NBL officials are considering bringing back the All-Star game, while Brad Newley has backed a Christmas Day game
The NBL is flying. Is now the time to capitalise with some massive marquee events? While the league looks at bringing back the All-Star game, a player has thrown his support behind a Christmas Day game.
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Update: NBL officials are considering bringing back the All-Star game to capitalise on the league’s rise in standard and global reach.
The concept was benched after the 2012-2013 season when the South beat the North in Adelaide and then-Melbourne Tiger Chris Goulding was named MVP.
But in the wake of the NBL’s revival and legitimate breeding ground for the NBA, league bosses may introduce a mid-season concept to celebrate the sport.
NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger told The Daily Telegraph that the All-Star game was an option while it’s understood a mid-year cup was also being considered.
“We have looked at the NBL All-Stars concept and it’s something we would need to work through with the clubs and players,” Loeliger said.
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“We would also have to look at it where it would fit in the schedule, what would be the best location and how it would work from a commercial and marketing perspective.
“There’s no doubt there is a high level of talent in the NBL. Last weekend highlighted that; stars like Casper Ware, John Roberson and Jerome Randle thrilling fans with outstanding performances.
“Put that together with all the local stars like Andrew Bogut, Mitch Creek, Chris Goulding and Nick Kay and the standard of the NBL has never been better.”
The NBL certainly has All-Star talent, but the concern is whether the game receives enough support from coaches to be competitive.
You only have to look at the NBA All-Star game. Sure, the voting and team selection creates interest but the match itself is a pointscoring fest with no defence or intensity.
The NBL must be wary of recreating a similar, unsustainable match.
CHRISTMAS DAY CHEER
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 players accept a game on a religious day of relaxation for a lot of families?
Kings swingman Brad Newley is open to the idea.
“It wouldn’t bother me too much,” Newley said on the Hoops Capital Podcast on Sydney Kings’ website.
“We are always looking for something to do at Christmas and as professional sportsmen you are always ready for anything.
“It is an interesting one because all my mates are like, ‘what are you doing for Christmas’? and I’m like, ‘I’m working, mate’.
“If you are working on Christmas Day, you wake up, have a bit of turkey and then go and get some buckets.”
IT’S NOT BLACK AND WHITE
The NBL’s game officials have copped criticism all season for a lack of consistency.
The anger reached breaking point during the Kings-Melbourne United game last weekend.
A bumper crowd flocked to Melbourne Arena to watch the NBL’s two best big men — Bogut and Shawn Long — battle it out.
Only problem, Bogut and Long were restricted to limited minutes after falling into foul trouble. Retired Carlton and Brisbane Lions AFL forward Brendan Fevola was in the crowd and he aired his frustrations via Twitter:
Went to the BBall tonight to see the best 2 big men in the @NBL @andrewbogut played 9.55 mins and Long plays 15.31 mins. Both called for horrible fouls from the Refs no court time. Supporters ripped off because the refs are whistle happy absolute joke. @chomicide thoughts?
— Brendan Fevola (@BrendanFevola25) December 14, 2019
Fevola made a valid point but the referees aren’t entirely to blame.
I’ve spoken to several players this week and the general view is the following: you can’t be a pro league and have part-time referees. That is where the argument starts and ends.
DUDES OF THE DECADE
As we close in on another decade, most sports are looking back and honouring their finest players and teams from 2010 to 2020.
It makes for fascinating reading and debate and basketball is certainly no different.
I’ve spoken to some of the game’s most respected voices to determine the NBL’s best starting five and the big one, the player of the decade.
Let’s start with the finest five:
PG/Combo Guards: Kevin Lisch, Bryce Cotton. SF: Goulding. PF: Mika Vukona C: Daniel Johnson.
Plenty would argue for Perth skipper Damian Martin to be included given he has won five championships, a grand final MVP and six defensive player of the year awards.
Martin deserves inclusion but it’s difficult to oust Lisch or Cotton with their superior offensive games.
Brian Conklin and Tom Abercrombie get honourable mentions.
Now for the toughest decision — the NBL’s player of the decade.
I’d personally go for Fiji-born power forward Vukona slightly ahead of Cotton, Lisch and Martin.
Vukona guided New Zealand Breakers to four championships with his trademark toughness, presence and determination.
It is why I’ve also spoken to one of Australia’s most respected basketball voices, ex-Adelaide Advertiser scribe Botond Nagy for his take.
Nagy was writing about basketball a decade before I was born (1974 to be exact) and he says the NBL’s MVP of the decade is an easy choice.
“Two-time MVP and a Larry Sengstock medallist, that has to be Kevin Lisch,” Nagy said. “For me, anyway.”
KINGS OF THEIR CASTLE
Sydney are on track to shatter the franchise’s average attendance record set in 1992.
In 15 home games in ’92, the Kings attracted 144,000 fans at an average of 9627 per game.
The mark was eclipsed in 2019 with an average 9741 flocking to seven home games at Qudos Bank Arena.
Year-on-year until the last home game, Kings crowds in Sydney are 68,737 from seven outings versus 41,225 from five — an increase of nearly 20 per cent. Memberships are also up 51.5 per cent, year-on-year.
With the Kings hosting rivals Melbourne United on Australia Day and most likely LaMelo Ball’s last game in Australia on February 14, the franchise’s attendance records will be smashed.
SIMMONS TRIBUTE
Ben Simmons was born in Melbourne, but he was raised in Newcastle and the former “Steel City” certainly hasn’t forgotten.
The Newcastle Basketball headquarters in Broadmeadow have built a tribute to Simmons and the Hunter region’s other NBA, NBL and women’s players that have starred on the sport’s biggest stage.
These include the likes of Damian Martin (Perth Wildcats), Katie Ebzery (Perth Lynx), Kouat Noi (Cairns Taipans) and Hannah Young (Townsville Fire).
There is no doubting, though, that Simmons is a favourite son in the Newcastle basketball community.