The New Zealand Breakers have a new captain for the 2018/19 ANBL campaign.
Veteran swingman Tom Abercrombie has been named the squad's skipper, taking the reins from departed Mika Vukona.
"It's a massive honour," Abercrombie told Newshub.
"Obviously it's a club I've been with for a very long time and a team and a place I have a whole lot of pride and emotion invested in.
"To be able to go out there and lead the boys is a massive honour for me and I'm looking forward to that challenge this year."
The 31-year-old got the nod from head coach Kevin Braswell last week.
"To be honest, it was a pretty casual conversation. But it was something I had thought about a little bit and was fully prepared to take on if he wanted me to.
"I think my qualities as a leader have grown over the years I've been here and I'm ready to take that next step."
Abercrombie's apppointment is in tune with the theme of change within the side, which includes Braswell, a new ownership group, and an overhauled roster.
"There are a lot of new faces around here...there's been a lot of new energy and excitement in the pre-season. We haven't spend a whole lot of time together a team due to various guys out for different reasons.
"This week's been really good, to have everyone on board for a few trainings and really get through some stuff and start to build on that chemistry."
The North Shore-native has spent his entire ANBL career with the Breakers - joining the club as a development player in 2008, fresh out of nearby Westlake Boys High School.
He became one of the team's lynchpins during it's golden run of three consecutive titles from 2011. He added another in 2014.
Abercrombie now finds himself one of the more experienced heads at Atlas Place.
"I think this is my 11th season this year, so I like to think of myself as a young veteran," he laughed.
On Thursday, he'll have his first opportunity to lead the team when the Breakers take on the Brisbane Bullets in Auckland to tip-off the new season.
It'll also be the first time former Breakers stalwart Mika Vukona takes the court in his new Bullets strip.
While it's something Abercrombie's still wrapping his head around, expect to see no quarter given at Spark Arena.
"I haven't spoken to him, but we'll probably have a littel chat before the game.
"It's going to be a funny one - I don't think I've ever played against him, so it's a weird one for me.
"He's on the oppsition now, he's the enemy. We'll go at it when we're on the floor."
Newshub.
