Tasmania JackJumpers players and their families were brutally attacked online during the club’s unsuccessful NBL season, says coach Scott Roth, who is calling for more action from the league.

The reigning champions moved to the bottom of the table with an upset 83-64 victory over the New Zealand Breakers in Hobart on Saturday night.

In an emotional post-match press conference, Roth explained that weeks of social media trolling from players and their loved ones had reached an ugly point in the 24 hours before the game.

“We have a lot of devastated players, family members, spouses, spouses and children,” he said.

“We were brutally attacked on social media to the point of being ugly.

“We have a player whose wife was pregnant and she (people online) wanted to have a miscarriage.”

JackJumpers CEO Christine Finnegan said players had reported the harassment to Basketball Australia’s integrity unit.

“(The unit) recommended that they have the highest priority to look into this matter,” he said in a statement.

“The club has offered unconditional support to any members of our club who feel violated by this behaviour.”

Roth said he appreciated police criticism of his coaching, the team’s style of play or roster decisions, but personal attacks crossed the line.

“These words are coming from gamblers, people around the world and general fans who think they can spew whatever they want out of their mouths,” he said.

“When you start using vulgar language and attacking family members, children, and photos on Facebook… it’s too much.

“It’s just a basketball game. It’s just fun. At the end of the day, who cares?

“We’re here to entertain and play as hard as we can. This isn’t life or death. Disgusting.”

Tasmania claimed the title last season in their third year in the competition but have won just four of 12 games so far in the 2024/25 season.

Scott Roth. (Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Roth called on the league to “do more” and take a more proactive approach on social media trolling.

“I understand, you report it and then they try to figure it out,” he said.

“But why don’t they look at what’s going on and contact the teams? We’re not the only ones.

“There are (players’) family members who say, ‘I’m afraid to go out because I’m being threatened.’

“The league needs to protect us. We’ve had three extraordinary years and I’m not going to let this place be burned down by people who attack us like this.”

Roth said he told his players to “play for their families” before the win, which ended a three-game losing streak and featured Jordon Crawford with 19 points.

The Breakers, who were in first place before the clash, closed the first quarter ahead 27-20, but had a bad setback and scored only three points in the third quarter.

They lost Jonah Bolden early in the contest when the 28-year-old power forward limped off due to a problem with his left calf.

Import Craig Sword had his best game of the season for Tasmania with 18 points, while bench player Majok Deng also collected 18 and 6 rebounds.