Basketball loving Banks family get ball rolling on ideas for Tasmania’s NBL team nickname

A four week campaign for nickname suggestions for Tasmania’s NBL team has begun, and one basketball loving family has jumped aboard with a few excellent suggestions.

What should the new Tasmanian basketball team be called? Young basketball stars Reiley, 14, Zoe, 16 and Mitchell, 8 Banks. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

• Tassie team name suggestions
• Team names on the table

THE Tasmania Trojans? Or the Tassie Bushrangers?

The basketball loving Banks family has wasted no time in thinking about a name for the state’s NBL team they will get to grow up supporting.

Suggestions are now open for the NBL’s 10th franchise, with a four week campaign rolled out from today to label the nickname of the club which will join the league for the 2021-22 season.

Reiley Banks, 14, said he can’t wait to see the team in action at the redeveloped Derwent Entertainment Centre from late next year.

“It is pretty exciting, it will be good for Tasmania because we haven’t had one for a while and most Tasmanians will get around it and support them.

“I like Bushrangers or Tall Timbers.”

Younger brother Mitchell, eight, also plans on putting in his suggestion, “Tassie Trojans” for the team.

What should the new Tasmanian basketball team be called? Young basketball stars Zoe, 16, Mitchell, 8 and Reiley, 14, Banks. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Eldest of the Banks trio, 16-year-old Zoe, is still working on her preferred name but hopes a Tasmanian NBL team could also help pave the way for a WNBL one in the future.

“It is pretty exciting, it will just provide a lot of new pathways and job opportunities for people other than players as well,” said Zoe, who has represented her state three times at underage level.

“WNBL is definitely part of where I want to go with basketball and being able to play for Tasmania would be a dream come true.”

Fans can register their suggestions for the Tasmanian NBL team at www.nbltas.com.au.

All entrants have a chance to win four season tickets, a signed inaugural jersey and meet the players from the new team.

Follow @ajsmiddy