BNZ Breakers to Play Across New Zealand in NBL25

It will be a unique start to the season for the BNZ Breakers, with the first game of the NBL25 campaign against the Brisbane Bullets in Perth on September 21.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative from the NBL, all ten teams will play in Western Australia for the inaugural HoopsFest, timed to coincide with Perth's school holidays.

That means there will be one extra regular season game this season with 29 games played over six months from September to February.

"HoopsFest is the first of its kind and is the biggest and best weekend in the sport's history, and we are thrilled to bring it to life for the first time in Perth," says NBL Chief Executive David Stevenson.

The BNZ Breakers will then jet back from Perth for their first home game in Auckland against SEM Phoenix at Spark Arena on Sunday, September 29, at the special time of 7.30 pm.

It promises to be an action-packed October for the BNZ Breakers. The schedule has a two-week gap, which is historically filled by a trip to the United States, where the club plays two NBA games.

The tradition stretches back to 2019 when the Breakers first took on the Phoenix Suns.

Last October, the NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers caught the eye of free agent Anthony Lamb, who had come off a season playing 62 games for the Golden State Warriors.

The fixture against the Trail Blazers and the subsequent encounter against the Utah Jazz prompted the gifted Small Forward, with three-years’ experience in the NBA, to sign a one-year deal with the BNZ Breakers for the remainder of the NBL season.

It proved to be a masterstroke, with Lamb showcasing himself as a genuine superstar of the NBL before his season was cruelly cut short when he ruptured his Achilles tendon at the back end of the season.

Despite playing just 22 of the 28 regular-season games and being ruled out of playoffs, Lamb still made Breakers history by being named to the All-NBL First Team alongside teammate Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

"There's no bigger environment than an NBA Arena," says Lamb.

"So being able to go and play a couple of exhibition games is priceless to a player and a big opportunity to anyone looking to play in the NBL but also looking for a path to the NBA."

Former Breakers Shooting Guard Corey Webster agrees with Lamb.

He created headlines across the basketball world by scoring 27 points in that first NBA game against the Suns in 2019.

"These NBA games are so important to players because it's an opportunity to showcase your talents and skills against the best players in the world," says Webster.

"I don't see any downside, and I've played three of them." 

Webster has spent two seasons with the Perth Wildcats but is now a free agent.  

More than most, he will be intrigued by the second home game at Spark Arena on Saturday October 19, at 7.30 pm against the BNZ Breakers’ biggest rivals who have Webster’s younger brother Tai, and the League’s MVP Bryce Cotton on their roster.

The BNZ Breakers then travel south for the first of three games in the Garden City throughout the season.

The Thursday October 24 game at Wolfbrook Arena will be against the Phoenix.  

Christchurch also hosts games on Thursday December 5 against the Dean Vickerman-coached Melbourne United and Friday January 24, against the Bullets.

Two days after that first Christchurch game, the BNZ Breakers make a long awaited return to Wellington for the first Breakers game in the capital since 2019.

The Saturday December 7 game at TSB Arena will be extra special because it renews the rivalry against the Sydney Kings, who beat the Breakers in the historic five-game championship series last year.

The traditional Taranaki fixture is also in the BNZ Breakers’ schedule with a return to New Plymouth on January 13 against Melbourne United.

There are eight games in total at Spark Arena in NBL25, and if the regular season goes down to the wire like it did last season, then the BNZ Breakers' schedule puts them in the best position possible to get into the Top Six Play-in Tournament.

"Our final two games of the regular season are at Spark Arena," says BNZ Breakers Chief Executive Lisa Edser.

“Our fans will back us to win those games against the Taipans and Hawks, giving us incredible momentum into the post season.

"We have seen over the last couple of seasons that we are virtually impossible to beat when we go into games with momentum.

"With a new coach and a new look team lead by Parker Jackson-Cartwright, this season is shaping up as the most exciting we've ever had."

Memberships go on sale next Wednesday and are available from the BNZ Breakers' website, while tickets to all the games will go on sale next month.