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Frustrated NBL legend Chris Anstey has described the national league’s current state as a “piece of crap” and doesn’t believe the Basketball Australia (BA) board can clean it up.
Despite this, two-time Olympian Anstey hasn’t ruled out returning to the court – but he says it will only be with the Melbourne Tigers.
That appears at least 12 months away after BA announced that it planned to go ahead with a seven-strong league next season without teams from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
BA did concede that it may yet be forced to scrap the season if there was not sufficient support for it from the clubs.
Two-time NBL MVP Anstey said Tuesday’s “band aid fix” only confirmed his worst fears about the current BA board.
“Basketball Australia has inherited a piece of crap to be honest … and they have to try and fix it, but they need the right people to fix it,” Anstey told AAP.
“And I don’t believe the people they have there at the moment are going to be able to.
“They have got smart business people but they don’t have basketball people.
“It’s impossible to sell something that you are not passionate about.
“I expect to hear something different out of their office every single day because I don’t think they know what they are talking about.”
Former NBA player Anstey said he had not officially retired, but had ruled out travelling interstate to play if the new league eventuated.
“I will probably have finished playing basketball I think, but nothing is definite,” he said.
“The door is open (to keep playing). There’s just nowhere for me to play.
“It’s a forced year off, like a lockout in the NBA.”
Anstey said he would explore his off-court options before making a final call on his glittering career.
“In 12 or 14 months’ time I will see how the body is, see if I feel like running around again,” he said.
“What I wanted to get out of basketball coming back to Australia was to play for the Melbourne Tigers and be a part of what would hopefully be considered one of the most successful basketball teams in the NBL.
“We had made four straight finals and the goal was to maybe win another one or two (titles).
“(But) I am not going interstate because I have two kids and my No.1 priority is to be here for my kids.”
Anstey implored the BA board to start giving “concrete answers” as players and coaching staff mulled over their future.
“They talk about the future, ways of making the league financially viable but what we are interested in is how, when and why,” he said.
“It’s gone backwards.”
Meanwhile, 15-year NBL veteran John Rillie said he was preparing for life after basketball despite his team Townsville featuring in the proposed new league.
“I am out there seeking other employment as we speak, I can’t be caught with my pants down,” Rillie told AAP.
The ex-Boomers guard had become so frustrated by what he believed was a lack of communication that he tried to phone BA CEO Larry Sengstock – only to get an answering service.
He also posted a heartfelt video message on his website “JR on Fire” pleading for information from BA.
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