Christmas Day games return to NBL schedule
NBL champions Tasmania, along with the Sydney Kings, will again host games on Christmas Day as the league seeks to build on the popular concept for a third straight season.
The JackJumpers, fresh off claiming their maiden title, will host the New Zealand Breakers at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena, while Sydney will do battle with intrastate rivals the Illawarra Hawks at Qudos Bank Arena.
Tip-off times for the December 25 fixtures are still to be confirmed.
The Kings pioneered the Christmas Day concept for the NBL in 2022, in what was marketed as a first for Australian sport.
The move was part of the NBL's attempt to emulate the traditional NBA festive clashes in the United States.
The response has been positive so far, with big crowds and television audiences encouraging the league to push the experiment further.
The 2024-25 season will open with a Championship Series re-match between Tasmania and Melbourne United at Perth's RAC Arena, as part of the four-day 'HoopsFest' carnival in Western Australia.
The hometown Perth Wildcats host South East Melbourne Phoenix the following night, with NBL games and WNBL fixtures being played as double-headers.
In a bumper schedule to finish the calendar year, NBL games will played over 12 straight days from December 20-31.
As well as the Christmas Day games, the program includes fixtures on Christmas Eve (36ers-Bullets) and Boxing Day (Taipans-United), as well as a double-header on New Year's Eve (Hawks-Phoenix and Taipans-Breakers).
The regular season ends on February 8, with the Finals and Championship Series to be concluded in March.
