INTERVIEW: Reuben Te Rangi

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

The Flava Breakfast Podcast.

Azura (0:03)

Flava Old School Hip Hop and R&B with Azura and Charlie. And as you know, we have been supporting the BNZ Breakers as they do a game changing season because they completely re-branded the team. They made it, you know, something different, something fresh this year for 2026 And that's what's making the games more exciting.

Charlie (0:21)

Would you agree? 100%, and they have one goal in mind, and that's to bring that championship back here to Aotearoa, baby.

Azura (0:28)

And we are very, very lucky to be joined by one of the players. Good morning, Reuben Te Rangi.

Reuben Te Rangi (0:35)

Good morning.

Azura (0:37)

Good morning. Hey, this is a pretty special game for you on Friday, right?

Reuben Te Rangi (0:42)

Kind of, yeah. What do you mean, kind of?

Azura (0:45)

400th NBL game. That's massive, bro. That's massive.

Reuben Te Rangi (0:50)

Yeah, I feel like whilst I'm still playing, it's kind of another game, but I feel like once I settle down and maybe retire, I feel like I'll look back on these moments and think, what a career.

Charlie (1:01)

When you first started with the Breakers, did you ever think you'd still be doing this after all these years, brother?

Reuben Te Rangi (1:06)

Honestly, my goal is just to make it into the NBL and then solidify myself, but to play 400 games is amazing. And I'm pretty grateful because a lot of players' careers don't last this long, and I've had a good run for sure.

Charlie (1:22)

How are the knees?

Azura (1:24)

Oh Charlie.

Charlie (1:26)

400 games deep. I got to ask this man.

Reuben Te Rangi (1:29)

Charlie, you're also 40 and wear knee sleeves.

Charlie (1:31)

And I wear knee sleeves when I'm at the gym, because the knees are not kneeing right now, my brother.

Reuben Te Rangi (1:36)

Yeah, the body just doesn't bounce back as quick as it used to when I was 18 running around, but we have a good support staff and strength and conditioning coach that keeps us going.

Azura (1:50)

What would you say is different about the energy with the team this year? Because we've been lucky enough to catch up with already quite a few of you guys from the BNZ Breakers, and it just feels different. Do you know what I mean?

Reuben Te Rangi (2:02)

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Every year is gonna feel different. I feel like this team, we have a lot more experience. We have guys that have been around the league for a lot longer, so they know what to do and what not to do.

But then, yeah, we brought in a world class coach as well, which is leading us from the front.

Azura (2:19)

And what are you sort of expecting from the 36ers for the game?

Reuben Te Rangi (2:24)

I mean, they're down a few guys.

They obviously have one of the best players in the league, Bryce Cotton, so we have to, a lot of our scout is gonna be on him. But yeah, they're a team that's dangerous. They've knocked down a few good teams. Sydney being one of them and we've got to come out with our best foot forward.

Charlie (2:42)

You just can't look down on any team in this competition, eh, brother?

Reuben Te Rangi (2:47)

Nah, not at all. I feel like this league's interesting because it's always so tight every year. We went from fourth spot all the way down to eighth, losing one game. So yeah, every game's so, you need to win every game and that's why every team comes in firing.

Charlie (3:05)

Reuben, just quickly, what's your post-match meal after a game, man?

Reuben Te Rangi (3:12)

Well, we're lucky enough to get provided post-match meals. It's usually some sort of pasta and protein, but they try to fill us up so that we don't make any bad decisions driving home.

Charlie (3:24)

Right, got you, got you, got you.

Azura (3:26)

I love that, I love that. And you know, I've asked what you're expecting from the 36ers, but what can your fans expect from you guys?

Reuben Te Rangi (3:36)

This whole week, we've been working on our defense. We want to slow teams down and put pressure on them. And then our offense, we just want to be running and playing free, having fun. We've got Parker back, his second game back from injury.

So he'll be one to watch.

Azura (3:54)

Exciting. And you know, Flava, make sure you're there at Spark Arena 730 PM. That's what you should be doing on Halloween, okay? Like, you know, banging the sticks and cheering on the boys. Because like you said, it's so close.