Cairns Taipans boss Mark Beecroft has labelled his NBL workforce’s probability to play two NBA groups in pre-season fixtures as “monumental” for the membership and metropolis.
The community-owned membership will make the journey for the primary time, set to play the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors in October within the fifth NBL tour to North America in seven years.
The Breakers, who final participated within the NBA pre-season in 2019, will play the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz.
NBL groups have punched above their weight on earlier visits, with the Adelaide 36ers notching an unimaginable win over heavyweights the Phoenix Suns final yr.
The hyperlink between the leagues has strengthened with the resurgence of the NBL, 14 gamers with NBL expertise that includes in NBA video games final season.
“This is monumental for Cairns – not just for our club, but for our city,” Beecroft mentioned.
“We cannot wait to take the Taipans franchise to the US and Canada for the first time.
“Our workforce has a rising historical past of fostering NBA-quality expertise, and we’re excited to have three gamers that will probably be declaring for subsequent yr’s NBA Draft take part in these video games.”
Reigning NBL MVP Xavier Cooks is with Washington while Portland boast Boomer Matisse Thybulle and former Breaker Rayan Rupert.
Rupert was the fifth NBL Next Star to be drafted directly from the NBL to the NBA.
“It’s an incredible alternative for our gamers to play on basketball’s greatest stage towards the perfect groups on the planet,” Breakers proprietor Matt Walsh mentioned.
“The Breakers have change into the benchmark globally for growing future NBA expertise and we won’t wait to play towards former Breaker Next Star Rayan Rupert.”
NBL’S NBA PRE-SEASON GAMES:
* Taipans v Wizards, Capital One Arena, October 11
* Breakers v Trail Blazers, Moda Center, October 11
* Taipans v Raptors, Scotiabank Arena, October 16
* Breakers v Jazz, Vivint Arena, October 17.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
