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Thomas Abercrombie (basketball)

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Thomas Abercrombie
Personal information
Born (1987-07-05) 5 July 1987 (age 37)
Auckland, New Zealand
Listed height199 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Listed weight91 kg (201 lb)
Career information
High schoolWestlake Boys
(Auckland, New Zealand)
CollegeWashington State (2007–2008)
NBA draft2009: undrafted
Playing career2008–2024
PositionSmall forward / shooting guard
Career history
2008–2024New Zealand Breakers
2009–2011Waikato Pistons
2014ASVEL Basket
2015Gipuzkoa Basket
2016Pınar Karşıyaka
2017Büyükçekmece Basketbol
2019Wellington Saints
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  New Zealand
Men's Basketball
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Gold Coast Team competition

Thomas Iain Abercrombie (born 5 July 1987) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the New Zealand Breakers. A product of Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, Abercrombie had a short-lived college basketball stint with Washington State before debuting in the Australian NBL in 2008 with the Breakers. In 2011, he won his first NBL championship and earned Grand Final MVP honours. He went on to win three more championships in 2012, 2013 and 2015. He ended his NBL career in 2024 as the Breakers' most-capped player with 429 games.

Abercrombie also played four seasons in the New Zealand NBL and had stints abroad in France, Spain and Turkey.

Post playing career, he became commentator and courtside reporter for Australian NBL including all home games for the New Zealand Breakers since the 2024-25 season. He joined WNBA All-Star, Bec Allen in the commentary team.[1]

Early life and junior career

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Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Abercrombie attended Westlake Boys High School and played four years of school basketball. In 2005, he captained the basketball team to the title at the Secondary School National Championships.[2][3] That year, he also served as the school's deputy head boy and was captain of the volleyball team.[4]

As a junior, Abercrombie played for the North Harbour Basketball Association and represented New Zealand with the Junior Tall Blacks.[4][5]

In November 2005, Abercrombie accepted a scholarship deal with Washington State University.[4] He spent two seasons with the Cougars, redshirting his freshman season in 2006–07 before seeing action in 12 games in 2007–08.[6] On 14 May 2008, Abercrombie was granted a release from the team to pursue his basketball career in New Zealand.[6]

Professional career

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New Zealand Breakers

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After returning home following his college stint, Abercrombie joined the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL as a development player for the 2008–09 season.[7] He played 13 games in his first season with the Breakers, and was elevated to the full squad for the 2009–10 season.[8] He missed four games in the back half of the season with an ankle injury.[9][10]

In the 2010–11 season, Abercrombie helped the Breakers reach their first ever grand final series, where they defeated the Cairns Taipans 2–1 to win their maiden NBL championship. He was subsequently named the Grand Final MVP.[11] Abercrombie went on to win three more championships with the Breakers in 2012, 2013 and 2015.[12][13][14]

In January 2016, Abercrombie passed Kirk Penney as the club's all-time leading scorer.[15] Due to Penney's return to the club for two seasons, Abercrombie had to pass him again in October 2018 to reach 3227 points in 276 games.[16] In February 2019, he played his 300th NBL game.[14][17]

In October 2019, Abercrombie committed to the Breakers until the end of the 2021–22 season.[18]

In 2019–20, Abercrombie became the second player in NBL history (after Daniel Kickert in 2016–17 and 2017–18) to join the exclusive 50–40–90 club. Abercrombie averaged 12.1 points per game for the season while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 46.5 percent from three-point range and 90.5 percent from the free throw line.[19]

In April 2021, Abercrombie played his 355th game for the Breakers, surpassing Mika Vukona (354) to become the franchise's all-time games played leader.[20] He also passed Kirk Penney (489)[21][22] as the club's all-time leader in 3-pointers made.[23]

Abercrombie missed most of the 2021–22 NBL season with a side strain[24] and missed the first month of the 2022–23 NBL season after suffering a torn retina which required emergency surgery.[24][25]

On 10 May 2023, Abercrombie re-signed with the Breakers for the 2023–24 NBL season.[26] In September 2023, he played his 400th NBL game.[27]

On 13 February 2024, Abercrombie announced that the 2023–24 season would be his last in the NBL.[28][29] He retired with 429 career games and finished as the Breakers' most-capped player.[30]

New Zealand NBL

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In 2009, Abercrombie debuted in the New Zealand NBL with the Waikato Pistons.[31] He helped the Pistons win the championship while claiming Rookie of the Year and All-Star Five honours.[32][33] He continued on with the Pistons in 2010 and earned All-Star Five honours again while helping the Pistons make a second consecutive grand final appearance.[34][35][36] He returned to the Pistons for a third season in 2011 and once again earned All-Star Five honours.[37]

In 2019, Abercrombie played half a season with the Wellington Saints and helped them win a championship while claiming Grand Final MVP honours.[38][39][40]

Overseas stints

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During the 2013 NBL off-season, Abercrombie took part in mini-camp opportunities with NBA teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. He then joined the Phoenix Suns for the NBA Summer League.[41]

Following the 2013–14 NBL season, Abercrombie had a stint in France with ASVEL Basket.[42][43][44] He went on to have similar post-NBL season stints the following three years, playing for Gipuzkoa Basket in Spain in 2015,[45] and then having two stints in Turkey with Pınar Karşıyaka (2016)[46] and Büyükçekmece Basketbol (2017).[47][48]

National team career

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Abercrombie made his debut for the Tall Blacks in 2006.[5] In 2007, he represented New Zealand at the World University Games.[49] He played for the Tall Blacks at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[50] In 2018, he won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. His last appearance for the Tall Blacks came at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He retired from international play in June 2023 after 110 appearances for the Tall Blacks.[51]

Personal life

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Abercrombie is the son of Colin and Judy. He has two younger siblings, brother Hayden and sister Nicola.[2] Abercrombie and his wife Monique have three children.[14][52][53][54]

Abercrombie studied a Bachelor of Science at Massey University.[55]

References

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  1. ^ "Champions light up broadcast". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Thomas Abercrombie". wsucougars.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012.
  3. ^ "2005 Results Annual" (PDF). nz.basketball. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Jessup, Peter (10 November 2005). "Basketball: Rising star on twin path". nzherald.co.nz. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Tom Abercrombie". nz.basketball. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Abercrombie Granted Release from WSU Men's Basketball Program". pac-12.com. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Breakers Sign D-Squaders". basketball.org.nz. 5 June 2008. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008.
  8. ^ "Time for young Breakers talent to shine". nbl.com.au. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009.
  9. ^ "Basketball: Injury sidelines Abercrombie". nzherald.co.nz. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Basketball: Rickert rebounding to fitness". odt.co.nz. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2019. Tom Abercrombie has also benefited from another week back in practice, with his ankle now close to 100 percent, and his general fitness also improved.
  11. ^ Hinton, Marc (2 May 2011). "Breakers secure first ANBL championship". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 October 2019. Abercrombie was named finals MVP at the post-game presentations, with the North Shore boy receiving a huge cheer from his home crowd as he stepped on to the podium to receive a deserved award.
  12. ^ "Grand Final Report: Ibekwe jumper wins Breakers the Championship". nbl.com.au. 8 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Swingman Pledges Future with the SKYCITY Breakers". nzbreakers.co.nz. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015.
  14. ^ a b c Pike, Chris (7 February 2019). "Unheralded Great Abercrombie Reaches 300". nbl.com.au. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  15. ^ Thornton, Peter (27 January 2016). "Breakers swingman Thomas Abercrombie would be honoured to become the club's leading scorer". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 April 2021. The 28-year-old is currently on 2516 points for the club and needs only one point to draw level with the Kirk Penney, the record holder on 2517 points in his time at the Breakers.
  16. ^ Thornton, Peter (14 October 2018). "NZ Breakers: Tom Abercrombie makes history in upset of Melbourne". newshub.co.nz. Retrieved 13 April 2021. ...the small forward scored 16 points, exactly enough to pass Kirk Penney as the club's top scorer with 3227 points in 276 games.
  17. ^ Hinton, Marc (27 October 2017). "Breakers veteran Tom Abercrombie credits poise, athleticism of rising star Shea Ili". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Tom Abercrombie Extends Contract At Breakers". nbl.com.au. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  19. ^ Santamaria, Liam (18 February 2020). "Abercrombie Proud to Join 50–40–90 Club". nbl.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  20. ^ Hersz, Tom (28 April 2021). "Tom Abercrombie becomes Breakers All-Time Games Leader". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 28 April 2021. Tonight, Abercrombie will play his 355th game for the Breakers when they face Melbourne United. That will be one more than the 354 games Mika Vukona played for the club, making Abercrombie their all-time games played leader.
  21. ^ "With this three, Tom Abercrombie ties Kirk Penney for the most three-point makes in @NZBreakers history". twitter.com/NBL. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  22. ^ "The record is his in game 350". twitter.com/NBL. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Luckless Breakers Beaten in Overtime Heartbreaker by Defending Champions". nzbreakers.basketball. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021. Tom Abercrombie reached his 350-game milestone and celebrated by passing Kirk Penney as the club's all-time three-point shot maker...
  24. ^ a b Chapman, Grant (19 September 2022). "Basketball: NZ Breakers captain Tom Abercrombie suffers eye injury in pre-season defeat to Brisbane Bullets". newshub.co.nz. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  25. ^ Hinton, Marc (3 November 2022). "Emotions high as Tom Abercrombie ends long wait for NZ Breakers Spark Arena return". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  26. ^ "NBL Legend Commits to One More Season with the Breakers". nzbreakers.basketball. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Tom Abercrombie: By those who know him best". NBL.com.au. 30 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Abercrombie calls time on NBL career". NBL.com.au. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  29. ^ Woods, Dan (13 February 2024). "Abercrombie retirement "known for a while"". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  30. ^ "Hawks make Playoffs, fairytale continues". NBL.com.au. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Pistons Nab Abercrombie". basketball.org.nz. 22 September 2008. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008.
  32. ^ Anderson, Ian (26 June 2009). "Waikato Pistons crowned again". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  33. ^ "Jones named NBL MVP". Stuff.co.nz. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  34. ^ Kennedy, Paulo (29 June 2010). "Abercrombie sends a warning". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  35. ^ Hinton, Marc (10 July 2010). "Tait, Abercrombie snare main NBL awards". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  36. ^ "Tait, Abo Big Winners". Basketball.org.nz. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010.
  37. ^ "2011 NBL Awards". foxsportspulse.com. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014.
  38. ^ "Breakers captain Tom Abercrombie joins NBL leaders Wellington Saints". stuff.co.nz. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  39. ^ Smith, Tony (21 July 2019). "Wellington Saints claim 11th NBL title with stunning comeback win over Hawks". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  40. ^ Singh, Anendra (21 July 2019). "Basketball: Wellington Saints claw back to end Hawks' fairy-tale Final 4 run for 11th NBL title". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  41. ^ Tom Abercrombie jets to USA for tilt at NBA
  42. ^ "Thomas Abercrombie signs with ASVEL Villeurbanne". Sportando.com. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  43. ^ "Abercrombie Heads to Europe". nzbreakers.co.nz. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  44. ^ Anderson, Ian (2 April 2014). "Tom Abercrombie signs with French side". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  45. ^ Thomas Abercrombie signs with Gipuzkoa
  46. ^ Thomas Abercrombie signs with Pinar Karsiyaka
  47. ^ Thomas Abercrombie inks with Demir Insaat Buyukcekmece
  48. ^ Breakers forward Tom Abercrombie heading back to Turkey for off-season stint
  49. ^ "Aron Baynes and Thomas Abercrombie Finish Strong at World University Games". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019.
  50. ^ "Thomas Abercrombie". fiba.com. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  51. ^ "TOM ABERCROMBIE ANNOUNCES TALL BLACKS RETIREMENT". nz.basketball. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  52. ^ Breakers new dad Tom Abercrombie looks to add spark for crucial clash with Adelaide
  53. ^ Breakers star Tom Abercrombie considers return to New Zealand NBL
  54. ^ 'Bathing in mould': Mother hits out at state of room in managed isolation hotel in Auckland
  55. ^ Take 40: Tom Abercrombie
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