THE LEAGUE IS SET TO LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN 2024…
The NZNBL is set to provide a new and innovative experience in 2024, with the league announcing a number of changes to grow and improve the game.
Firstly, an 11th team has been introduced to the league in Whāi Basketball. The new side is located in Tauranga, where the Nuggets will take them on on the 8th of May, before we welcome the side for the first time to Dunedin on the 23rd of June.
The Sal’s NZNBL season will be tipping off in 2024 with the return of the Preseason Blitz Tournament.
The tournament will take place on the West Coast running from Tuesday March 12th to Saturday March 16th and will host 8 NBL teams playing 12 games in Greymouth and Westport, however the Nuggets won’t be attending due to other commitments.
The NZNBL has also introduced the exciting Rapid League to the game in 2024.
The Rapid League, as seen in the 2023 Tauihi League season, is a 16 minute game (4 minute quarters) that tips off an hour before the NZNBL game.
The Rapid League will only feature the players NOT selected in the starting five for the following Sal's NBL game – players 6 through 12, and no import players can be selected.
The intention of the Rapid League is to increase player development, create more television coverage, and add commercial revenue opportunities for the league and teams across the competition.
In a first for professional sports leagues in New Zealand, the league has also introduced a mid-season trade window.
The 66-hour trade window will take place at the completion of Round 7, a week before the halfway mark of the regular season. There are some rules to adhere to, the main one being both the player and the team they are being traded from having to agree to the trade and a player can’t be traded against their wishes.
The action all starts on Saturday 30th March at the Edgar Centre, when the Nuggets take on the Southland Sharks. Tickets on Sale soon.
