Basketball heartland: Knox confirms its status as a sporting capital new team announced for southeastern suburbs

KNOX has confirmed its position as the state’s basketballing heartland after the NBL announced it will be home to the league’s ninth franchise.

Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the Houston Rockets. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

KNOX has confirmed its position as the state’s basketballing heartland after the NBL announced it will be home to the league’s ninth franchise.

The State Government pledged $126 million to refurbish and expand the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South to house the new team.

The team, which was still to be named, would play home games at Melbourne Arena starting from the 2019-20 season and would also play two games a year at the State Basketball Centre when the redevelopment was complete in 2021.

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The southeastern suburbs have become basketball’s true believers in the state with some of Australia’s biggest names over the past two decades calling the area home.

The likes of Ben Simmons, Andrew Bogut and Liz Cambage have all spent years playing in the area.

A major upgrade of the State Basketball Centre at Knox will see 10 new community courts constructed and a new 8000 seat stadium built. PICTURE: STATE GOVERNMENT

As a result, more than a third of the state’s 240,000 players were registered in the southeastern suburbs.

NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger said Knox had access to first-class training, administrative and playing facilities.

“It was unquestionably the deciding factor among a number of compelling propositions, and I applaud the Victorian Government and Knox Council for their recognition of the importance of basketball in the Australian sporting landscape,” Mr Loeliger said.

“Melbourne’s south east has long been the stronghold of basketball participation in Australia with about 100,000 of Victoria’s 240,000 total registered participants and it has a rich history in elite and community basketball.”

Team owner Romie Chaudhari, who is also a part owner of EFL Championship Club Swansea City, was awarded the license in July.

The decision was greeted with overwhelming support including from NBA star Joe Ingles, who took to social media to say he now has a second team to potentially play for down the line.

“Now I have two Melbourne @NBL teams to pick from in a few years time,” Ingles tweeted.

General Manager Tommy Greer said the new franchise is open to suggestions for the team’s name, logo and mascot, launching a website for fans to sign up and get involved.

“Everything is up for debate,” Mr Greer said.

Chris Goulding of Melbourne United (R) in action under pressure from Kevin Lisch of the Sydney Kings during the NBL pre-season match between Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings at State Basketball Centre on September 1, 2018.

“We’ll put our name, colours and even our mascot to the community and see what they want.”

Mr Greer said another priority was deciding upon a head coach, something that the club hopes would be sorted out by the end of the year.

“Our head coach will be the leader of this team and will be a crucial part of the brand,” he said.

“A lot of work is currently going on behind the scenes to get everything from our coaching staff to our players sorted.”

Formally signing players remains a while off but the organisation has reached out to a few big names.

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“We have some limitations as to who we can approach with contracted players but we’ve thrown our line out at some of the guys overseas,” Mr Greer said.

It’s understood the likes of star guard Mitch Creek and Boomers big man Brock Motum were among those to be contacted.

The new team is looking to last and has already begun talks with local basketball associations about building pathways for players.

“It’s important to not only get to know our local players but build trust with their teams and leagues,” Mr Greer said.

“We want to become synonymous with basketball in this state and also in Melbourne’s southeast.”

Chris Goulding of Melbourne United, Alexander Loughton of the Cairns Taipans, Nathan Sobey of the Adelaide 36ers, Cameron Gliddon of the Brisbane Bullets, Andrew Bogut of the Sydney Kings, Emmett Naar of the Illawarra Hawks, Thomas Abercrombie of the New Zealand Breakers and Damian Martin of the Perth Wildcats pose during the NBL First Ever Apparel Uniform Launch at the Ultimo Community Centre

Re-establishing the classic Melbourne rivalries of the 80s and 90s, Mr Greer said, would be a focus of the new team.

“Melbourne United has done a tremendous job to grow basketball in Victoria and we applaud them of being supportive and welcoming of a local rival. We now want to work with them to take the game to more people than ever and build a huge rivalry in this very exciting growth phase for Australian basketball and the NBL,” he said.

The state Opposition was yet to commit to matching the Government’s funding package but it’s understood the NBL are attempting to gain its support.

Fans can register their interest in the South East Melbourne on www.southeastmelbourne.com.au