Darwin basketballer Freddy Webb selected as import in Indian league

A chance meeting at a local match has given one of the NT’s top basketball talents the opportunity to take his game abroad to play in an exciting international league. Read how it came about.

A chance encounter with at a DBA match has given Darwin basketballer Freddy Webb the chance to take his game abroad to help boost the profile of the sport in India.

Webb, 25, was playing for his junior club Ansett in the Men’s Championship when he was approached and told to submit a playing tape to INBL Pro League.

The competition is a developmental professional league for players 25 and under with a number of boon imports designed to be a media spectacle to get as many eyes as possible on the game.

The imports are all put in a pool to be bid on by the six teams ahead of the competition that features matches in Dehli, Mumbai and Dubai.

Freddy Webb shows off his basketball skills with monster croc, Speckles, at Crocodylus Park. Picture: Sam Lowe

Initially, Webb didn’t know if he had been selected but on January 14 he found out he had got in sparking a whirlwind couple of weeks to get everything from flights to visas sorted.

“The week before Christmas someone saw me play and said I would be a good fit for the six week competition, but couldn’t confirm anything,” Webb said.

“I sent my film over and didn’t hear anything over Christmas and New Years and just assumed I didn’t get picked and the league would be going ahead.

“It wasn’t until the 14th that I received a text from one of the directors telling me to give him a call, I was a bit baffled but they said they had pushed the league back and wanted me as an import.

“I’m super excited, the life of a professional athlete or a basketball player isn’t long so this is a great chance for me.”

Freddy Webb had been playing with his junior club Ansett. Picture: Basketball NT.

It means Webb will miss out on the finals series in the DBA Championship with his Ansett side that had finished top of the table.

But it was opportunity he couldn’t pass up drawing on previous experiences he’s enjoyed playing in the NBL1 interstate, including for Eastern Mavericks in South Australia,, Mackay in Queensland and Illawarra in NSW.

For Webb it’s the latest daring adventure after the Adapt Basketball coach showed his skills against crocodiles, dingoes and an ostrich in a stunning video last month.

“Any opportunity to use basketball as a vehicle to see different parts of the world and play at a high level while getting paid to do it is amazing and I’m super grateful to get the chance,” he said.

“Being back has been awesome, no matter where you play or where you go home is home and it was nice to come home and play.

Freddy Webb had previous success with the Mackay Meteors in the NBL1. Picture: Matthew Forrest

“To put on the old jersey and work with so many of the kids that were with me 10 years ago was amazing and is something I love.

“The time frame of how this all unfolded has been quite crazy and means I will miss out on finals with my Ansett team and had to cancel some camps, but these opportunities don’t come often.

“It’s an incredible opportunity no matter how sort of chaotic it’s made the past few weeks, it’s something I had to absolutely take.”

Originally published as Darwin basketballer Freddy Webb selected as import in Indian league