The Thunderbolts will not get the chance to improve on their grand final appearance from last season, after Basketball NSW decided to abandon the Waratah League's division two competition this year due to a lack of interest from teams.
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Tamworth were to have contested the competition after a league restructuring following last season, with the side previously contesting the Waratah League's division one.
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News of Basketball NSW's decision last week to cancel Waratah 2 came a day after the Thunderbolts decided not to play this season and relayed that decision on to the sport's state authority.
Bolts coach John Ireland said among a "range of factors" that would have made contesting the season unpalatable were its shortened nature and the cost factor, as Tamworth may have played "a lot more away games".
Ireland said another factoring influencing the Bolts' decision not to play this year had been the October finals schedule, when Thunderbolt Justin Leahy was married. Many of the Thunderbolts will attend the wedding.
Ireland said: "At this stage we're looking at a bit of an extended preseason in preparation for season 2021, and hopefully be able to play a few regional development games and get guys as prepared as possible for next season."
The veteran mentor said Tamworth would resume training once they were allowed to use the Dome, which he expected would be soon.
"There will still be some basketball," Ireland said. "It will just be within our own format: more friendly development games against regional associations."
The Thunderbolt women will also sit out the season after their comp has cancelled.
