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Basketball Australia (BA) and the NBL have merged as part of a sweeping review of the sport in the country. But the full impact of the commissioned review, which is expected to usher in a revamp of the battling NBL, won’t be known until at least October.
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The merger announced today was a result of the review’s first stage commissioned by the NBL, BA and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and completed in November.
The second and final stage is set to be completed on June 30 – but the results won’t be made public until after key stakeholders meet on October 11.
The review meeting was initially planned for July 19.
The meeting’s postponement ensures the 2008-09 NBL season – which starts in September – will not include any of the review’s recommendations.
The review’s recommendations are expected to affect the NBL’s number of teams, games played a season and a possible switch in the timing of the season.
It is understood the review will include the criteria needed for each NBL club to be a sustainable business.
But it is not expected to recommend a specific number of teams or where they should be located.
There are suggestions that the NBL will be cut from 12 teams to 10 or eight, with possibly one club in each of the major cities.
But BA chief executive Scott Derwin – who has been appointed as interim CEO for the new, merged organisation – said it was too early to speculate.
“Key stakeholders need to review the recommendations, to see how they are impacted by them, and then meet on October 11 to vote on their decision,” he told AAP.
“Then we will learn if the recommendations are accepted. October 11 is the critical date.
“So no changes will be made to the 2008-09 season. It will come into affect in the season after that.”
It ends speculation that the 2008-09 season would be scrapped to provide time for a competition overhaul, similar to Football Federation Australia’s successful A-League revamp.
The review is also set to target regaining public, corporate and television support and ways of capitalising on the sport’s grass roots popularity.
The NBL is battling after former champions the Sydney Kings had their licence terminated this month after failing to clear debts including outstanding player payments.
There is faint hope the club could be revived with reports of two groups of investors interested in the Kings franchise.
But an 11th hour deal appears to have saved foundation club the Brisbane Bullets.
It is believed basketball identity Brian Stephenson has emerged as a white knight just days before the June 30 deadline.
But the Bullets have released virtually their entire roster.
It is a distraction for the NBL which is trying to secure a new TV deal with Fox Sports and renew its naming rights sponsorship with Hummer.
David Thodey – chairman of the interim board overseeing the review process – made no apologies for the review meeting’s postponement.
“It is vital for the future of our sport that we get it right,” he said.
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