Aussie basketball fans split over newest NBL team's name, Tasmania JackJumpers
The newest NBL team has split Australian basketball fans over its name.
This week, the 10th team in the league for the 2021/22 season was announced as the Tasmania JackJumpers, ending months of speculation and public voting to decide the team mascot.
The 'JackJumpers' beat other options like the 'Tridents', 'Timbers', 'Mountaineers' and 'Pride' for the name, with green and gold chosen as the team colours.
But not everyone is a fan.
"The NBL takes a great step back into Tasmania, then calls them the Jack Jumpers? My goodness," Aussie basketball legend Chris Anstey tweeted.
The name is reflective of the jack jumper ant which is found mostly in Tasmania. The ant can jump and has a venomous bite.
"Synonymous with Tasmania, the JackJumpers will be proud, bold and fearless," JackJumpers chief executive Simon Brookhouse said in a statement.
"The JackJumpers will show that you don't need to be the biggest to be the best and to drive fear into your opponents.
Simon Brookhouse, CEO of the JackJumpers and Peter Gutwein, Premier of Tasmania pose with the new playing strip Getty
"The JackJumpers logo covers all corners of the state and embodies Tasmania's challenger spirit and passion. Our green and gold colours pay homage to Tasmania's rich history and landscape.
"The JackJumpers are energetic, fierce and ready to attack and defend with force well beyond their size. Like Tasmania itself, the JackJumpers will be unforgettable and a team all Tasmanians can embrace."
There were some that were supportive of the JackJumper moniker though.
Plenty of basketball fans got right behind the new team and its name, praised the original choice and even shared some humorous horror stories of encounters with the infamous ant that shares the same name.
