Basketball: New Zealand team to be called Breakers

2.00pm

The New Zealand-based team to play in the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) will be called the New Zealand Breakers.

Franchise acting chief executive Michael Redman said today the name and logo, which features a basketball, were chosen after focus group research in January and had been approved by the ANBL board.

He said the word Breakers was associated with "making a fast break" and "fast scoring" that were features of the sport.

"New Zealand" had been incorporated because fans saw local teams playing in other Australian competitions, such as rugby league and soccer, as representing the whole country.

Redman said five of the Breakers' 17 home games would be staged outside Auckland, with two dates booked in Christchurch, and Wellington and Invercargill were also seen as options.

Team colours were still under discussion and an announcement was expected next month.

Skipper Pero Cameron said the new identity was popular with the players

"The team name is something we can relate to on the court."

- NZPA