Logue Down basketball column: NBL receives ‘genuine’ expansion interest as popularity skyrockets
Everyone wants a piece of the NBL and if a mad Mitch Creek dunk and subsequent crowd-thrilling barney is any indication, then new franchises are only a matter of time. Logue Down has all the news.
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The NBL has received expansion bids from multiple parties across the country as interest in joining the Australian competition booms.
League commissioner Jeremy Loeliger confirmed investors from NSW, the ACT, Queensland, Northern Territory and Victoria have contacted him with expansion expressions of interest.
And while there is no definitive date for expanding the current 10-team league, Loeliger says the inquires for more teams are serious and genuine.
“I’ve fielded expressions of interest from all of them within the last 12 months and they haven’t been hairbrained, ill-conceived approaches either,” Loeliger said.
“Most of them have been from very creditable people who are willing to do the work to put together a compelling business case.
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“The recent success of South East Melbourne and Tasmania has meant that we are continuing to explore further expansion opportunities.
“There are certainly a couple of opportunities around Australia at this point, where a number of important factors like support, infrastructure and fans are coming together.
“We will continue to have those discussions, monitor those approaches and consider them carefully.”
Loeliger stressed the league isn’t in a rush to expand and there must be the right alignment of infrastructure, investment from sponsors, interest from local fans and supportive local councils and state governments.
“We’ve said this all along because sustainability is important to the quality of the game but also to the bottom line of each club,” he said.
“I think both Phoenix and the JackJumpers were the perfect alignment of all those interests coming together at the right place, at the right time.
“For South East Melbourne in particular to make the playoffs in their second year and be an absolute championship contender in year three, I think will give people a lot of heart that they can compete from very early stages.”
Refs need more cash
Every year the same argument arises about the NBL’s refereeing standard, yet we rarely hear about any proactive options.
One solution being mooted is that clubs could contribute to referees annual salaries in order to boost their wages to give them more time to hone their craft.
It’s understood clubs could chip in upwards of $20,000 a year to ensure the officials are paid better to allow more time for training and a genuine pathway system.
There are currently five full-time referees in the league, and despite calls for every referee to be full-time, NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger doesn’t want to go down that path.
“No, I don’t think that is a definitive plan at this stage,” Loeliger said.
“We are pretty happy with where the level is at, in terms of full-time employees compared to casual.
“It is something that we will continue to monitor and explore, but there is no overwhelming evidence that everyone being full-time as the desired result, as far as improvement of performance.
“Even the referees who are currently full-time employees in the basketball industry, they aren’t refereeing full-time.
“It is important that they continue to exercise their mental rigour and decision making in other aspects of their daily life and work.
“I think there is a happy medium to be struck.”
Hannahs delivers under pressure
Adelaide 36ers import guard Dusty Hannahs pushed aside some serious question marks to star in Thursday’s win over Tasmania.
Officials within the 36ers ranks wanted to see Hannahs lift his game following two below par round one performances.
The American knew he needed to bounce back, hitting a desperation three-pointer and a tough floater in the final 90 seconds to lead the 36ers over the JackJumpers, before finishing with 15 points.
“I had a tough first two games and I felt like I let my teammates down, and the staff and everybody,” Hannahs said.
“It was just about getting back on track and the team getting a win. I‘m glad I was able to get that three in a time when we needed it.”
Hannahs capped off an impressive weekend with another standout effort in a win over New Zealand on Sunday.
He finished with 25 points, four assists and one rebound to collect the man of the match honours.
Copeland returns
16 years after leaving the Melbourne Tigers as a two-time champion and one of the league’s greatest imports, Lanard Copeland will return to the NBL club where he made his name.
Copeland has joined United as a coach of the club’s Junior Academy while he will regularly attend games as part of the franchise’s new past players program and ‘Legends Box’ at home games.
“United when they first started was going to be about all the legends, so North Melbourne Giants, the Magic and the Tigers and it didn’t eventuate or start off that way,” Copeland said.
“It looked like a new team, and it was like they weren’t thinking about anyone else.
“But then when our singlets went up in the rafters, it started feeling a little bit more like being part of the team.
“Now every time I go to the game, and I see the Gaze, Copeland and Bradtke banners up there, I feel like this is my team.
“United has done a fantastic job of bringing everyone together in Melbourne and I’m happy to be a part of it.
“The new CEO Nick Truelson is trying to get all the old players back involved in the club and the opportunity came up for me to coach the new academy, so I jumped at the chance knowing I was going to be working with Dean Vickerman and Darryl MacDonald again.”
Reath’s NBA ability
Boomers and Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian told me earlier this year that big man Duop Reath had the ability to revolutionise the NBL.
He also said Reath can have a Jock Landale type influence on the league.
As usual, Goorjian is bang on the money.
Reath has been a standout for the high-flying Hawks with his presence in the paint and ability to score points, including from range.
This was on show on Saturday night against the Sydney Kings, with Reath dropping a game-high 27 points and adding seven rebounds.
It’s a joy to watch a big man like Reath dominate at both ends of the floor.
Cambage done
Opals coach Sandy Brondello doesn’t expect Liz Cambage to play for Australia again, but she is determined to move on to ensure our women have success at next year’s World Cup in Sydney.
Cambage made it clear this week that she didn’t want to be selected for the Opals’ 2022 Cup campaign following her controversial actions against Nigeria in a pre-Olympic scrimmage, which led to a formal investigation into allegations she made racial comments towards the Nigerians following a physical altercation.
Asked if we won’t see Cambage in an Australian Opals singlet again, Brondello said: Yes, probably.
“She has no interest, and that is OK. Let’s just move on. It has been a tough situation. It is nothing against Liz, but now it is all about a new opportunity for the Opals as we look to the future.”
That was an outstanding game between the @SEMelbPhoenix and @MelbUnitedHQ, highlighted by this Mitch Creek poster dunk. The game had everything. Include Saturday's @SydneyKings vs @illawarrahawks game -another reason why every hoops fan in Australia should get around the @NBL. pic.twitter.com/kMXR2lNQco
— Matt Logue (@mattlogue7) December 12, 2021
LIKE
Phoenix forward Mitch Creek is an NBA standard player when he is fit and firing, and he proved it with a masterclass performance against the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday night.
Creek went crazy, finishing with 36 points, including six threes and five rebounds in a man of the match effort.
If the Phoenix are to fulfil their championship potential this season, they’ll need their veteran forward at his best.
OMG. MITCH CREEK DUNKS ALL OVER DELLY AND THE THROWDOWN IS ALIVE! 🤯🤯🤯
— The NBL (@NBL) December 12, 2021
Watch live and free on @10PeachAu + @kayosports#NBL22pic.twitter.com/yAzdr9gYHa
Creek, who has previously played five NBA games for Brooklyn and Minnesota, is destined for a big season and a return to the world’s best league is a legitimate chance of happening if he maintains his form.
His highlight, though, came during a heated Throwdown clash against arch rivals Melbourne United on Sunday.
Creek’s mid-air poster dunk on United star Matthew Dellavedova will dominate the highlight reels for some time.
Mitch Creek speaks about THAT DUNK #NBL22pic.twitter.com/kAeziV8M4x
— The NBL (@NBL) December 12, 2021
DISLIKE
Give Jock Landale time in the NBA and he’ll prove his worth.
Instead the San Antonio Spurs have assigned the Boomers big man to its G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs.
Landale has received limited minutes in his maiden NBA season as he sits down coach Gregg Popovich’s big man pecking order.
He has also had to deal with concussion and Covid protocols, prompting the Spurs to send him to the G League.
Landale responded in style, scoring 26 points on 12-14 shooting in 29 minutes.
Asked what the former Melbourne United star will gain from G League, Popovich said: “Just experience. It’s his 1st run in the NBA, and he hasn’t been able to play much. He had the concussion, (Covid protocols) he had to go through, so he’s really behind. The best thing he can do is get minutes and play.”
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