MARQUEE CLASHES LOOM AS JACKS’ FIXTURE LANDS

The home season opener against the Taipans will be a family affair with the clash to take place on the first Monday of term three Tasmanian school holidays.

Last season’s fairytale NBL runner up will also take centre stage on two of the season’s marquee fixtures with a blockbuster Boxing Day clash at MyState Bank Arena against New Zealand followed by a New Year’s Day matchup with the Phoenix.

Each NBL club will once again play 14 home games and 14 away games again next season with the Jackies set to host 12 games at MyState Bank Arena and two at the Silverdome in Launceston.

North Tasmanian fans will see the Jackies in action on November 18 against the Breakers and again on

January 18 against the Phoenix. While the JackJumpers will first clash with defending champion Sydney Kings on December 11, Jackies fans will have to wait until nearly the last week of the season to welcome the Kings and their unpopular head coach Chase Buford back to MyState Bank Arena.

Not only did the Kings defeat the JackJumpers to claim the NBL crown last season but coach Buford became enemy number one for Tasmania after a sideline outburst which saw him damage LED signage at MyState Bank Arena.

JackJumpers fans will also be treated twice to arguably the NBL’s best player with Bryce Cotton and the Perth Wildcats making trips to Hobart in October and January for a pair of mouthwatering matchups.

JackJumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse said he was thrilled to announce the new fixture as they get set to embark on their second season.

“It has been a short off-season, but we see that as a blessing to keep building on our momentum from the NBL22 Finals. The guys are having a good break and are really excited to get back to playing in front of the best fans in the League,” Brookhouse said.

“We understand the difficulties that the rolling fixture presented last season so it’s fantastic to be able to plan ahead and have confidence that the season will proceed as planned.

“We’re really pleased to tip off the season at the start of the school holidays and bring our fans together for the start of another exciting year”

The JackJumpers will begin training camp on August 15 ahead of the NBL’s Pre-Season Blitz in Darwn in September. The NBL regular season will run until February 5, 2023 with a maiden play-in tournament and a Finals series to follow.