The Logue Down, Crosscourt edition: Latest NBL news and whispers ahead of the last round of NBL23
It’s been a mixed season in Brisbane for former Miami Heat guard Tyler Johnson. He’s watched coaches come and go and the Bullets languish in second last. But he’s open to an NBL24 return.
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Brisbane’s ex-NBA guard Tyler Johnson has declared his intentions to return to the NBL and the Bullets next season.
Johnson, who has played 373 games for four nba clubs, has enjoyed a mixed maiden season at the Bullets that has culminated with the former Miami Heat guard being named as a finalist in the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award.
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The 30-year-old has averaged 15.83 points, 3.63 rebounds and 2.75 assists while shooting 49 per cent from the field.
Johnson wants to play overseas during the off-season, but he hasn’t ruled out rejoining Brisbane for NBL24.
“We’re talking to a few teams and I’ll look to play in the off-season and then I’m going to be in talks with our owners and see what we can get done,” Johnson said.
“It depends on what this team looks like coming back, but I’ve really enjoyed my time here.
“There have been some ups and downs but, when you see the way everyone has come together, especially towards the end, it has given me a lot of optimism.
“It has definitely changed my perception being around these guys for a long period of time.
“From that perspective, I’m open to anything. It depends on what the off-season looks like, but I’m more than open to coming back.”
LARRY’S PLAN TO SLING NBL BACK INTO ASIAN MARKET
If league owner Larry Kestelman has his way, the Slingers, who were part of the NBL for two seasons from 2006-08, could be part of a plan to take the league global.
And Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman — who was a Slingers’ assistant in 2006-07 under Gordie McLeod — has backed the idea.
The Slingers’ roots are in the NBL — the licence was once the famed Canberra Cannons, which became the Hunter Pirates, before a Singapore consortium took over and moved the club offshore, eventually leaving the league to participate in Asian competition.
“We are looking very closely at Asia, how do we get an interest out of Asia, how do we get eyeballs from Asia, how do we grow?,” Kestelman told Crosscourt.
“I’ve got this concept I’d love to see the old Singapore Slingers revived.
“I’d love to see it. An Asian team, whether they’re based here, or whether they’re based overseas.
Vickerman, who also coached the Singapore national team, believes the Slingers could be a success.
“As a city, I know the other teams enjoyed going to Singapore, facilities, crowd support, all those things, if they had the opportunity to come back in, it’s all there,” Vickerman said.
“I think it would be good for our league.”
Kestelman also floated taking an entire round into the Asian market.
“How good would it be if we had an NBL round played in Singapore, or played somewhere else?,” he said.
Only last month, almost 55,000 people watched game seven of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals in the Philippines, an indicator of the thirst for basketball in Asia.
“Understanding, now, where the league is at and where we’re going, is global — it is beyond just what is happening here domestically,” Kestelman said.
“So, how do we expose ourselves more and more overseas?
“That’s our vision and it’s certainly side-by-side with continued growth in Australia.”
NBL’S FINAL FRONTIER
A high-ranking NBA scout believes the NBL’s salary cap is the only factor holding back the booming Australian league.
Australia has become a “must stop” destination for NBA scouts following the sport’s meteoric rise.
The NBL is globally respected as a pathway for emerging and established players, like Josh Giddey, Jock Landale, LaMelo Ball and Jae’Sean Tate, to reach the world’s best league.
The revolutionary Next Stars program has helped young talent achieve their NBA dreams, headlined by lottery picks Giddey and Ball.
One NBA scout, who could not be named due to his club’s policy, said the NBL was hamstrung by its salary cap, making it difficult to inability to retain stars with increased wages.
He believes the cap, set at a tick over $1.7 million for NBL23, was the biggest barrier to attracting the best young talent — and better NBA vets.
The scout rates the league’s quality but says it can’t compete with the riches on offer in Europe, America and Asia.
In the past season alone, the NBL has lost Jaylen Adams, Jarell Martin, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Duop Reath to overseas leagues, while Matthew Dellavedova, who was the NBL’s highest-paid player, signed a $3.7 million deal in Sacramento.
“I think the quality of the league is good … but I think the competition could probably get a lot better,” the scout told News Corp.
“Limitations this league has, I think, a lot to do with the small salary cap and the payment of players.
“Ownership’s going to have to spend a bit more money to get better players.
“I’m not sure how that works, maybe it changes when they get a new TV contract … and then they can expand their salary cap.”
The league’s salary cap has increased by more than 70 per cent in the eight years since Larry Kestelman took control, which has paved the way for more NBA-level talents and prospects to head down under.
But the next broadcast rights deal remains one of Kestelman’s chief priorities in the off-season for a league that has enjoyed exponential growth in its audience, especially since Covid lockdowns abated.
“We will have a complete review of what our broadcast looks like,” Kestelman told Crosscourt.
“How do we keep growing the unlimited potential of television and viewership?”
Every NBL game is live on Kayo and ESPN and beamed internationally to many countries but free-to-air is still a nut the league is yet to fully crack, with Ten featuring two games per week — on a Sunday, in single definition on one of its alternate channels — as part of a three-year deal that ends after next season.
“We’ve grown tremendously with Kayo and ESPN and free-to-air is going well, so our viewership is growing really strongly,” Kestelman said.
“It’s not just about free-to-air it’s about the right mix.
“The day has come where there’s no singular (broadcast) solution — it’s all about eyeballs and how do people actually watch the games?
“I’d love to continue to see free-to-air as a part of the solution, but I don’t think it’s the only solution. It’s about the right partnership and how do we do the right thing for the sport?
“We have not gone unnoticed — Our growth and what we’re doing has definitely been noticed.”
ANSTEY’S FIX FOR AWARD FURORE
The NBL’s award voting raised plenty of eyebrows on Monday when the finalists were released.
The Sydney Kings fumed when neither Justin Simon, nor Xavier Cooks were in the final three in the Defensive Player of the Year award, while Cairns Taipan Majok Deng wasn’t happy teammate Bul Kuol didn’t make the cut.
It’s no secret winners of each award are decided by a vote among the coaches and captains of each club.
This was a fact lost on some clubs and fans, who directed their ire at the expert panel, which provided the nominees to the voting cohort.
Aussie basketball great Chris Anstey believes there are a couple of simple fixes — make it a top five and take it out of the players’ hands.
“It can’t be a player vote, solely,” Anstey said.
“It should be an independent panel, with some weighting from the players if they believe someone has been unfairly left off.
“It also surely has to be a top-five, rather than a top-three.”
FROLING FAMILY’S THANKS AFTER HARRY’S SURGERY
The father of Brisbane Bullet Harry Froling has given thanks for the “care and support” afforded his son, who remains in hospital after he was the victim of an alleged one-punch attack in Illawarra.
Harry Froling was left with shocking injuries in the wake of the attack, requiring surgery to treat a fractured skull and alleviate bleeding on the brain.
Harrison Froling has had major surgery & remains in hospital after a strike to the head. We are unable to comment regarding the incident.
— Shane Froling (@ShaneFroling) January 29, 2023
We will give our side once police gather the evidence & facts and it has been dealt with.
Thankyou for the care and support, it's appreciated.
A 19-year-old has been charged over the incident and Shane Froling said the family would speak once “police gather the evidence and facts and it has been dealt with”.
“Harrison Froling has had major surgery & remains in hospital after a strike to the head,” Shane Froling tweeted.
“We are unable to comment regarding the incident.
“Thankyou for the care and support, it’s appreciated.”
HOOPS BACK ON THE MAP IN MELBOURNE
It’s a massive week of basketball in Melbourne. The action tips off Friday with the ever-growing Prahran Summer Jam, its 11th incarnation running across three days.
The GOAT Lauren Jackson and the Southside Flyers, at 6.30pm on Saturday night, step out in front of what could be a record crowd when they take on the Sydney Flames in the first WNBL game at 10,000-seat John Cain Arena.
Then, on Sunday, Melbourne United makes its long-awaited return to a sold-out JCA for its first home game in 44 days — a do-or-die 2pm clash with Adelaide that will have a big say in whether the team makes the NBL finals.
Across town in Parkville, the Melbourne Boomers continue their run to the WNBL playoffs from 3pm, led by Opals’ superstar Cayla George and MVP candidate Tiff Mitchell when they take on state rival Bendigo Spirit.
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
THURSDAY:
Illawarra Hawks v New Zealand Breakers, Thursday, February 2, 7.30pm AEDT, WIN Entertainment Centre
FRIDAY:
Adelaide 36ers v Sydney Kings, Friday, February 3, 7.30pm AEDT, Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Perth Wildcats v Cairns Taipans, Friday, February 3, 9.30pm AEDT, RAC Arena
SATURDAY:
Illawarra Hawks v Tasmania JackJumpers, Saturday, February 4, 5.30pm AEDT, WIN Entertainment Centre
Brisbane Bullets v New Zealand Breakers, Saturday, February 4, 8pm AEDT, Nissan Arena
SUNDAY:
Melbourne United v Adelaide 36ers, Sunday, February 5, 2pm, AEDT, John Cain Arena
Perth Wildcats v Sydney Kings, Sunday, February 5, 4pm AEDT, RAC Arena
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Originally published as The Logue Down, Crosscourt edition: Latest NBL news and whispers ahead of the last round of NBL23
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