[6] The Breakers began their 2019–20 campaign with a pre-season trip to the United States with games against NBA teams the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder, losing both by double digits.

[9] An injury to import Scotty Hopson led to the controversial signing of troubled American journeyman Glen Rice Jr.,[10] who less than two weeks after arriving in Auckland was arrested after a scuffle in a bar and subsequently suspended indefinitely by the club.

[13] The multitude of incidents led to the questioning of the club's culture, with the new ownership seemingly moving away from the family values installed under previous owners Paul and Liz Blackwell.

[14] Despite the controversy surrounding the club, the Breakers were playing to record home crowds[15] and the 24 October encounter against the Illawarra Hawks—which saw Hampton matched-up with LaMelo Ball—was the most-watched game in NBL history with nearly two million views globally on Facebook.

[17] Rice was reinstated to the roster for round 10 following an investigation by Basketball Australia,[18] but following his return match against the Taipans, he was arrested again for breaching bail conditions and was subsequently sacked by the Breakers.