Please Tassie, Call Your NBL Team the "Tasmania Jack Jumpers"

Hear our prayer.

Despite uncertainty around the future seasons of sporting codes all over the globe, Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) is remaining committed to a tip-off in December.

But Tasmania is looking beyond the 2020 – 21 season, ahead to 2021 – 22, when the island state will get its very own team (the league’s 10th).

As such, the NBL has revealed the shortlist of team names nominated by Tasmanians, who were asked to send in their top three faves, resulting to 10,000 submissions.

The decision now comes down to the following five, though, in our hearts, there is one clear winner. See if you feel the same below.

• Tasmania Tridents
• Tasmania Timbers
• Tasmania Pride
• Tasmania Mountaineers
• Tasmania Jack Jumpers

Wait, read back that last one again? Jack Jumpers?

"We want a name that Tasmanians will feel connected to and that’s why we asked them to nominate their favourites," said Team Tasmania CEO Simon Brookhouse in a statement.

"We want to build a team for all of Tasmania and a team all Tasmanians can be proud of."

Well, his words suggest "Tasmania Pride" might be the frontrunner. And as one eagle-eyed punter has pointed out, the fact that "Tridents" is the only one to gain a logo on the poster mock-up suggests Tassie might be leaning towards the seafaring title.

But we really must insist that Jack Jumpers be given a second look. Mostly because: Well, what is that even?

Turns out the Jack Jumper is a type of ant, native to Australia and usually found in Tassie. They are one of the few species of ant that can be dangerous to humans, and reportedly caused death four times between 1980 and 2000.

So, you’re telling me that Jack Jumpers, besides being silly-sounding and very clumsy to say, is also a kind of deadly ant?

Unfortunately, some believe, for the sake of the team mascot, Jack Jumpers should be struck from the record.

We say that's an argument for Jack Jumpers. Yes, there will be a guy (or girl, it's 2020) running around dressed as an ant at Jack Jumper games. After all we've endured in 2020, this, we must have.

Over the next four weeks, Team Tasmania will eliminate one name per week until the official name is revealed on 1 October.

Then maybe they can get to work on a stadium.

Update (30/09): It came true.

Header Image: Adisak Mitrprayoon & Dmytro Aksonov via GettyImages