With news that the Townsville Crocodiles have jointed the Wollongong Wolves in entering into voluntary administration, it means only six viable teams remain in the NBL.
There are now genuine fears for the future of the national basketball competition less than a week after the New Zealand breakers clinched the title after a buzzer beating winner.
Unfortunately for the league, the heart-stopping, final-second winner went largely unnoticed. I fully admit to not even knowing the finals series was underway, let alone at a point a winner could be decided.
After hearing of the last-second winner I tuned in to the sports section of the news only for it not to be mentioned. Sydney papers had a half page story on the second last page of the sports section.
The sad fact is, NBA import Josh Childress drew more attention to the league after his horror tackle during the early season than he did for his feats on the court, despite leading the league for points scored per game.
Despite the increased number of former NBA players gracing our shores, combined with free-to-air coverage, albeit on a digital channel, the NBL has unfortunately failed to attract the audience it needs to thrive.
For the record I sincerely hope backers can be found to rescue both the Crocs and the Wolves, allowing next season to proceed with only the six sides.
Unfortunately I cannot see the NBL reaching a television agreement for the terms they’re currently on, having lost two sides, and most importantly the markets they bring with them.
I’d like to see Fox Sports pick up the competition, as the national netball competition has received a huge shot in the arm on the back of great coverage from the station.
Would Fox Sports be interested in a competition that only features six teams, one of them being based across the Tasman?
The league’s best bet seems to be the local communities that support the teams in trouble. If they can rally together to raise enough money, and interest, then potential sponsors may step in.
It would be a real shame to see the NBL fall over again, especially given the level of skill and excitement on show during the season. For those who did witness the Breakers last second win, or those who managed to catch a replay, it won’t be soon forgotten.
Unfortunately though, with only six teams, securing a television deal, and sponsorship, keeping top-level basketball in Australia may be a difficult equation.
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