Players from the New Zealand Breakers basketball team have confirmed they will not wear rainbow insignia during the upcoming NBL Pride Round, in a show of solidarity with teammates who object on religious and cultural grounds.
Team Unity Over Individual Expression
The club released an official statement confirming the decision, explaining that after team discussions about the league's voluntary participation policy, some players expressed concerns about wearing the pride symbols due to their religious and cultural beliefs.
The team collectively decided that to prevent individual players from being singled out, either all players would wear the rainbow flag insignia or none would. This unified approach mirrors the 2023 boycott by the Cairns Taipans, who also declined to wear pride symbols during the NBL's inaugural Pride Round for similar reasons.
NBL's Inclusive Stance and Historical Context
The development comes ahead of the competition's annual celebration of the LGBTQI+ community, scheduled to run from January 21 to February 1 next year. During this period, the Breakers are slated to play against Adelaide on January 23 - the team that boasts Isaac Humphries, the world's only openly gay male professional basketballer, who came out three years ago.
Despite the boycott of jersey insignia, the Breakers organisation emphasised its commitment to inclusion in an official statement: 'The club strongly supports this event and is open and inclusive and will celebrate the diversity of LGBTQI+ players, members, volunteers and supporters.'
The NBL responded to the situation through Code Sports, maintaining that the league remains 'committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful environment where everyone feels welcome.'
Broader Sporting Precedents
This situation echoes similar controversies in other sports. In 2022, seven Manly Sea Eagles NRL players refused to play when the club introduced pride-themed jerseys without prior consultation.
The players - Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau'atu, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu and Toafofoa Sipley - all cited cultural or religious beliefs as their reason for sitting out the match against Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval.
The Breakers have confirmed they will participate in Pride Round events but have drawn the line at wearing rainbow flags on their game-day attire, highlighting the ongoing tension between individual religious expression and collective support for LGBTQI+ inclusion in professional sports.
