Crosscourt: Latest NBL news and views ahead of Round 9 of the 2024-25 season

The NBL has admitted there aren’t enough Indigenous players in the league and has vowed to grow the number, with a plan to tap the AFL and NRL for help.

The NBL will lean on domestic giants the NRL and AFL for lessons to address the league’s Indigenous player shortage.

There are currently just three Indigenous players in the NBL – Keanu Pinder (Perth), Will Hickey (Illawarra) and Kobe McDowell-White (Illawarra) - which is disappointing for a league that has produced pioneers like Michael Ah Matt, Danny Morseu, Patty Mills and Nate Jawai.

NBL CEO Dave Stevenson isn’t happy about this small representation and says basketball need to tap into intel from sports that have been successful in producing indigenous athletes.

The AFL had 71 players who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in 2024, while 12 per cent of the NRL identify as indigenous.

Indigenous icon Patty Mills is one of the greatest players Australia has ever produced. Picture: Getty Images

Stevenson – who previously worked with the AFL as General Manager of Operations – believes the NBL can gain valuable tips from a sport like rugby league that has produced countless Indigenous stars.

“We want to take the best from what sports like the NRL and the AFL have done in the Indigenous space,” Stevenson said.

“What can we learn that we can create a unique solution that gets us more indigenous players in NBL1, NBL and the WNBL.”

The NBL also want to build a stronger relationship with the sport’s governing body Basketball Australia.

Stevenson says it’s vital the sport comes together to address the indigenous player drought in basketball’s professional ranks.

“I’m very proud of the work in the indigenous space in the NBL over many years, but we feel like we can collectively do a much better job to have more indigenous players in the league,” he said.

“It’s about our partnership with Basketball Australia because they own the pathway.

“They are committed in this space as well, but I think it’s going to take a partnership between BA, the NBL and all the clubs for this to work.

“We feel like we’ve got an opportunity to do that much better.”

Illawarra Hawks Indigenous star Will ‘Davo’ Hickey with Indigenous artist Luke Penrith during at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence. Picture: Getty Images

Stevenson, who recently launched the NBL’s new Reconciliation Action Plan in Redfern in Sydney, is also determined to listen to indigenous stars like Hickey.

“Some insights from the indigenous players themselves about the challenges, the barriers and how do we have sure the solution may need to be different depending on the challenges they are facing,” he said.

“We can’t pretend to know all the answers, so that is why we have to work collectively to find better ways to do this.”

The NBL supports initiatives like Redfern’s Young, Fit and Deadly program, which encourages Indigenous youth to embrace health and wellbeing through physical activities and cultural education. As part of Indigenous Round, the group of 30 teens was joined by NBL and WNBL stars including Illawarra’s Kobe McDowell-White, Sydney King Keli Leaupepe Sydney Flames and Opal Cayla George to celebrate the launch of the program at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence.

BIG JO COMING HOME — BUT NOT FOR LONG

Superstar Melbourne United champion Jo Lual-Acuil Jr has officially parted ways with his team in China and will return to Melbourne to spend time with his young family before deciding his next move.

NBL socials lit up last week when word spread the 213cm centre could be available for a potential return to the Aussie league, amid a false rumour he had been ‘cut’ by Liaoning Flying Leopards.

Code Sports has confirmed Lual-Acuil Jr wasn’t cut but had been in negotiation with the club about an uncoupling, with both parties, this week, mutually agreeing the situation was no longer the best fit.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr has proven to be a huge success when he plays in the NBL. Picture: Getty Images

It’s understood a number of NBL teams have made enquiries about Lual-Acuil Jr’s availability but a return to the Aussie league, at least this season, is considered a long shot, given the interest from big money clubs in Japan and Europe and the South Sudan-born big man’s desire to play abroad.

Tasmania had been mentioned as a potential suitor, given its ongoing battle to put the ball in the basket, but it’s understood the JackJumpers haven’t entertained that option. United, where Lual-Acuil Jr grew into a leader, are also yet to consider a play for the 2018 champion big man, sources said.

Lual-Acuil Jr was an All-NBL first teamer in 2022 and named to the second team last campaign, growing into one of the league’s best big men. He averaged 15.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks across those two campaigns, which sandwiched stints in China and Turkey. United finished top of the table in both those seasons.

At the end of season 2023-24, where United fell just short of the title against Tasmania, he opted out of the player option on his contract with United to chase his NBA dream.

A positive experience at Summer League with Sacramento didn’t eventuate into a full-time gig, so he made the move to China, where the salaries dwarf those of the NBL.

ICEMAN COMETH: NBA LEGEND HOPE FOR BRISBANE OLYMPIC BULLET

NBA great George Gervin wants to help return the Bullets to past glories in the lead up to Brisbane becoming the epicentre of the sporting world as host of the 2032 Olympic Games.

The basketball hall-of-famer, who has purchased an ownership stake in the Bullets, revealed to Crosscourt he will be in Australia and courtside at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on December 6 when Adelaide’s boom former NBA man Montrezl Harrell comes to town to take on his team.

The @BrisbaneBullets have announced that NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin has joined the club’s ownership group.

Read more: https://t.co/sX2sqTWjCCpic.twitter.com/fIgygfJcYl

— NBL (@NBL) November 12, 2024

The Iceman will now use his profile to champion the Bullets as part of a joint bid with investment group GameAbove Sports.

The 72-year-old believes the Bullets, in the midst of a five-season playoff drought, can rise with the city on the road to 2032.

“The Olympics is worldwide. For us, as part of the ownership group, it’s to be able to build our franchise up to where it becomes special again,” Gervin said.

“That’s pretty powerful to have that opportunity. So we’ve got a few years to really do our homework on ‘how can we make this franchise better’.

“We want to get back to that winning stage.”

Brisbane has expanded on an ownership structure which enjoys a combined worth in the billions and has the club positioned as an active participant in discussions around new stadium infrastructure ahead of the Games.

The Bullets are in the first year of a new five-year lease at Brisbane Entertainment Centre but are hopeful the Olympic wave can bring with it a new state-of-the-art stadium closer to the city.

WHY DJ WANTS TO BE A SIXER FOR LIFE

Star 36er Dejan Vasiljevic says life is now so good in Adelaide he wants to be a Sixer for the rest of his career.

Recent turmoil in Adelaide — multiple coaching changes and internal unrest — after a high-profile split with Sydney Kings, has been well-documented but, with his rejuvenated fourth-placed squad on a 10-game home winning streak ahead of a blockbuster Sunday clash with top side Melbourne United, the 27-year-old says it’s all coming up DJ.

Dejan Vasiljevic wants to be a 36er for life. Picture: Getty Images

“Life’s pretty good, family’s good, partner’s good, basketball’s really good, off the court ventures are going really well, so it’s like ‘man, what else can I ask for?’,” Vasiljevic told Crosscourt.

“Making the switch from Sydney to Adelaide wasn’t easy at the start but, man, I think this is where I’ll probably end up playing my career.

“I’m a long way from retiring but Adelaide is somewhere the lifestyle is great, the basketball is great, the people are even better.

“Why wouldn’t I want to finish my career somewhere I feel wanted and where I like living?”

Vasiljevic says his joy in the City of Churches extends to NBA man Montrezl Harrell, and the Aussie, set to suit up for the Boomers next week in a pair of World Cup qualifiers, hopes that can attract other NBA types to the 36ers in the future.

DELAY OVER?: WNBL DEAL NEAR

Three months after the 60-day term sheet expired for the NBL-Wollemi Capital takeover of the WNBL, an agreement appears imminent.

Sources told Crosscourt the long process to iron out the struggling women’s league’s new three-pronged ownership structure with Basketball Australia, announced on June 27, has hit several hurdles, but could finally be complete as soon as the weekend.

Once that’s set in stone, a new WNBL chief executive will be a appointed as the next step in the lead up to the consortium taking control from April 2, next year.

Several clubs confirmed high-level NBL figures had been touring the country, visiting and listening to their opinions and concerns in a bid to gain as much intel as possible in preparation for decisions on the future structure and direction of the eight-team competition, the country’s oldest professional women’s sporting league.

The overwhelming feedback from clubs has been the talent and personalities are there — the Opals are streets ahead of the Boomers in both Olympic success and the WNBL has produced significantly more WNBA players than the NBL has NBA — but it’s the exposure and product that is lacking in a women’s sport environment where netball, football, rugby league and AFLW have surged ahead.

Originally published as Crosscourt: Latest NBL news and views ahead of Round 9 of the 2024-25 season