Today, a New Zealand basketball legend announced that this season will be his last. After spending all sixteen of his years in the NBL with the Breakers, Thomas Abercrombie announced his retirement in an emotional press conference.
“I’ll see if I can get through this,” he said to start. “But thank you everyone for coming out today.”
“After 16 years at the BNZ Breakers, I’ll be retiring from all professional basketball at the end of the season.”
“Basketball’s been a massive part of my life for as long as I can remember, providing me countless joys and experiences and all good things must come to an end,” he continued.
“I’m very at peace with this decision. I’ve been so lucky to spend my entire career playing for the Breakers, my hometown team, in front of my friends and family.”
Since debuting in 2008, Tom has broken all sorts of franchise records. Besides being the only Breaker to play in all six of the club’s Championship series, he has played in the most games (425), scored the most points (4434), free throws (794) and three-pointers (568), and recorded the most steals (302) and blocks (262).
He won Grand Finals MVP when the Breakers first won the NBL in 2011 (which was also the first time an NZ team won an Australian competition) and was a key part in all of the franchises’s championship teams (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015).
So, you can see why Mody Maor said Tom is irreplaceable.
“The things Tom brings to a team, a club, a locker room and to the floor are exceptional,” he said.
“Tom Abercrombie is everything you want an athlete to be, from positional size, to toughness, to athleticism, to shooting, to IQ, to leadership- he is literally the best captain I have ever been around.”
The Breakers play at Spark Arena on Friday night in what could be Tom’s last-ever game. Here’s hoping it’s not - either way, it’s been a hell of a run.
