Coronavirus curveball for Tasmania’s re-entry to the NBL but league star says state deserves team

Andrew Bogut played in Tasmania with the Boomers in the 1990s and has backed the move for the state to rejoin the NBL despite the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. LATEST >

Andrew Bogut, pictured in action for Sydney during game three of the NBL Semi Final Series against Melbourne United, has backed Tasmania’s return to the league. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

THE coronavirus pandemic has delayed the confirmation of Tasmania’s NBL dream but

one of the league’s biggest stars has backed the state’s return to the competition.

As the Tasmanian Government, Glenorchy City Council and NBL owner Larry Kestelman finalise their complex deal, Andrew Bogut says a region which “loves its basketball” will add to the spectacle.

Bogut, who recently announced he would not re-sign with the Sydney Kings due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, conceded the financial fallout across the country has thrown a curveball into Tasmania’s re-entry.

However the outspoken NBA champion with Golden State is well aware of the passion and hunger which exists from fans who have been starved of a team in the top flight competition for two and a half decades.

“It would be really good, I had a chance to play down there with the national team in ‘06 and that was really fun, a good crowd down there who really love their basketball,” Bogut told the Mercury.

Andrew Bogut is seen during the Round 15 NBL match between the Sydney Kings and the Cairns Taipans at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Saturday, January 11, 2020. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

“Obviously it’s not the best time to be coming into the league with everything going on in the world so hopefully that all gets sorted out.

“But I know the Government down there has been real supportive of a team in Tasmania and we hope the people of Tasmania will really support it.”

Bogut, who has not ruled out featuring again in the NBL once some more clarity on next season is given, has used some of his unexpected downtime working with a company to help community sport get back on its feet in the coming months.

The 35-year-old is an ambassador for Sportility — a sports tech company which connects grassroots sporting teams with sponsors — who have launched a ‘Design Heroes’ competition which offers children the chance to win up to $600 worth of gear for their sports team.

Australian basketball superstar Andrew Bogut is part of a special jersey design initiative.

“A lot of big companies go towards professional sport but no one looks at kids sport, where you can get just as much eyeballs on your branding and company,” Bogut said.

“Community sport is very important from a physical fitness aspect and obviously now, which is glaring, is the mental health aspect of getting people outside the house and doing things.

“There is a lot of people who have been disconnected from the sporting world, we need to reconnect them and get them back involved.”

Details on how to enter the Design Heroes competition can be found at www.sportility.co.