Something seems very wrong at the NZB

" It's understood the Kiwi coach doesn't see eye-to-eye with head coach and director of basketball Dan Shamir.
In text correspondence with 1 NEWS, Walsh says Shamir works incredibly hard and expects the same from his players and support staff."

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/basketball/breakers-assistant-coach-resigns-six-days-before-start-season

Poor form by Fitchett putting his house on the market, selling it, planning a move to Nelson, and still taking the trip to the US for preseason games knowing he had no intention on coaching this season. If you were so unhappy with Shamir's coaching style why not quit a month ago and give the team a chance to find a replacement without having to scramble days before the season opener?

Players are understandably pissed Ulgun says. Probably won't help his recruiting at Nelson next season in the NZ NBL (where they were one of the worst teams in the league already last year).

Good riddance. Addition by subtraction

Implying Fitchett not a hard worker.Id challenge that. Knowing him.

Mind you timing is not great from Mike. Optics don't look good. Any employer would be cheesed on the back leg of an NBA trip to get that from an employee.

You would have to think with a family to support, Mike wouldnt decide lightly. And unlike others (Henare) he doesn't have the track record to pick up hugs elsewhere.

But impugning Fitchett opens up for Fitchett to have a crack at Walsh. All others were done with a sense of decorum or presumably under a confidentiality clause. If there is a back story, Fitchett might be the one to expose it. And he could look good for doing it.

On the otherside, it is good to see Walsh fronting the media, and even if impugning Fitchett, at least telling his side of the story. Walsh is doing better with the media.

Lastly, notice that Walsh compares shamif to braswell. That was interesting, because supposedly they are different roles.

"Poor form by Fitchett putting his house on the market, selling it, planning a move to Nelson, and still taking the trip to the US for preseason games knowing he had no intention on coaching this season. "

How do you know he did that? Walsh has used that as a one-sided public slur, but highly likely there is more to the story.

Timing doesn't look great for Fitchett. It looks like he wanted out some time ago, but has left this till the last minute. Telling management as you’re waiting for the flight home seems to have some angst to it.

At the same time, it also makes you wonder what happened that he felt that doing this an appropriate thing to do. What pushed him to be unprofessional? He’s a humble, hard working bloke.

The Breakers may yet find a better candidate though. He did seem to be one of the jobs for the old boys. Zico, however, was an inspired signing outside the old boys. Hopefully Fitchett’s replacement is similar or better quality.

So he preemptively sold his house?

It's probably true that both:
a) the Breakers' culture is terrible
b) Fitchett responded unprofessionally

Is the culture bad? Or is it just different?

Fair enough. Some of the comments by Walsh about being demanding also sounds like an excuse for being a dick.

Do the Breakers have any development players other than Terry Li?

"People are reading a lot into the house sale. He could have intended to rent in AKL and carry on his role?"

Sure... but then he conveniently decided to quit his job and move. That's more than a little suspect.

It will be interesting if Fitchett comments. While I have been willing to give Walsh and his crew the benefit of the doubt, where there's smoke there’s fire couldn’t be truer right now.

"Sure... but then he conveniently decided to quit his job and move. That's more than a little suspect."

How do you know he's moved?

Sometimes life doesn't line up.

Maybe he wanted to go back to Nelson for good personal reasons. Sometimes the timing of selling might be pre or mid season. Life.

But if you are a good employee you let your boss know before you sell, you keep them informed.

You don't launch it on them at the okc airport.

Unless, there are other reasons to.

639, did you read the article?

RJ Hampton isn't a development player.

The interesting aspect is Olgun's comment that allegedly the playing group aren’t happy with Fitchett. If the culture were truly toxic and falling apart at that seams I imagine they’d be aligning with Fitchett. But they’re not.

Still on the website: http://www.nzbreakers.basketball/pages/skycity-breakers-academy-programme

Designed by Braswell, and run by Flavell and Fitchett...

649, I think most are referring to the organisational culture as a whole.

I imagine there's some distrust from fans stemming from the gradual divergence from the culture and long-term vision the Breakers built during the Blackwell's tenure.

The Breakers have a distinct advantage over other NBL teams in being able to recruit, retain and build chemistry with it's local players and work in tandem with the national program.

We're not far removed from NZ's 4 championships in 5 years, yet new ownership has blown up the model that proved successful and have alienated just about every person responsible. Not to mention controversies on twitter, the manner in which Braswell was dismissed etc.

It could work out fine, or possibly even better - who knows. This current list and coaching staff could have immediate success too. Fans have ample reason to be skeptical or pessimistic though.

At least we dont have Jo Holley on entertainment this year

She was terrible. I wasn't a big fan of the previous guy, but he was much, much better. Who have they replaced her with?

"639, did you read the article?"

Yes I did, and all I see are comments from Walsh. I wouldn't be taking his word on this as gospil.

So Fitchett sells his house, quits, and coaches Nelson's NZNBL team, and you doubt that he's moved city? Interesting.

He coached Nelson last season. That is not a new development.

"He coached Nelson last season. That is not a new development."

Correct. The new developments are the other points which you're conveniently choosing to ignore.

It could be coincidence - but certainly doesn't look that way.

Because Walsh heard from other staff members. I'm not sure how you could deduce both parties had known for some time. Maybe Fitchett told others about his imminent departure on or leading up to the US trip.

"The new developments are the other points which you're conveniently choosing to ignore."

The "other points" have only come out of the mouth of Walsh, that's my point, it would be silly to treat them as fact. He is presenting one side of the story to the media.

"The "other points" have only come out of the mouth of Walsh"

You're disputing that Fitchett quit?

Olgun Uluc tweet seems to add weight to at least some of Walsh's comments.

"You're disputing that Fitchett quit?"

I'm assuming that silly comment is because you have run out of ideas?

Walsh has followed the golden rule, make sure the first thing people hear about an issue is from your mouth, and it's what you want them to believe. Studies show people are most likely to believe the first piece of information they hear on a subject.

This thread is a good example of that, people immediately buying Walsh's line that this was premeditated and Fitchett has already sold his house in anticipation. We don't know that's true because the journo doesn't appear to have bothered to find out from anyone other than Walsh.

The journalist has also done a poor job by effectively quoting Fitchett via Walsh's mouth. A PR dream for Walsh and the club, but it's just a case of reporting half the story.

I'm not assuming Walsh has provided a factual account of events. I'm suggesting if it were a non-story, Walsh wouldn't feel the need to put a spin on things.

As I wrote before: Olgun also adds some weight to Walsh's comments. You're yet to address that: probably because it doesn't fit your argument.

https://twitter.com/OlgunUluc/status/1182848270416015360

"I'm suggesting if it were a non-story, Walsh wouldn't feel the need to put a spin on things."

Of course he would, yet another person has quit the club, another person who had been there a number of years, giving further weight to the feeling that all is not well. He had to respond and he's gone on the offensive, that's good PR work on his behalf.


Re the tweet you speak of, here it is:

"People within the Breakers - players et al - aren't happy with Fitchett’s sudden resignation"

Doesn't really say much. Are they unhappy because a good assistant is gone? Are they unhappy because his timing was bad? Are they unhappy because they thought his conduct was poor? Are they unhappy because things aren't going well at the club and this is another negative?

769 you've only quoted part of the tweet.

I think that comment is meant to be read together with the linked article and Walsh’s comments, and when read together means that the playing group is not happy with the sudden resignation at the end of the tour when it could have been done earlier.

As an aside, does anyone else think it's weird that the replacement will be at their desk on Monday or Tuesday? Or are they going to offer the position to an assistant candidate who lost out to Zike?

Yes I think it is incredible quick to get someone. If this person is good, then that is great management.

I like Fitchett. But I thought Shamir looks like a good coach. He looks level headed. What he says isn't controversial. I have liked his rotations and team he has put together. I can't see what would have annoyed Mike so much with Shamir that would lead him to resign. To the contrary he would appear to be a good mentor.

I dont read much into the Selling of the house. I was more surprised he could afford a house in Auckland on an assistant coach wage. He could just rent like the rest of Auckland. Nothing to see here.

I also think Walsh is doing much better with the media. Last year walsh did an appalling job with the team. That first home game I will remember forever. For all the wrong reasons. Jo holley. Oh dear.

My impression is he has never worked in a business before, let alone lead one. And he didn't seem to want to slow down and listen.

That said, I wish him all the best. I hope he succeeds. The team looks great. If he succeeds the breakers succeed and everything is better. Given the way he is handling the media I thought maybe he has learnt from last year. Grown into it. And things might be more positive.

All these resignations don't inspire confidence do they. But also something had to change. There were too many old timers collecting fat pay checks in the breakers in a non commercial setting blindly hoping that all of a sudden it would miraculously become commercial. Business doesn't work like that. Walsh has a vision and good on him. Something had to change. Last year I just thought he changed things too quickly without the precision required. Ie the change was for the worse (reference game day).

This is probably the longest breakers thread I have seen for years. So it can't be all bad. He is getting people talking about bball and that is better than the usual rugby drone. And as much as I like Fitchett - who is a character guy. His leaving and the way he did it isn't big enough to define the success or otherwise of the breakers this year.

"There were too many old timers collecting fat pay checks in the breakers in a non commercial setting blindly hoping that all of a sudden it would miraculously become commercial."

Not really. With possibly the exception of the Braswell year, this has been an incredibly hardworking basketball program that has in many ways set the standard and set the trends around the league along with Perth.

I don't agree. There were some appointments that weren’t great. The fact that it’s taken so long for Zico to get a look in shows it wasn’t meritocratic. Even some player contracts at times were questionable.

No organisation gets everything right but that doesn't mean it wasn't a hard-working club that achieved a lot of good things.