December 26, 2025 • 11 mins
The NZ Breakers are set to honour four-time ANBL champion Tom Abercrombie.
They will retire the iconic number 10 singlet Abercrombie famously wore throughout his 429-game career.
Abercrombie caught up with Jason Pine to chat about the achievement.
"Obviously it's an incredible honour, and a great chance to reminisce on some great memories once again, and remember all the awesome people that were along that journey with me," he said.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The New Zealand Breakers meantime will honor one of their
all time greats. They are going to retire the iconic
number ten singlet of four time ANBL champion Tom Abercrombie, ty.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Tom Is Evercrombie twenty.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Eight and joy time.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Tom Abercrombie famously wore the number ten throughout his four
hundred and twenty nine game career with the Breakers. He
won the Grand Final MVP in twenty eleven, was an
All NBL First Team member in twenty twelve, and appeared
in all five of the Breakers' Championship Series appearances throughout
his illustrious sixteen season career. He is just the fourth
(00:59):
Breakers player to receive the honor of having his number retired,
alongside former teammates Paul Hennady the number thirty, t cee J.
Bruton the number twenty three, and Dylan Boucher the number
twenty four. And it was Dylan Boucher who broke the
news to Tom Abercrombie in recent days that his number
was to be retired. Tom Abercrombie is with us congratulations
(01:20):
make huge congratulations on this. Did you know that this
was in the works?
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Yeah, thanks, Jess.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Look, I knew it was probably going to happen at
some stage, but had no idea probably it would happen
so soon, And certainly when Dylan invited me into have
a chat to the boys, I had no idea that
was what was going to eventually, So it was a
lovely surprise. Obviously, It's incredible honor and a great chance
(01:49):
to reminisce on some great memories once again and remember
all the.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Awesome people that were along that journey with me.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
It feels like I've been retired for a long time now,
but it's only a couple of years removed, and certainly
there's some times where I miss being out there. But
for the most part, happy retired being a fan, and
nice to be able to now look back on the
good times and celebrate once again.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Wonderful stuff. We're talking about reminiscing. How much do you
remember about Game one in that number ten single it.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
I do actually remember Game one pretty well. I can't
remember who we were playing, but I do know that
Andre Lamanez subbed me in late in the game. We
were blowing someone out, so the youngster got a few minutes.
I was a development player with the Breakers that year,
and we ran a little stagger play for me as
(02:42):
soon as I came in the game, and I came
screaming off a couple of turnouts and knocked down a
corner three ball and that was my first bucket in
the NBL. And then I think next time down the court,
we ran a little elleoop player and I killed around
and caught an elloop and put it in. So pretty
good fitting way to start.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Off the career.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
There would be a lot more threes in elle ooops
along the way, so nice to start off with a
couple of them in the first games.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
To been awesome to watch that free drop with your
first shot. I mean, that's magnificent you must have as
you put the shot up. I mean, I know what
basketball is like. You know, more than half the time
they don't go in. You know, how did you feel
when it dropped through?
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I was certainly at that stage of my career, and
at my age, I was hoping more than knowing it
was going to go in, and oh gosh, you hope
and manifest things enough and good things happen. So Luckily
it went down, gave me a little confidence boost and
settled the nerves a little bit, and she was all
off to the races from there.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Did you feel comfortable straight away in the anbl or
did that take a little bit of time?
Speaker 4 (03:46):
To be honest, I did.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I spent a couple of years ever in college before
that Washington State, didn't have a great time, and never
felt comfortable over there in that environment. But there's something
about coming back home, playing in my hometown, being coached
by Andre and being mentored I guess by the likes
of Paul and Dylan Boucher and C. J. Bruden, these
guys who I looked up to as a youngster who
(04:12):
are now my teammates. Just had a real good comfort
level in my surroundings there and could feel myself getting
better and better every day and practice. So when I
did step on the on the court, I did feel confident.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
You know. I knew I had some.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Skills there, especially athletically, where I could compete and be
better than a lot of my competitors straight away. So
it gave me a pretty good leg up. And as
I said, you know, once you are able to knock
a couple of shots down, confidence a wonderful thing, and
I was able to hit the ball running, which is
really good for the rest of my career.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Does any particular season stand out above the others?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Oh, I mean as part of the joys of sports, Halor.
Every season is a different journey and you have different experiences,
different teammates, so it's hard to pick out one in particular.
But I think certainly that first year we won the
first championship was a real, real special one. We were
the first New Zealand team to win an Australasian competition
(05:14):
and we'd come.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Really close the year before too.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
We brought Kevin braswell in late in the season, won
our last six games in a row and unfortunately just
missed out in the playoffs and a countback, and we
were really confident, you know, if we'd been able to
make it, we could have gone all the way that year.
But basically brought back the same group the year after
that and absolutely blitzed the table and went through and
(05:37):
just had an awesome year with a great group of people,
played some really good basketball and then had you know,
the start of that epic rivalry with Perth and Ken's
in the playoff series there, we were able to get
over the top, and I believe we beat Ken's in
the final. That year at the Northral events, ended win
the first one, which is pretty special. We had a
(05:58):
parade up Queen Street where I was convinced no one
was going to be there, but we had a really
good turnout and that was really cool, my one and
only parade. So lots of good memories from that.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Can you pinpoint when you personally were playing your best basketball?
Speaker 4 (06:17):
No, probably not. I think.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I was always a really good athlete in my youth
all throughout my career, but especially when I was young.
I think I really relied on that athleticism. It's able
to you know, you're able to make up for a
lot just by being quick and being able to jump high.
So I use that to my advantage. I think, you know,
later on in my career became a more more well
(06:42):
rounded player. Certainly my first first year when we had
Dan Shamier as the head coach, I think was probably
my most balanced and well rounded season. I shot fifty
forty ninety that year, which was only the second player
in the history of the league to do that, which
is fifty percent from the field, forty the free throw line,
(07:02):
and ninety percent from the free throw line. So that
was a really cool achievement and probably my most consistent season.
But I think some of those early ones, when I
was a bit younger and flying around the court and
just jumping a little bit higher, certainly felt like I
was probably more at my athletic peak. But things come
at different stages throughout your career. You've got to learn
to adapt and evolve, and I think I did a
(07:23):
pretty good job of that as I went along my career,
a little bit slower as I got a little bit older,
but you know, the leadership and the shooting and things,
that sort of stuff picks up.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How did you know it was time to retire?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
I probably just wasn't enjoying the game as much.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
As I had previously.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I don't think anyone really knows exactly the right time
to do it, But in hindsight, you get a pretty
good idea, and the fact that I haven't really missed
being out in the court court since I have retired.
I think I've picked up a ball about four or
five times in the last couple of years since I've
hung up the boots. And I have no regrets, So
it tells me that I did make the right decision
(08:04):
at the right time, and I was very lucky I
got to call it quits when I wanted to.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Wasn't forced into.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It by you know, my powers fading or injuries or
anything like that. I just felt like it was the
right time. I achieved all I'd wanted to do in
the sports and felt like I was leaving in a
good place. So very comfortable with that decision and happy
just being a fan now and watching the boys, it's
a it's a different perspective sitting back and watching. You know,
(08:31):
when you're playing the game and you're able to control
things you don't, you don't feel the I guess the
nervousness as much as you do as a fan, and
you're riding every emotion as a fan, and just those
ups and downs in the game, you feel it a
lot more so. Apologies to all the fans who rode
that wave with me for such a long time, But
I'm right there with you now.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And you're part of the Breaker's ownership group right too,
so now as well. So what is your current day
to day involvement with the club?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I don't have a lot of day to day involvement.
I'm involved in the ownership group and I'm sort of
there as a mentor to whoever me. But I'm working
full time in the corporate roalm now with Craig's Investment
Partners is an advisor, been in that since the start
of this year, and really enjoying the challenge of doing
something different. I really know what I wanted to do
(09:20):
when I retired. I just knew that I wanted to
get away from sports and basketball for a little bit
and challenge myself in something different, And certainly this new
role is ticking all of those boxes. And I still
get to be part of the breakers and look at
things from a different lens as part of that ownership
group and be a part of the ride alongside the
boys as well. So really enjoying where I've got to
(09:41):
now in a professional space.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
It took a while.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
It's always hard transitioning out of sport, but very lucky
with where I'm at at the moment.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Good Man, So when does the singlet get hoisted up
into the rafters? Is that a special ceremony at some point? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yeah, we will have a bit of a ceremony at
one of the games. I'm not sure exactly which one.
I think we're targeting one of the ones sort of
later in January, but I'm sure there'll be some comms
from the club when we have circ called the exact
date and game that that's going to be done, and
hopefully we can get a good crowd along there and
celebrate on the night. It'd be good to hopefully catch
(10:16):
up with a few old teammates and people who have
been there along the journey.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Lots of family will be there.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
They've been a big part of that journey as well
as well as all the Breakers family, the fans, and
the sponsors and previous ownership groups, the Blackwells, you know,
the list can go on. There's so many people who've
been part of my journey for such a long time,
so it'd be really cool to get together with all
of them and celebrate sometimes. So watch the space to
(10:42):
be happening sometime obviously this season, hopefully the end of
jen and it'll be a great.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Night, no doubt, no doubt. Look forward to that. Tom.
Congrats on joining Porter Hannada A CJ. Bruton, Dilan Boucher
three year former teammates up on the rafters their congratulations mate,
thanks for chatting as always awesome.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Thanks Bonnie, No, thank.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
You, Thomas Abercrombie. There the iconic number ten single it
to be retired as you Thomas mentioned there sometime in January,
keeping out and an eye out breakers fans for when
that'll be said to be a very special night there
when the single that has retired four hundred and twenty
nine games across sixteen seasons for Thomas am mc crombie.
(11:19):
If anybody deserves to have their number retired, it is that, gentleman.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The New Zealand Breakers meantime will honor one of their
all time greats. They are going to retire the iconic
number ten singlet of four time ANBL champion Tom Abercrombie, ty.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Tom Is Evercrombie twenty.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Eight and joy time.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Tom Abercrombie famously wore the number ten throughout his four
hundred and twenty nine game career with the Breakers. He
won the Grand Final MVP in twenty eleven, was an
All NBL First Team member in twenty twelve, and appeared
in all five of the Breakers' Championship Series appearances throughout
his illustrious sixteen season career. He is just the fourth
(00:59):
Breakers player to receive the honor of having his number retired,
alongside former teammates Paul Hennady the number thirty, t cee J.
Bruton the number twenty three, and Dylan Boucher the number
twenty four. And it was Dylan Boucher who broke the
news to Tom Abercrombie in recent days that his number
was to be retired. Tom Abercrombie is with us congratulations
(01:20):
make huge congratulations on this. Did you know that this
was in the works?
Speaker 4 (01:27):
Yeah, thanks, Jess.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Look, I knew it was probably going to happen at
some stage, but had no idea probably it would happen
so soon, And certainly when Dylan invited me into have
a chat to the boys, I had no idea that
was what was going to eventually, So it was a
lovely surprise. Obviously, It's incredible honor and a great chance
(01:49):
to reminisce on some great memories once again and remember
all the.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Awesome people that were along that journey with me.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
It feels like I've been retired for a long time now,
but it's only a couple of years removed, and certainly
there's some times where I miss being out there. But
for the most part, happy retired being a fan, and
nice to be able to now look back on the
good times and celebrate once again.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Wonderful stuff. We're talking about reminiscing. How much do you
remember about Game one in that number ten single it.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
I do actually remember Game one pretty well. I can't
remember who we were playing, but I do know that
Andre Lamanez subbed me in late in the game. We
were blowing someone out, so the youngster got a few minutes.
I was a development player with the Breakers that year,
and we ran a little stagger play for me as
(02:42):
soon as I came in the game, and I came
screaming off a couple of turnouts and knocked down a
corner three ball and that was my first bucket in
the NBL. And then I think next time down the court,
we ran a little elleoop player and I killed around
and caught an elloop and put it in. So pretty
good fitting way to start.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Off the career.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
There would be a lot more threes in elle ooops
along the way, so nice to start off with a
couple of them in the first games.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
To been awesome to watch that free drop with your
first shot. I mean, that's magnificent you must have as
you put the shot up. I mean, I know what
basketball is like. You know, more than half the time
they don't go in. You know, how did you feel
when it dropped through?
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I was certainly at that stage of my career, and
at my age, I was hoping more than knowing it
was going to go in, and oh gosh, you hope
and manifest things enough and good things happen. So Luckily
it went down, gave me a little confidence boost and
settled the nerves a little bit, and she was all
off to the races from there.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Did you feel comfortable straight away in the anbl or
did that take a little bit of time?
Speaker 4 (03:46):
To be honest, I did.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
I spent a couple of years ever in college before
that Washington State, didn't have a great time, and never
felt comfortable over there in that environment. But there's something
about coming back home, playing in my hometown, being coached
by Andre and being mentored I guess by the likes
of Paul and Dylan Boucher and C. J. Bruden, these
guys who I looked up to as a youngster who
(04:12):
are now my teammates. Just had a real good comfort
level in my surroundings there and could feel myself getting
better and better every day and practice. So when I
did step on the on the court, I did feel confident.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
You know. I knew I had some.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Skills there, especially athletically, where I could compete and be
better than a lot of my competitors straight away. So
it gave me a pretty good leg up. And as
I said, you know, once you are able to knock
a couple of shots down, confidence a wonderful thing, and
I was able to hit the ball running, which is
really good for the rest of my career.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Does any particular season stand out above the others?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Oh, I mean as part of the joys of sports, Halor.
Every season is a different journey and you have different experiences,
different teammates, so it's hard to pick out one in particular.
But I think certainly that first year we won the
first championship was a real, real special one. We were
the first New Zealand team to win an Australasian competition
(05:14):
and we'd come.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Really close the year before too.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
We brought Kevin braswell in late in the season, won
our last six games in a row and unfortunately just
missed out in the playoffs and a countback, and we
were really confident, you know, if we'd been able to
make it, we could have gone all the way that year.
But basically brought back the same group the year after
that and absolutely blitzed the table and went through and
(05:37):
just had an awesome year with a great group of people,
played some really good basketball and then had you know,
the start of that epic rivalry with Perth and Ken's
in the playoff series there, we were able to get
over the top, and I believe we beat Ken's in
the final. That year at the Northral events, ended win
the first one, which is pretty special. We had a
(05:58):
parade up Queen Street where I was convinced no one
was going to be there, but we had a really
good turnout and that was really cool, my one and
only parade. So lots of good memories from that.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Can you pinpoint when you personally were playing your best basketball?
Speaker 4 (06:17):
No, probably not. I think.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
I was always a really good athlete in my youth
all throughout my career, but especially when I was young.
I think I really relied on that athleticism. It's able
to you know, you're able to make up for a
lot just by being quick and being able to jump high.
So I use that to my advantage. I think, you know,
later on in my career became a more more well
(06:42):
rounded player. Certainly my first first year when we had
Dan Shamier as the head coach, I think was probably
my most balanced and well rounded season. I shot fifty
forty ninety that year, which was only the second player
in the history of the league to do that, which
is fifty percent from the field, forty the free throw line,
(07:02):
and ninety percent from the free throw line. So that
was a really cool achievement and probably my most consistent season.
But I think some of those early ones, when I
was a bit younger and flying around the court and
just jumping a little bit higher, certainly felt like I
was probably more at my athletic peak. But things come
at different stages throughout your career. You've got to learn
to adapt and evolve, and I think I did a
(07:23):
pretty good job of that as I went along my career,
a little bit slower as I got a little bit older,
but you know, the leadership and the shooting and things,
that sort of stuff picks up.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
How did you know it was time to retire?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
I probably just wasn't enjoying the game as much.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
As I had previously.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I don't think anyone really knows exactly the right time
to do it, But in hindsight, you get a pretty
good idea, and the fact that I haven't really missed
being out in the court court since I have retired.
I think I've picked up a ball about four or
five times in the last couple of years since I've
hung up the boots. And I have no regrets, So
it tells me that I did make the right decision
(08:04):
at the right time, and I was very lucky I
got to call it quits when I wanted to.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Wasn't forced into.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It by you know, my powers fading or injuries or
anything like that. I just felt like it was the
right time. I achieved all I'd wanted to do in
the sports and felt like I was leaving in a
good place. So very comfortable with that decision and happy
just being a fan now and watching the boys, it's
a it's a different perspective sitting back and watching. You know,
(08:31):
when you're playing the game and you're able to control
things you don't, you don't feel the I guess the
nervousness as much as you do as a fan, and
you're riding every emotion as a fan, and just those
ups and downs in the game, you feel it a
lot more so. Apologies to all the fans who rode
that wave with me for such a long time, But
I'm right there with you now.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And you're part of the Breaker's ownership group right too,
so now as well. So what is your current day
to day involvement with the club?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I don't have a lot of day to day involvement.
I'm involved in the ownership group and I'm sort of
there as a mentor to whoever me. But I'm working
full time in the corporate roalm now with Craig's Investment
Partners is an advisor, been in that since the start
of this year, and really enjoying the challenge of doing
something different. I really know what I wanted to do
(09:20):
when I retired. I just knew that I wanted to
get away from sports and basketball for a little bit
and challenge myself in something different, And certainly this new
role is ticking all of those boxes. And I still
get to be part of the breakers and look at
things from a different lens as part of that ownership
group and be a part of the ride alongside the
boys as well. So really enjoying where I've got to
(09:41):
now in a professional space.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
It took a while.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
It's always hard transitioning out of sport, but very lucky
with where I'm at at the moment.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Good Man, So when does the singlet get hoisted up
into the rafters? Is that a special ceremony at some point? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Yeah, we will have a bit of a ceremony at
one of the games. I'm not sure exactly which one.
I think we're targeting one of the ones sort of
later in January, but I'm sure there'll be some comms
from the club when we have circ called the exact
date and game that that's going to be done, and
hopefully we can get a good crowd along there and
celebrate on the night. It'd be good to hopefully catch
(10:16):
up with a few old teammates and people who have
been there along the journey.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Lots of family will be there.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
They've been a big part of that journey as well
as well as all the Breakers family, the fans, and
the sponsors and previous ownership groups, the Blackwells, you know,
the list can go on. There's so many people who've
been part of my journey for such a long time,
so it'd be really cool to get together with all
of them and celebrate sometimes. So watch the space to
(10:42):
be happening sometime obviously this season, hopefully the end of
jen and it'll be a great.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Night, no doubt, no doubt. Look forward to that. Tom.
Congrats on joining Porter Hannada A CJ. Bruton, Dilan Boucher
three year former teammates up on the rafters their congratulations mate,
thanks for chatting as always awesome.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Thanks Bonnie, No, thank.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
You, Thomas Abercrombie. There the iconic number ten single it
to be retired as you Thomas mentioned there sometime in January,
keeping out and an eye out breakers fans for when
that'll be said to be a very special night there
when the single that has retired four hundred and twenty
nine games across sixteen seasons for Thomas am mc crombie.
(11:19):
If anybody deserves to have their number retired, it is that, gentleman.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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