NBL champs to compete in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in a bid to be the world’s best club team

The Tasmania JackJumpers will chase glory on the global stage as the NBL 2023/24 champions make history and become the first Oceania team to compete at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

Matt Logue

@mattlogue7

2 min read

June 13, 2024 - 5:00PM

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: Clint Steindl (c) of the JackJumpers, Majok Deng of the JackJumpers, Milton Doyle of the JackJumpers and Jordon Crawford of the JackJumpers celebrate with the trophy after winning game five of the NBL Championship Grand Final Series between Melbourne United and Tasmania JackJumpers at John Cain Arena, on March 31, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***

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Tasmania JackJumpers’ hunt for more silverware will head overseas in September, with the NBL champions to become the first Oceania team to compete in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore.

As NBL boss Larry Kestelman exclusively revealed to Code Sports in March, the league’s plan to take the JackJumpers global is now a reality.

Tasmania will face off against a collection of champions from the Basketball Africa League, Basketball Champions League Americas, Basketball Champions League Europe and the BCL Asia League.

The four teams that are still in the race to win the inaugural edition of BCL Asia are Al Riyadi (Lebanon), Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai (UAE), Shahrdary Gorgan (Iran) and Hiroshima Dragonflies (Japan).

The champions will be crowned on June 15 and will represent Asia in FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2024.

Tasmania JackJumpers will become the first Oceania team to compete in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Picture: Linda Higginson / Tasmania JackJumpers

Petro de Luanda conquered the African League title on June 1st after defeating Al Ahly Ly in the Final, and will become the first club from Angola to compete in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

Argentina’s Quimsa, who previously participated in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2021, will take part in 2024 as the Basketball Champions League Americas champions while Spain’s Unicaja Malaga will represent Europe for the first time, as the Basketball Champions League champions.

The JackJumpers inclusion will see the FIBA Intercontinental Cup reach a new milestone with contenders from five continents involved for the first time in the history of club basketball competitions.

NBL COO and Head of Basketball Operations Vince Crivelli labelled Tasmania’s inclusion in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup as a pivotal moment for the Australia league’s global growth.

“It is an honour and privilege to have our 2024 champions, the Tasmania JackJumpers, invited to play in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup,” Crivelli said.

“Our relationship with FIBA is incredibly important and we continue to work with them to further support the growth of our great game, and this is also another tremendous opportunity to showcase the very best of the NBL at a global level.

“We remain committed to expanding the NBL’s footprint around the world and competing in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup tournament continues our work on this path.

“The JackJumpers’ 2024 championship was historic and memorable for so many reasons, and now as a reward for their success, they have a chance to bring home another championship trophy.”

The JackJumpers have a chance to bring home more silverware after their NBL championship glory this year. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

FIBA Secretary-general Andreas Zagklis says the NBL’s inclusion in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup fulfils the sport’s vision.

“The rapid evolution of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup into a truly global competition, that now encompasses all five FIBA regions, underlines our commitment to shaping international club competitions,” Zagklis said.

“The inclusion of Oceania is the culmination of a process in that direction, which started with Africa and Asia, and fulfils the boldest vision the FIBA family had when this competition was born, nearly 60 years ago.”

The FIBA Intercontinental Cup started in 1966 as a competition that featured only clubs from the Americas and Europe.

In 2022, the tournament was held in Cairo, Egypt, and included an African club for the first time. Last September, in Singapore, the event expanded to include Asian clubs.