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NBL chief executive Larry Sengstock believes if New Zealand win a historic championship this season, it will kick-start a league-wide rivalry and inspire Australian teams to reach greater heights.
Kiwi teams have a strong presence in professional Australian sport, including the NRL, the A-League and the NBL, but none thus far have been able to win a title.
But with the New Zealand Breakers currently clear league-leaders and almost unbackable favourites with bookmakers, they seem set to break New Zealand’s drought in Australia.
While it may not garner the sort of attention the league is craving and would receive from a Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide title, the NBL is embracing the possibility.
“If New Zealand win it, it’s then up to the Australian teams to get themselves together and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Sengstock told AAP in Sydney on Thursday.
“That becomes a great challenge and a great rivalry and I’d love to see that.
“Credit to New Zealand, they’ve done the hard work to get where they are now and if they win it, that becomes a challenge the other way.”
The NBL is enjoying greater exposure this season, helped by the return of the Sydney Kings and free-to-air television coverage.
The league is still short on the marquee names it enjoyed in the past through the likes of Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal and Leroy Loggins, something officials are working on.
They are also very keen on further expansion, with the return of the Brisbane Bullets plus a second Melbourne team the priorities.
Newcastle mining magnate Nathan Tinkler has also had discussions about a team returning to that region, but the league is wary of adding too many new teams too quickly.
“If we really wanted to we could push the button and force things to happen,” Sengstock said.
“We don’t want to do that. It’s got to be sustainable and we’ve got to make some hard decision.
“But I’d expect to have the Bullets for 2012-13.”
The Kings have received some criticism for their poor form on the court, but they have made some impressive strides off it and boast the highest attendances in the NBL.
Their return was also a key to the free-to-air TV deal and Sengstock is encouraged by the return of the league’s most recognised label.
“I think they’ve done everything they can,” he said.
“You can only go so far with a new team on the court, but as far as entertainment, the numbers of spectators they’re getting, the promotions they’re doing, the ability for us to use that to promote the game has been fantastic for us.
“While it’s taken them half a season to get their team together, they’re starting to win some games and be competitive, which is a great thing.”
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