Why is there no NBL this weekend?

After an epic opening eight rounds of the 2023/24 NBL season, the league will pause this weekend for a mid-season break.

The schedule is structured around two FIBA windows for international men’s basketball, and when the schedule was created, there was a FIBA break set to take place from November 20-November 28.

FIBA has subsequently removed that window, but as the NBL fixture was already set, there are no games until next Thursday.

The second FIBA break is from February 19-February 27, which will create a gap between the end of the regular season and the start of the Finals.

Teams will use the mid-season break to refresh and reload for what promises to be a thrilling second half of the season.

It is the closest season in the competition’s history with the average margin of victory just 9.3 points, while teams are expected to be fighting for Finals spots up until the last round.

The season continues on Thursday, November 30, when the New Zealand Breakers host the Adelaide 36ers at Wolfbrook Arena at 5:30pm AEDT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Sky Sport in New Zealand.