The Sal’s National Basketball League is excited to reveal the full 2024 season schedule, which tips-off on Wednesday March 27th with the defending champion Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams hosting the NBS Nelson Giants in a South Island clash. Just 24 hours later the league’s newest member the Whai, based in Tauranga, will host the Taylor Hawke’s Bay Hawks in what will be a historic first home fixture.
Free-to-air games return to Sundays, weekly on Sky Open, moving to the family friendly 3pm slot to ensure that the leagues youngest fans can watch their favourite teams and players in action-filled hoops on the hardwood. The first Sky Open game of the year sees the Auckland Tuatara, runners-up for the last two seasons, visiting the Wellington Saints in front of what is sure to be one of many sold-out crowds in the capital this season
The league will look to start a new hoops tradition by implementing an ANZAC Day doubleheader that tips-off from 2pm in Dunedin with the Night n’ Day Otago Nuggets hosting the Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams. The South Island matchup will be followed by the Wellington Saints welcoming the Steelformers Taranaki Airs in a matchup that proves to be spicy every time the two teams take the court.
The newly added Sky Broadband Rapid League will feature before every regular season game across the 16 rounds of NBL action, with tip off coming exactly one hour prior to the Sal’s NBL fixtures. Weeknight games move to 7:30 pm for fixtures allowing fans to make it to their seats prior to the 6:30pm Rapid League starts.
General Manager of Leagues Maree Taylor says player development continues to be a main focus with the inclusion of Rapid League.
“The exciting inclusion of the Sky Broadband Rapid League for the 2024 season will look to see development skyrocket for those players across the competition who aren’t able to crack rotations, while also featuring faces that have become familiar to fans over the years.”
One of the biggest tweaks to the ‘24 schedule will see the Final 6 feature in home venues, with five games being played on the home court of the highest seeded team from July 17- July 24, creating a must-see week of Finals basketball for Kiwi fans across the nation.
“Fans have been vocal about their desire for a change in Finals 6 format. We have taken that on board by working closely with teams and venues across the country to reward teams and their dedicated fanbases for their regular season success with the appointing of home finals,” said Maree Taylor.
Details around the new Final 6 format will be shared in the coming weeks.
The 2024 schedule features 115 games across 16 rounds of regular season action and the Final 6, while the addition of the Sky Broadband Rapid league will mean an additional 110 games of basketball for fans. All 225 games will be broadcast live on Sky Sport or Sky Open with fans globally able to watch on FIBA or via ESPN in the United States.
You can view the 2024 schedule HERE.
