Preview | BNZ Breakers v Brisbane Bullets

The BNZ Breakers return to Spark Arena this Friday night to play the Brisbane Bullets and will be wearing specially designed Indigenous jerseys for the occasion – under the Kahupapa theme.

Having been able to refresh a little and spend a week back at home since last Friday night's game with the Tasmania JackJumpers in Launceston, the BNZ Breakers play host to the Bullets on Friday night at Spark Arena with the game getting underway at 7:30pm local time.

The game might be the 13th already of the season for the BNZ Breakers, but it's only the fourth so far at Spark Arena, having had a heavy road schedule to date with nine matches already across in Australia.

The positive is that the BNZ Breakers have plenty more home matches now to look forward to including six of the next eight starting on Friday night against the Bullets.

The BNZ Breakers might have lost their past five matches to now be on a 4-8 record, but their performances have been stronger than that suggests including having a chance to either win it, or force overtime, last Friday night against the JackJumpers.

They will now be without inspirational and explosive co-captain Parker Jackson-Cartwright for the rest of the season after he was diagnosed with a stress fracture of his tibia, but import centre Charles Bediako will be a game-time decision following a heavy fall and hurting his back against Tasmania.

The BNZ Breakers play host to a Bullets team who might be fresh off losing by 28 points to Melbourne United back on Saturday night, but prior to that they had won three of the previous four matches.

The Bullets arrive in Auckland with a 6-6 record on the season and possessing familiar New Zealand faces too including Tyrell Harrison and Taine Murray who feature in their starting five.

It will be the second time the two teams have played this season with the last contest taking place at Brisbane's Pat Rafter Arena where the Bullets won a tight affair 88-85 back on September 22.

In that game for the BNZ Breakers, Jackson-Cartwright finished with 26 points and seven assists with DJ Vasiljevic scoring 17 points, Sam Mennenga 12, Mojave King 11 and Bediako six to go with eight rebounds.

The BNZ Breakers players will be empowered in Kahupapa, a jersey designed by Tikirau Hathaway from Haumi, with strong themes of collective strength, aligning of goals, shared purpose, and overcoming challenges.

Co-captain Reuben Te Rangi spoke with pride at the opportunity to carry New Zealand culture with them in the Māori inspired designed jersey this Friday night.

"Indigenous Round is a really special opportunity for us to celebrate and acknowledge the culture and identity of Māori and Indigenous peoples," Te Rangi said.

"Being able to wear a jersey that represents Māori culture is something we take great pride in. As players, we’re representing our club, but also our people, our whakapapa and where we come from.

"Hopefully we can wear it with pride and give our fans and community something to feel connected to."

Hathaway was commissioned to design the jersey and spoke of the great pride in taking a lead role in the process.

"To be given the opportunity to design an Indigenous Round kit for the BNZ Breakers is incredibly special, to be able to combine the world of basketball with toi Māori that also aligns with the narrative of the BNZ Breakers rebrand," said Hathaway.

"Kahupapa symbolises what it takes to be a team, to move and think in formation, together."

The overall theme of the jersey ties in with the BNZ Breakers brand launched earlier in 2026, with waves that build, crest and break – players think, move, and work together to shift momentum and break through obstacles.

The Manu is also featured along the seams and tuara, or ridgeline, referencing the birds that waka follows to find land. This reflects travel, timing, structure and awareness.

BNZ Breakers v Brisbane Bullets

Spark Arena
Friday 13 November, 2026
7:30pm tipoff (NZ time)
Tickets available by clicking here