Tom Abercrombie Leaves the Game in Style

Sports fans across New Zealand are encouraged to be courtside at Spark Arena on Friday night to show their appreciation for the greatest player to wear the Breakers' jersey.
 
Tom Abercrombie will retire from basketball at the conclusion of the NBL season and Friday night may be the final time he plays in Auckland.
 
Such is the nature of the league ladder, there is no guarantee the Breakers will make it to post season unless they win against the Brisbane Bullets on Friday night – and even then they may qualify for the Top Six but have to play their remaining games away from home.
 
The stakes, therefore, could not be higher with a finals berth in sight, and potentially the final home game for a player who holds almost every Breakers’ basketball record.
 
Abercrombie made his debut in 2008 and is the only player to have played in all six Championship Series appearances for the club.
 
Aside from being part of the four championship teams, he also was Grand Final MVP in 2011 and received All-NBL First Team honours in 2012.
 
The 36-year-old father of three grew up on Auckland’s North Shore and went to school at nearby Westlake Boys High School which is just 3.7 kilometres away from the BNZ Breakers’ training facility in Mairangi Bay.
 
“Playing for the Breakers has meant everything to me,” says Abercrombie.  
 
“It’s been about representing a family, a country and a lot of people have put their heart and soul into this organisation.”
 
On the court, no one has put more effort into the Breakers and its illustrated by the multitude of records the Small Forward holds, most of which will never be surpassed.
 
Abercrombie is a “one club man” and holds the Breakers’ records for most appearances (425), points (4434), field goals made (1536) three-pointers (568) free-throws (794) steals (302), blocks (262) and steals (302).
 
“Im hesitant to comment on Tom retiring because I am not ready to face that reality'" says Breakers' owner Matt Walsh.

"For almost 20 years Tom has led the Breakers on and off the court and embodied what it means to be a Breaker.

"I am personally very grateful for Tom’s partnership for the last six years and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds for him." 

The Breakers must win Friday night’s game against the Bullets at Spark Arena and no one has had more success at the venue than the Breakers’ captain.
 
Abercrombie’s won 60 of his record 96 games at Spark at a 63 percent success rate.  He averages 11.6pts, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists and won the second of his four championships there in 2012.
 
Unsurprisingly, he has more points (1113) field goals (370) three pointers (163) free throws (210) rebounds (440) and steals (80) at Spark than any other player to play the game.
 
Earlier this season, Head Coach Mody Maor said he was dreading the day that Abercrombie did not put on the Breakers’ uniform anymore.  Now it appears, that day has come.
 
“The things Tom brings to a team, a club, a locker room and to the floor are exceptional,” says Maor.
 
“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.
 
“We are losing a player who is a connection with the Breakers of today and the legacy of the Breakers past.”
 
It is inevitable Abercrombie’s number 10 jersey will be retired and hang in the rafters alongside his former team mates Paul Henare, Dillon Boucher and CJ Bruton.
 
Matt Walsh says Friday night’s game at Spark will be an opportunity to see a future Hall of Famer, playing in the flesh.

"On behalf of all of Breaker Nation, thank you, Tom. I look forward to raising number 10 in the rafters next season.”