Yes, Aussie basketball is back this week. Now I realise many of you have committed to the NBA and that’s about all the round ball you want. I don’t blame you: 24-hour news updates on Dwight Howard’s mood is enough for anyone!
Nonetheless, I’ve come up with five reasons to watch our local league too:
1. Super Sundays
If, one upcoming Sunday afternoon, you find yourself down about footy season being over, and because Monday morning looms, why not grab a bag of chips, flick on Channel 10 and watch some big blokes hit an iron hoop instead of each other.
It’ll be a refreshing change.
The NBL is on Channel 10, One HD and Sky NZ and don’t forget live streaming on NBL TV.
2. Big names with big games
There’s a slew of new talent in the league, some of whom will dazzle with dunks, others will zip about with quick feet, while a few will simply surprise.
For a start, high-flying James Ennis arrives to the Perth Wildcats via the NBA draft.
The Miami Heat secured the athletic swingman before loaning him to the ‘Cats, which is about all you need to know: the guy will one day play alongside LeBron James.
Then there’s Rotnei Clarke, one of American college basketball’s best scoring point guards this year who trialled with a number of NBA teams. Lucky for us, he’ll spearhead the Wollongong Hawks offence before trying for the NBA again.
The Melbourne Tigers also brought back Ayinde Ubaka after recently losing one of their imports to injury.
An NBL veteran, the man affectionately known as ‘Chewy’ also has one of the best name’s in the pro basketball galaxy.
3. Prodigal sons
In a sign the league is returning to form, a couple of big men have come back to Australia. The Sydney Kings added local boy AJ Ogilvy to their line-up, who manned the middle for Vanderbilt University in Nashville for several years.
He brings much-needed inside presence and strength to the Kings and should be fired up by the home crowd.
Meanwhile, veteran Boomer Mark Worthington also returns to the league as part of the Melbourne Tigers frontcourt.
He’s big, versatile and has the type of experience that’ll provide an edge in close games.
4. ‘Bring it’ catch-cry
The new NBL launched officially with the tag line ‘Bring It’, which focuses on re-engaging fans, according to the league.
The NBL says its players are committed to bringing it on the court and that now it’s up to fans to bring it each and every night by becoming club members.
Fair enough. But I still don’t know what we’re being asked to bring – our game faces? War cries? Ring Dings and Pepsi? Let’s just all agree to bring at least one thing, it’s good manners.
5. The new boss
You heard correctly – Fraser Neill is the new chief of the NBL after years as an executive in rugby. This matters for a couple of reasons: he is new to basketball which gifts the league a fresh viewpoint; and he remembers the glory days of the competition.
Anyone who recalls the fast-breaking, free-wheeling nineties version of NBL knows just how good the league could be again.
Justo
Guest
I really hope the NBL does get on the up and up again. Iam still shattered the GC Blaze are no more after being a season member for all there short time in the NBL. I miss the atmosphere of a live game and the excitement of a close finish. It really is a great comp i just hope it becomes a stable one in future.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Was at Perth Arena last night - nail biter finish!
JP
Guest
Cheers Stan. I hope to.
Stan McCan
Guest
Good article. Keep us interested
Stan McCan
Guest
Good article. Keep us interested
JP
Guest
Agreed Coops. Junior levels are really growing so even if people aren't convinced the NBL can reach former heights, they should recognise the broad popularity of the sport. That in itself should be motivation enough for the NBL's head people.
Coops
Guest
I think basketball is on the up again. I remember the 80's and 90's. The aura around the NBA is growing again with the King, and some real talent, not to mention having some standout Aussies playing. The NBL looks to be heading in the right direction, heck they are getting more FTA TV coverage than Union. A crop of new players coming through too. I was at the U16 Nationals this year too, what an outstanding tournament that was, with NSW country coming back from a 19 point deficit to beat NSW Metro in overtime for the boys championship. Some outstanding future talent there too. Junior participation in my local comp is going through the roof also, we have more and more kids joining every week. Lets hope that we can build on the momentum. Having grown up on cricket and rugby, I'd rather watch basketball any day!
mahonjt
Guest
Yep - and Gallop - what a failure he has been for football. #sarchasm On the positive news side: (1) Completed massive HD, TV deal including ‘Friday night football’ on HD FTA and a portfolio of Fox/SBS comedy/entertainment/analysis/highlights programming. (2) Quadrennial World Cup qualification completed. (3) Expanded FFA/Aleague sponsorship portfolio. (4) Annual FFA Cup (national 'whole of football' knock out cup) developed and announced for next year. (5) Annual National Premier League (a national second tier, i.e. think of a nationwide SEABL of a sorts?) finalised, launched and held this year and into full production next. (6) Annual A-League All-Stars finalised, launched and held. (7) New 65 country broadcast deal (mixture of full-game and highlights). (8) New online A-League subscription service (except Australia obviously) – think NBLTV (9) New A-League ABC broadcast deal for Grandstand radio, local radio, local digital, online and phone app - negotiated, announced and launching tomorrow. (10) New National Football Curriculum Mk2 finalised and launched. I can begin to tell you how big an achievement this is! On the negative news side - but still importantly: (11) Beautifully handled the match fixing scandal in Victoria. Important to note Gallop / FFA have achieved all this without structural separation – so don’t kid yourself into thinking that was the problem – at least not totally. While Gallop has long been a football fan (Bromwich, I believe) he is certainly no 'football person'. However good administrators are precisely that. Good administrators. Union has a common, quasi-international footprint to basketball and it suffers from similar structural issues around player pathway and national, professional league development in Australia. This guy from Union may just turn out to be the best CEO basketball ever had.
Kris Swales
Expert
And isn't James Sutherland doing a bang-up job! You never know Johnno, Damian Keogh might need a rest with the NBL if he makes it out of Cronulla's ASADA-infested waters alive.
JP
Guest
Nice one Kris. I'm keen on getting to the Kingdome myself - the team looks good. I'm quite interested in new point guard Jesse Sanders from Liberty University. He's gutsy and could be a spark plug for Sydney this season.
JP
Guest
That's fair Johnno. Though in the NBL's case I'm not so worried. They've had former players in top jobs before and it hasn't always worked. I'm happy to see someone with some sporting management experience because what the game needs right now is good ideas that have worked in other arenas.
Johnno
Guest
A little fact then on OZ sport CEO's Why keep haveing guys who have no background in the sport: NRL- ceo Dave Smith no rugby league background FFA -ceo Dave Gallop no Soccer background NBL -ceo Frasier Neil no basketball background Unlike some sports Cricket Australia-James Sutherland played for Victoria in either sheffield sheild or ODI cricket AFL-ceo Andrew Demetriou former AFL player ARU- Bill Pulver ex 1st 15 player, played and has been in rugby his whole life
Kris Swales
Expert
Looks like I'll be hitting the Ent Cent for Kings v Tigers on Sunday arvo, look forward to seeing how this new line-up shapes up. Really hope Madgen backs up last season with a bit more consistency... then gets poached to lead the Bullets in 2014/15!