Family First: Big Man's Big Call

Rob Loe’s retirement from the Breakers shocked hoops fans across the country, and while he may have called time on his illustrious NBL career, he’s not saying farewell to the game just yet.

Loe announced his departure from the Breakers and the league as a whole, after a 173-game career that spanned seven seasons and two clubs.

Prior to playing in the NBL the 31-year-old spent four years in the American collegiate system with Saint Louis, and started his professional career in Greece and Belgium.

“I won’t be back, don’t worry,” Loe told the New Zealand Herald. “I’m set on this.

“I’ll keep playing in New Zealand until the body gives up, but I’m done with full-time travelling, four days a week.

“We had a new child when Covid was in full swing and I had to leave five days after he was born to play in Australia. Last year we relocated to Aussie for six months – so stability at home is more important to me now.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How to be a modern big - a play by Rob Loe ?<br><br>Tip the pass ?<br>Run the floor ?<br>SLAM it home ?<br><br>Lovely work from the <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NZBreakers</a> big man.<br><br>Catch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel <a href="https://t.co/PAcT8SzctV">pic.twitter.com/PAcT8SzctV</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1581933668242984960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After playing a key role in New Zealand’s unlikely run to the NBL23 Championship Series, the Breakers reportedly offered Loe a new contract for the upcoming season but, according to Stuff.co.nz, that contract was on reduced terms compared to his current deal.

Loe says any contract reportedly offered by the Breakers had little to no bearing on his decision.

“Sport is a great job, but it does provide some difficulties,’ he said.

“Like living out of a suitcase. It isn’t ideal for a lot of people – especially with a young family.

“It didn’t help the cause, but it wasn’t the be-all and end-all of the decision.”

The strain placed on the Breakers as an organisation during the league's Covid affected seasons has been well documented, as has Loe’s decision to leave the side to return home midway through the NBL21 season in order to be with his family.

“I made the right call for my family,” Loe reflected. “It’s never easy abandoning a team. I had a lot of friends and they were all going through their struggles away from families.

“I think any father or mother would have done the same thing in the circumstances.

“My wife Kelly had postpartum depression. She is American and had no support here – she couldn’t fly her family over because of Covid.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rob Loe&#39;s last three games ?<br><br>??31 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 11-20 FG vs. Jets<br>??30 PTS, 15 REB, 6 AST, 3 BLK, 8-16 FG vs. Bulls<br>??32 PTS, 19 REB, 4 AST, 14-18 FG vs. Sharks<br><br>2023 season: 21.7 PTS, 11.6 REB, 4.4 AST, 2.0 STL, 2.6 BLK, 56.4% FG, 38.6% 3PT ?<br><br>Loe currently leads… <a href="https://t.co/pzP0gp8yjN">pic.twitter.com/pzP0gp8yjN</a></p>&mdash; Sal’s NBL (@nznbl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nznbl/status/1670912737248174081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“She had a C-section and wasn’t even supposed to be carrying things upstairs – and we have stairs.

“All these things build up. I spent one night at home with her and then had to go into camp after the birth. It was just really tough.”

Loe has been in immense form in the NZNBL this season playing for Auckland Tuatara.

He’s averaging 21.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.9 steals per game to firmly place himself in MVP calculations.