The NBLxNBA preseason games are back for another year with the New Zealand Breakers set to play two games against NBA opponents.
The Breakers, headlined by Parer Jackson-Cartwright, Mojave King and Jonah Bolden, will face the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz in October, marking the sixth time in eight years NBL teams have traveled to the US for NBA preseason.
The Jazz will first host the Breakers at the Delta Center on Friday, October 4 (US time), followed by the Thunder hosting the Breakers at BOK Center in Tulsa on Thursday, October 10.
MORE: Breaking down Joe Ingles’ decision to join Timberwolves
“The NBL-NBA games have become a highlight and visual representation of the strong connection we have with the NBA,” NBL Chief Operating Officer and Head of Basketball Operations, Vince Crivelli said.
“These games also continue to position our teams and athletes alongside the very best our sport has to offer globally. Our relationship with the NBA continues to grow and evolve, and we look forward to working on more exciting initiatives in the future.
“It has been tradition for the BNZ Breakers to fly stateside and compete against the very best in the NBA and we are proud to continue our association with the best basketball league in the world,”
The relationship between the NBA and the NBL continues to evolve on the back of the NBL Next Stars program which sent a record four players to the league in the 2024 NBA Draft.
MORE: Josh Green traded to Charlotte Hornets as part of Klay Thompson deal
Headlined by No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr, the NBL was not short on representation at the draft with No. 23 pick AJ Johnson (Milwaukee Bucks), No. 37 pick Bobi Klintman (Detroit Pistons) and 58 pick Ariel Hukporti (New York Knicks) all making the leap to the NBA.
“Hosting NBL teams for preseason games in the U.S. is part of our commitment to engaging the
passionate basketball fans in Australia and New Zealand and working with other top leagues around the world,” said NBA Asia Head of Strategy Rajah Chaudhry.
“These matchups have become a fixture of the NBA calendar and a tremendous opportunity to spotlight NBL talent to a global audience, and we look forward to two competitive games when the New Zealand Breakers visit the Jazz and Thunder in October.”