68 victory, where Rupert (10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) provided energy from the bench as Pardon (15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and McDowell-White (13 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) led the Breakers, while Rashard Kelly (12 points and 4 rebounds) was Tasmania’s leading scorer.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Rupert (5 points, 1 assist, and 2 steals), Brown Jr (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals), Brantley (17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Pardon (15 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 steals) led New Zealand, but Doyle (23 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Jack McVeigh (16 points) carried Tasmania to an 89-78 victory and levelled the series.

The deciding game returned to Spark Arena, where Rupert (2 points, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) contributed as Brown Jr (32 points and 3 steals), Pardon (15 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Brantley (14 points and 7 rebounds) led New Zealand to a 92-77 victory. McVeigh (22 points and 7 rebounds) and Kelly (16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) were Tasmania’s best as the Breakers reached their first Championship Series since 2016.

The Championship Series opened at Qudos Bank Arena, where Rupert (6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) contributed as McDowell-White (19 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals), Brown Jr (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Brantley (16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led New Zealand to a 95-87 victory. Simon (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Jordan Hunter (15 points and 4 rebounds) led Sydney in front of 13,145 fans, while Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr both suffered leg injuries.

Game two moved to Spark Arena, where Rupert (1 point), Brown Jr (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals), Brantley (20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Le’Afa (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand. Kouat Noi (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals), Dejan Vasiljevic (16 points and 4 rebounds) and Simon (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 steals) carried Sydney to an 81-74 victory despite Cooks being unavailable and Walton Jr playing only 4:50 because of his leg injury.

Sydney regained the series lead at Qudos Bank Arena with a 91-68 victory in front of an NBL record crowd of 18,049, where Rupert (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) was one of New Zealand’s leading scorers. McDowell-White (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block), Brantley (10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Brown Jr (10 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) also contributed, while Vasiljevic (15 points and 4 rebounds), Tim Soares (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks), Simon (13 points, 6 assists, and 2 blocks) and Walton Jr (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists) led Sydney.

New Zealand forced a deciding game with an 80-70 victory at Spark Arena, where Rupert (0 points) played 3:25 as Brantley (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block), Brown Jr (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and McDowell-White (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Breakers. Abercrombie also recorded 6 steals, while Walton Jr (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Angus Glover (12 points and 2 steals) led Sydney in front of a New Zealand basketball record crowd of 9,742.

The deciding game returned to Qudos Bank Arena, where New Zealand led by 11 points during the opening quarter and again held the advantage late before Sydney completed a 14-0 fourth-quarter run and won 77-69 in front of another NBL record crowd of 18,124. Brown Jr (22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Brantley (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) and McDowell-White (12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Breakers, while Walton Jr (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists), Cooks (19 points and 11 rebounds) and Glover (12 points and 9 rebounds) delivered Sydney its second consecutive championship. Walton Jr was named Grand Final MVP and the five-game series drew 67,811 fans, while Rupert (0 points) played 2:03.

Rayan Rupert played one season in the NBL. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 28 NBL games.