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Christmas Day basketball hard sell in New Zealand, says Breakers CEO
Felicity
Reid, Sports Journalist
24 December
2024
The Breakers will take to the basketball court in a New Zealand sporting first on Wednesday.
Their NBL game against the Tasmania JackJumpers in Hobart marks the first time a New Zealand sports team has played on Christmas Day.
Historically, such games were popular in basketball, with the NBA first playing on 25 December in 1947.
The NBL introduced Christmas Day games in 2022 and this year two games are on the schedule - the JackJumpers versus Breakers, followed by a top of the table clash between the Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks in Sydney.
All four teams have Christmas-themed playing kit.
Breakers chief executive officer Lisa Edser said the concept suited the Australians and Americans but might be harder to sell in New Zealand.
"I can't imagine a New Zealand audience going to a game on Christmas Day. I could be completely wrong, but we haven't had to do it for a number of years so it is our turn.
"We're somewhat fortunate this season that we don't have a lot of players with children. If this had been last year there would have been a lot of guys affected by it ... but that's not the case."
With three Americans, six Australians and a Mexican teenager on the roster, Edser saw an upside to the team playing on the holiday when many of them were away from family.
"It will be nice for the guys to be together, I guess - at least they're not alone."
Playing on Christmas Day had an impact on the whole Breakers organisation, Edser said.
"Even though it is an away game [the team's] social media is following it, our marketing manager is still [working] - so pretty much all of us will be involved in one way or another."
Hosting a Christmas Day NBL game in New Zealand could come with complications due to venue availability, Edser said.
"If we had an amazing outdoor venue [such as] an open roof arena, like [Melbourne's] Rod Laver Arena or something, I think it could be quite exciting."
The Breakers had spent most of the current season on the road, travelling to different venues within New Zealand and Australia - including their last 11 games in 11 different venues.
Following the game against the JackJumpers, the Breakers travel to Cairns to play the Taipans on New Year's Eve.
The Breakers are on a seven-game losing streak, having not won at all in December. Their last victory was over the Taipans on 16 November.
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