The Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) will begin its new season on November 18, the league confirmed on Friday.
While the ANBL season has in the past primarily tipped off in October, the 2021/22 campaign has been delayed by a month, in the hope of a dissipation of COVID-19 cases to allow fans to attend.
ANBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger also indicates that more matches will be played in New Zealand in the 2021/22 season, following NZ Breakers' relocation to be based in Australia for the majority of last season.
"Based on expert advice and based on our own experiences from last season, delaying a month gives us more flexibility," Loeliger says.
"Most importantly, it provides fans a much better chance of attending more games in Australia and New Zealand as the number of people vaccinated against COVID increases towards the end of the year.
"We can't wait for November 18 when another extraordinary season of world-class basketball begins."
The Breakers finished eighth on the 2020/21 ANBL ladder, winning 12 and losing 24 of their 36 matches played - seven wins off finals contention.
The Kiwi side were afforded just seven matches in New Zealand last season, as the Breakers were allowed to return home after the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble earlier this year.
The match schedule and fixtures will be released at a later date.
