New Zealand Breakers have completed their 10-man ANBL roster with the signing of 1.93m Danish international Rasmus Bach on a two-year contract.
The 25-year old qualifies as a 'local player', because he holds an Australian passport, after spending his childhood in Sydney and Brisbane.
The shooting guard joins the Breakers from Danish club Randers Cimbria, where he averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in a COVID-ravaged season.
Head coach Dan Shamir is excited to complete his roster with a talented player hungry to play and contribute for his side.
"Rasmus is a player who will give us depth in both guards and wing positions," Shamir says. "I’m hoping he can develop into a good rotation player who can contribute.
"He’s got the body, he’s got the potential, he’s got the drive and he’s very hungry to play in the NBL, and that’s why we’ve signed him."
Bach is currently on Day 12 of Melbourne quarantine and will fulfill a lifelong dream when he joins his new Breakers teammates on Sunday.
"Growing up in Australia, the NBL was the league I watched and the first NBL games I ever went to was Brisbane Bullets against the Breakers in 2008," he says.
"Even though I moved to America as a 12-year-old, I kept my eye on the NBL and would always watch the games.
"I always dreamed of coming to the NBL, and I’m super thankful to the Breakers and the organisation for giving me this opportunity.
"I’m all about winning. Whatever the coach and team want me to do, I’m willing to do."
While Bach may be unknown to many Kiwis, Shamir reveals the Breakers have watched him for months.
"We were intrigued with him the moment we saw him a few months ago," he says.
"The only thing that delayed us signing him was that the NBL schedule this year was very different and we wanted to keep our last spot open till the last minute."
Their first warm-up game will be against Melbourne United next Friday.
The ANBL season tips off on January 15.
