Crosscourt: Latest news and whispers out of round 16 of the NBL season
While the NBL has received overwhelming support for its Pride Round, a handful of players are reluctant to don the league’s LGBTQ+ logo at the top of their jerseys.
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Several Cairns Taipans players have told club management they are hesitant to wear the NBL’s Pride Round rainbow logo on their singlets in Wednesday’s away clash against the South East Melbourne Phoenix due to their religious beliefs.
The league launched its inaugural Pride Round on Monday, and while it has received overwhelming support, a handful of Taipans players are reluctant to don the Champion pride logo at the top of their jerseys.
The players involved are adhering to their religious beliefs and freedom of choice and the NBL won’t force them to wear the pride icon on their jerseys.
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News Corp has been told the Taipans players involved will most likely play in Wednesday’s clash against the Phoenix with a plain Champion logo, sans rainbow.
The stance at the Taipans comes six months after Manly’s NRL season was thrown into chaos when seven players refused to participate in the club’s clash against the Sydney Roosters based on the team’s decision to wear LGBT themed jerseys.
The Sea Eagles chose to play in the jersey to support diversity and inclusion, but failed to inform the players prior to unveiling the rainbow strip.
The seven players – Josh Aloiai, Toafofoa Sipley, Tolutau Koula, Christian Tuipulotu, Haumole Olakau‘atu, Jason Saab and Josh Schuster – cited “cultural and religious” reasons for refusing to wear the pride jersey.
All NBL clubs and players were first informed last September of the concept during the league’s pre-season Blitz in Darwin.
Melbourne United star Isaac Humphries’ courageous decision to come out as gay in November last year also helped break down barriers, and the NBL followed with the celebration of the LGBTQ community.
Cairns’ handful of players join Manly’s seven players and Greater Western Sydney AFLW player and practising Muslim Haneen Zreika, who chose not to wear the Giants’ pride jumper and withdrew from a match against the Western Bulldogs on religious grounds last year.
NBL owner Larry Kestelman said players were free to choose whether or not they wore the pride insignia on their jerseys.
“I don’t think it’s on us to force people to have the same view as us but, from what I understand working with the (Australian basketball) players association, we have an overwhelming support from the playing group that that’s the stance that we’ve taken,” Kestelman said.
Kestelman said he and the league were approaching the Pride Round from a position of love and respect, without judgement.
“Talking to my family, talking to my wife about it, the first emotion I had is ‘we’re all someone’s children’,” he said.
“If it was our family member, a child, you would hope they’d be loved, supported and not judged and that’s the journey I think we’re going on.
“I want our (league) to be (a place) where people can feel safe, where they can be themselves, with no judgement.
“The more we come from that position of love and support, the more it will become normal and people who are trying to figure things out, that’s all I think they’re expecting from us.”
Beginning with Wednesday’s clash between South East Melbourne and Cairns, all NBL courts across the country during round 17 will be adorned with sponsor Champion’s pride logo.
LEAGUE’S PLAN TO CELEBRATE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
Melbourne United star Isaac Humphries’ courageous decision to come out as gay has helped break down barriers and now the NBL has launched its inaugural Pride Round dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ community.
Beginning with Wednesday’s clash between South East Melbourne and Cairns, all NBL courts across the country during round 17 will be adorned with sponsor Champion’s pride logo.
The NBL has spent months making all clubs and its playing cohort aware of the Pride Round plan and every player will be invited to wear jerseys featuring the logo. None will be forced, avoiding a potentially messy situation similar to that which unfolded last July at NRL club Manly when seven players boycotted a game after the Sea Eagles chose to wear a pride strip.
“We acknowledge, at times, there will be challenges with various stances we take as an organisation and they may conflict with some people’s beliefs,” NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said.
“Regardless, we will continue to work together to support each other, and we will always respect that people may have different views, opinions and values to ours.”
Further, the league has invited players, coaches, and staff at all clubs to participate in LGBTQ awareness training.
Humphries was universally praised when he became the only current openly gay player in men’s top-tier basketball and said Pride Round was another step toward a more comfortable and welcoming environment in the sport.
“Since I made my announcement, not only has it made me feel free and happy, but it has also inspired me to help create serious change and set an example that you can be a professional athlete, or anything you want to be, and still be gay,” Humphries said.
“The support I have received has been overwhelming and I’ve been so thankful for that.
“The challenge now is to help others on their journey and make a real change.”
Loeliger said the LGBTQ community played a crucial role in both basketball and society as a whole.
“Basketball is for everyone and … we will do all we can to ensure the NBL is a community where everyone is welcomed and supported, and individuals are encouraged to be themselves without fear of discrimination or judgement,” Loeliger said.
“Pride Round is a way for us to acknowledge and thank the LGBTQ community.”
The league worked with the Australian Basketball Players’ Association on the Pride Round and is working toward incorporation into the Pride in Sport Index, which benchmarks and assesses the inclusion of LGBTQ people across all sporting contexts.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR SIXERS, BRUTON
Pressure is mounting on Adelaide coach CJ Bruton and the club’s front office with the 36ers set to miss the playoffs for the second straight season under Bruton’s reign.
The talented Sixers were expected to be a force this season after spending big to recruit Robert Franks, Antonius Cleveland and Craig Randall, who was sacked and replaced by Ian Clark.
Instead, Adelaide will miss the playoffs in what has been described as one of the biggest underachievements in league history.
Of course, the disruption of Randall’s departure played a major role in the club’s disappointing season.
The 36ers rolled the dice on Randall’s talent, despite warnings, but his tenure ended in tears with the guard’s behaviour negatively impacting the team.
Adelaide needed to pull the trigger on Randall earlier.
It’s left the club contemplating another missed opportunity, given the immense talent that the team possesses.
In Oct, @Adelaide36ers made 24 3pt shots in their victory over @Suns. Since then, the 36ers have been horrendous from the 3 (@nbl worst 31.9%) and that’s the primary reason for them missing the Play In Tournament this season. #nbl23
— Derek Rucker (@derekrucker5) January 21, 2023
NBL legend Derek Rucker took to Twitter highlighting the Sixers’ struggles.
“In Oct, Adelaide 36ers made 24 3pt shots in their victory over Phoenix Suns,” Rucker tweeted.
“Since then, the 36ers have been horrendous from the 3 (NBL worst 31.9%) and that’s the primary reason for them missing the Play In Tournament this season.”
Bruton signed a three-year deal with the 36ers, so next season is shaping as a crucial campaign.
UNITED’S HOPE FOR ILI, HUKPORTI’S RETURN PLOTTED
Melbourne United’s concussed star Shea Ili could still take the court again this season as the path for Ariel Hukporti’s return for NBL24 becomes clearer.
It’s the second concussion Ili has suffered this season after he took a blow to the head when he took a charge in United’s Saturday night win over Adelaide. He was ruled out of the game leaving some pundits concerned for his future.
Ili’s early-season troubles were complicated by an inner-ear issue that affected his balance.
United will put Ili’s health first and he will see specialists in the hope he can make a return to the court, given the side is on the brink of what once seemed unlikely NBL finals run.
Teammate Hukporti looks set to rejoin the team as a Next Star in NBL24 after he missed the entire season with a ruptured Achilles.
The 20-year-old remains NBA draft eligible and, last week, he revealed to News Corp his plan to return to United.
A third-year in the league would make him the longest-serving Next Star since the concept’s inception in 2018.
NBL commissioner Jeremey Loeliger welcomed the news and has high hopes the German big man can, one day, make a splash in the NBA.
PRESENTER SORRY FOR HAKA FAUX PAS AS KINGS FUME OVER CATS’ CHEERLEADERS
A Perth fan and media personality has been forced to apologise to Wildcats guard Corey Webster after incorrectly describing a cheerleaders’ dance during a time-out as doing a ‘haka’.
SEN breakfast radio host and former Channel 10 sports presenter Tim Gossage commented on Twitter about the Wildcats’ dancers during Friday’s home clash against the Sydney Kings.
“How good Perth Wildcats’ dancers haka late in the game. Watch for the step through Xavier Cooks, Sydney Kings at the end.”
How good @PerthWildcats dancers haka late in the game. Watch for the step through @xaviercooks10@SydneyKings at the end. 😉 pic.twitter.com/JjuA8MCks3
— Tim Gossage 🤓 (@TimGossage) January 20, 2023
Hold up Tim. I know you didn’t just disrespect the Haka like that?
— Corey Webster (@cwebster9) January 21, 2023
Gossage’s tweet prompted a response from Webster – a proud New Zealander born in Auckland.
“Haka? Hold up, Tim. I know you didn’t just disrespect the Haka like that?.”
Under Māori culture, women don’t do the haka, which is offensive to suggest.
To Gossage’s credit he apologised to Webster and set the record straight on his comments.
“I’ve been rightfully corrected for using the wrong description of the Cats dance,” Gossage tweeted.
“Sorry Corey Webster, my error. Great dance nonetheless.”
Last night I posted the Wildcats dancers around the Kings time out used “haka†to describe. Ive been corrected and apologise for incorrect use. You learn something every day. @cwebster9@Tjawtherula
— Tim Gossage 🤓 (@TimGossage) January 21, 2023
Ps: bloody good dance by the way.
Pps: not sure “voodoo†is acceptable either.
Wildcats fans were also annoyed that Sydney players left the time-out and walked through Perth’s dancers before they had finished their routine, prompting boos from the crowd.
However, one Perth supporter defended Sydney’s actions.
“Why were they cheering there and not in the middle of the court?,” the fan wrote.
“I’m a Cats supporter and say fair play to the Kings lads- they’re there to do a job and wanted back on the court.”
Perth ended Sydney’s six-game winning streak with a win on Friday to prove they can be a genuine contender if they can discover consistency and will face each other again on the last day of the season.
WHAT NEXT FOR BULLETS?
The Brisbane Bullets should take heart from three straight wins and not blow up the club’s current roster despite having only two players contracted for next season.
Aron Baynes and Nathan Sobey are the only two players with deals for next season and beyond.
The likes of Harry Froling, Jason Cadee, Tyler Johnson and Tanner Krebs are all free agents at season’s end.
Young gun DJ Mitchell has an option for next season in Brisbane’s favour.
The Bullets have shown the team’s potential in recent wins over the Phoenix, 36ers and Hawks.
There is a strong belief Brisbane can compete with the right coach and a few key signings.
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Originally published as Crosscourt: Latest news and whispers out of round 16 of the NBL season
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