Chargers president fully supportive of potential DEC sale which would blaze pathway for a Tasmanian NBL team
As the decision looms on whether the Glenorchy City Council will enter exclusive negotiations with NBL boss Larry Kestelman, David Bartlett has backed both parties to work in the best interests of Tasmania
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HOBART Chargers president David Bartlett has declared there is no better time for an NBL team to be re-established in Tasmania as basketball rides an unprecedented wave of publicity.
Breaking his silence on the state’s push to again be involved at the top level for the first time since 1996, Bartlett has thrown his support behind league boss Larry Kestelman’s move to purchase the Derwent Entertainment Centre.
The Glenorchy City Council will decide tomorrow night whether to enter into exclusive negotiations with property magnate Kestelman, who has put forward an unsolicited proposal to purchase the DEC and Wilkinsons Point.
Should a sale be negotiated, it would put Tasmania on the verge of rejoining the NBL as soon as the 2020-21 season, with Kestelman eager to make the competition truly national.
Bartlett, who remains president of the Chargers — which pulled out of the NBL1 season due to a conflict with Basketball Tasmania — until his three year term expires in September, was a major driving force in putting the state back on the map with NBL powerbrokers.
Under his watch the Chargers evolved from a financial basket case to last year’s SEABL champions, but since making the gut wrenching decision to withdraw the club from the NBL1 he has remained out of the spotlight.
“Larry’s development of the NBL is genius and on the back of the relationships he has formed with the NBA and the upcoming World Cup and Olympics, the NBL is going to ride a massive wave to become truly national and embraced by millions,” Bartlett told the Mercury.
“Through my conversations over the last two years with him I am convinced he would not make the move to have an NBL club in Tasmania unless he believes it will be a success, financially stable and successful on the court.
“Every conversation I have had with him points to him wanting the best for Tasmania and Tasmanian basketball.
“If he succeeds in this bid to buy the DEC I am convinced it will be a magnificent thing for the City of Glenorchy and the whole of Tasmania.
“Knowing the Mayor [Kristie Johnston] and Deputy Mayor [Matt Stevenson] they will put their community first, as they should.
MORE: GOVERNMENT SUPPORT CRUCIAL FOR NBL TEAM
“I am sure they will only sign up to this deal if they are confident it is good for their community. On the surface tens of millions of investment in the city and the potential for a NBL club to be headquartered there will be very positive.”
The NBL has made global headlines in the past fortnight following the news 2020 top 10 NBA draft prospects RJ Hampton and LaMelo Ball snubbed the American college system to play in Australia before becoming draft eligible.
Even if Kestelman and the GCC strike a deal, government support will be required for a Tasmanian team to get off the ground.
“I do welcome the fact that the Glenorchy City Council has progressed things to best use this asset to realise its extraordinary potential and look forward to seeing what the council says tomorrow night,” premier Will Hodgman said.
adam.j.smith@news.com.au
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