NBL Blitz to attract international attention as Tasmania prepares to host pre-season competition

With the pre-season competition the only competitive hit out for clubs leading into the home and away campaign, NBL boss Larry Kestelman has promised full-strength squads on Tassie courts.

Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze and NBL owner Larry Kestelman alongside Tasmanian basketball juniors Harrison Baker, 13 of Bonnet Hill, and Jeriah Webb, 12, of Kingston, as the NBL announced that the NBL Blitz will be heading to Tasmania in September. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

NBA scouts and general managers will descend on Tasmania in September for the NBL Blitz — creating “global interest” in the state according to league owner Larry Kestelman.

Tasmania’s re-entry into the NBL has taken another step forward with the State Government committing $300,000 to host the pre-season competition, which will see all nine clubs contest matches from September 19-22.

Kestelman has promised every side will be armed with full strength rosters, which includes several highly touted NBA draft prospects and a host of national and international stars.

Potential 2020 NBA top 10 draft picks RJ Hampton (New Zealand) and LaMelo Ball (Illawarra), who have boycotted the US College system and signed with their respective clubs via the league’s Next Stars program, will feature in the tournament, as will fellow American teenager Terry Armstrong, who signed with new franchise Melbourne Phoenix earlier this week.

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It means all eyes will be on Tasmania as matches unfold across the state.

“We’re obviously selfish and we want to see basketball as the number one sport in Tasmania, we’ve been welcomed in with open arms and hence we’re bringing the one and only event we have where all the teams can be in one location for the year,” Kestelman said.

“This particular pre-season I think will be even more special. We’ve got a new initiative within the NBL with the Next Stars program that has highly profiled players signing up from the US and other places around the world.

“We will see, I think, every NBA team actually coming to Tasmania. A few have already tried asking … how do we find it? Where is it? What do we do?

“You will see a huge influx of NBA scouts, NBA GMs in Tasmania for that, which will create global interest in Tasmania.

“That’s what I think the sport can do for the state and for the people. From our point of view it is about the fans and the kids that are here and inspiring them and it’s all part of our mission to see if we can bring an actual NBL club to Tasmania.”

“A few of the [NBL] teams are heading over to the US to play in the NBA in their pre-season so they’ll be taking this very seriously, they’ll be going from playing in Launceston to playing the LA Clippers at Staples Center.”

Sport and Recreation Minister Jeremy Rockliff receives a jersey from NBL owner Larry Kestelman who announced that the NBL Blitz will be heading to Tasmania in September. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Details on venues remain a work in progress, but the Derwent Entertainment Centre and Silverdome are almost certain to host matches, with the likes of Kingborough Sports Centre and stadiums on the North-West Coast also possibilities.

The format of the Blitz — won last year by Adelaide — is also yet to be revealed.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Jeremy Rockliff justified the hefty price tag by the exposure the state will receive.

“There will be interest no doubt nationally and further afield when it comes to the Blitz and that puts a focus on Tasmania,” he said.

“It’s not just about the games themselves. As Larry has said it’s also about the players getting among the younger people and schools.”