Kevin Durant considers NBL ownership despite knocking back the Bullets
Injured Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant was on the verge of owning an NBL franchise only for the governing body to drop the ball during negotiations. All your basketball news is in The Logue Down.
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Two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant is seriously considering ownership in the resurgent Australian league.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz, Durant toyed with buying the Brisbane Bullets before 12-year NBA veteran Kevin Martin took on the team last October.
KD and his manager, Rich Kleiman, were in lengthy discussions to buy the Bullets.
Ultimately, Durant decided geographical distance would prevent him from being any more than an absentee owner in a league that wanted him to be very visible.
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The NBL privately acknowledges that it could have made the negotiations a bit easier for Durant, who, sources say, hasn’t ruled out giving the NBL another look in the future.
He could join former and current NBA players in NBL ownership like Zach Randolph, Al Harrington, Dante Exum and Andrew Bogut.
CHRISTMAS DAY INTEREST
Plenty of hoops fans have been quick to dismiss a Christmas Day game in the NBL, but the potential concept has received support from clubs.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Cairns Taipans and the South East Melbourne Phoenix are interested in hosting a game on December 25.
There has been a bit of talk about the NBL following in the footsteps of the NBA and introducing a Christmas Day game.
The league already has an open-air Boxing Day game in Melbourne, but could the Australian public and the players accept a game on a religious day of relaxation for a lot of families?
Kings swingman Brad Newley is open to the idea, recently declaring: “If you are working on Christmas Day, you wake up, have a bit of turkey and then go and get some buckets.”
It appears Newley has a few friends when it comes to a Christmas Day NBL game.
TASSIE’S NBA TARGETS
Representatives from the Tasmanian NBL bid team are keeping a close eye on the NBA for players and potential financial backers to launch the franchise in the 2021-2022 season.
As Tassie edge closer to receiving the green light for a comeback, officials have started planning for the roster.
The main consensus is that Tasmania requires a big-name marquee player to launch the franchise.
Boomers guard Matthew Dellavedova could be an option.
Dellavedova is a free agent in 2020 and may consider a homecoming if he doesn’t pick up another deal or decide to remain in the NBA.
It’s understood Tasmania officials are also keen on home-grown talent like Craig Moller and Adam Gibson.
Meanwhile, NBL owner Larry Kestelman is expected to bank roll the new Tasmanian franchise for at least the first five seasons.
COTTON THE BOOMER
Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze has sent out a public plea for star Perth guard Bryce Cotton to become an Australian citizen.
Cotton, born in Tucson, Arizona, has lodged his application but is yet to receive approval.
Gaze doesn’t understand why the government is waiting to give the two-time NBL champion the green light.
“I refuse to call Scott Morrison, ‘Schmo’, until he gets the job done and Cotton is an Australian,” Gaze declared.
“Why can’t they have someone look at this and get it through?
“Bryce would be a perfect fit. First and foremost, he is an incredible player but secondly his skillsets would suit the Boomers.
“You want to surround Ben Simmons with shooters and guys who can create their own shot and open things up for Ben as well.
“I think Bryce is a missing link who could really put us over the edge.
“He is an outstanding player and person. He could be making a lot more money elsewhere but he loves the country and the culture.
“I think he would make an outstanding Australian.”
STERN’S NBL LOVE
The global basketball community is in mourning following the death of former NBA commissioner David Stern.
Stern will be remembered as one of the greatest administrators in sports history following his three-decade stint in charge of the NBA.
His greatest legacy is having the foresight to place the American basketball league on the global stage.
As a result, Stern also has a close connection to the NBL.
He presented the 1992 Grand Final MVP to Bruce Bolden while he had a respected friendship with former Sydney Kings owner Michael Wrublewski.
NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger also has fond memories of meeting Stern in his New York office last May.
Loeliger was introduced to the legendary administrator through a mutual friend and he jumped at the opportunity to talk all things hoops.
“David was so welcoming and generous, not just with his time, but with his insight,” Loeliger recalls.
“People were intimidated by him during his time as commissioner but post retirement you didn’t get that impression at all.
“You were more intimidated by his intellect more than anything else.
“He wasn’t an overbearing man, he was just incredibly intelligent. He knew everyone and there wasn’t much he didn’t know about the administration of the game.
“He had a great radar for where the sport was going and how Australia fits into that.”
Loeliger said Stern reserved special praise for the resurgent NBL.
“David said he was impressed by how far the league had come in such a short amount of time,” he said.
“He is the pioneer of the modern NBA, but in many respects the NBL also owes a debt of gratitude to him as well.
“His blueprint for success is what we measure ourselves against. He is the reason that we the NBL consider ourselves to be a global commodity because of what he demonstrated the NBA was capable of doing.
“Some of the early things he did, which perhaps people don’t realise how impactful they were, in terms of sowing the seeds for the seeds for the NBA to become a truly global product.
“I’m genuinely sad for his family and the fact he is lost to the sport.
“I was really looking forward to meeting with him again on my next trip back to the US.”
Stern died Wednesday after suffering a brain haemorrhage three weeks ago.
BALL COMEBACK
Illawarra officials remain hopeful that star guard LaMelo Ball will return from his foot injury, as early as this Monday against the 36ers in Adelaide.
Ball hasn’t played since November 30 – a loss against the New Zealand Breakers – but he is desperate to return to help his stock heading into the 2020 NBA draft this June.