The Sydney Kings and the New Zealand Breakers go head to head in a best of three series in preparation for the 2015/16 NBL season.
The series will be played in three different New Zealand locations which will allow the reigning league champions a chance to go on a “championship tour” of sorts and play in front of small communities who might not get the chance to see the Breakers play otherwise.
“It’s good for a team to get away in the pre-season and for us to go and play against the reigning champs,” Breakers chief executive Richard Clarke noted. “It gives us a great opportunity to see where we are at.”
One game is scheduled for Claudelands Arena in Hamilton (September 9th) and another will be at Stadium Southland in Invercargill (September 11th). The third will be in Auckland (date to be confirmed).
The trip to Invercargill will the Breakers’ first to the city.
Both clubs have indicated they will field full-strength rosters with former NBA star Josh Childress expected to team up with recent big man signing Julian Khazzouh for the first time.
Kings coach Damian Cotter acknowledged that these games will give his players the opportunity to measure their progress.
The Sydney Kings have not had a winning season since they returned to the league in 2009, something they hope to repeal in 2015/16.
Current Team Rosters
| New Zealand Breakers | Sydney Kings |
| Reuben Te Rangi | Angus Brandt |
| Cedric Jackson | Tom Garlepp |
| Mika Vukona | Jason Cadee |
| Tai Wesley | Jeromie Hill |
| Alex Pledger | Steven Markovic |
| Duane Bailey | Julian Khazzouh |
| Tom Abercrombie | Josh Childress |
| Corey Webster | |
| Shane McDonald | |
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
