Crosscourt: Latest NBL news with Michael Randall and Matt Logue
The sale of Tasmania JackJumpers has delivered a massive bonus for every NBL club with a generous gift on the way from Larry Kestelman and the league. Read all the latest NBL news and rumours in Crosscourt.
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All nine NBL clubs will share in a massive $8 million windfall from the sale of the Tasmania JackJumpers.
Crosscourt has been told the NBL will gift every club $800,000 in a huge influx of funds stemming from the $35 million sale of the JackJumpers.
It’s an unprecedented move from the NBL and owner Larry Kestelman, who has overseen the rise of the most successful Australian sporting expansion franchise ever.
The JackJumpers won the NBL title in just their third season and have sold out every single home game.
The continued success of the team now moves into the hands of Queensland-based firm Altor Capital, who will assume control mid-year of a 51 per cent stake in the organisation.
Kestelman will remain involved over the next two years before the transition to full ownership is completed.
Kestelman is proud of the club’s remarkable growth and wants to ensure a smooth handover to the new ownership group.
“I am immensely proud of what we have been able to create here for Tasmania, basketball fans and the wider community in such a short period of time and it’s with great joy and pride, that I will hand over the club to its new owners, Altor Capital,” Kestelman said.
“The investment from Altor Capital ensures the JackJumpers will remain on a strong growth trajectory and I am confident they will capitalise on the established success of the club by continuing to drive the strategy and vision to ensure long term sustainability.”
Altor Capital leader Ben Harrison said a priority was the expansion of the 4340-seat MyState Bank Arena, which would add around 2000 extra seats and allow more of the 5000-plus people on the JackJumpers membership waiting list to join the Ant Army.
Altor is also right behind the establishment of a WNBL club aligned with the JackJumpers. Tassie chief executive Christine Finnegan told Code Sports last month a new JackJumpers WNBL club would be ready to tip-off as soon as next season.
DOOR OPEN FOR HOOPS FEST SWOOP
The NBL wants Hoops Fest to remain in Western Australia for a second year but the clock is ticking, with the event certain to move dates.
The inaugural Hoop Fest, based on the AFL’s successful Gather Round concept, brought together NBL, WNBL, NBA, state associations and the nation’s pathways in the one city, with every round 1 NBL game played in Perth.
Crosscourt can reveal there is no guarantee the event will be held in Perth next season, with the Western Australia government and NBL yet to reach agreement.
“No, it’s not guaranteed,” NBL chief executive David Stevenson confirmed.
“It was always an option for the second year because I think we wanted to see how it went and the WA Government wanted to see how it went.
“Our preference and priority is certainly with the WA government. They’re still keen to do it and we would still love to do it there but we’re not locked in yet, nothing’s agreed.
“We’re going to need to finalise it in the next few weeks.”
In the meantime, no agreement leaves the door open for other states to swoop in and trump WA.
One of the learnings out of last year’s Hoops Fest was it’s proximity to the pre-season NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast and how that impacted clubs and travelling fans.
With the imminent takeover of the WNBL, Stevenson wants to accommodate the a full regular season round of the women’s league can be played alongside the NBL games.
He said different calendar options for Hoops Fest 2.0 – mid-late October, late December or January – were under consideration.
“The Blitz into Hoops Fest left teams out of market two weeks in a row and we felt that last season,” Stevenson said.
“We need to maximise it with the WNBL and its season won’t start that early (as the NBL).
“There are also footy finals, AFL, NRL, we need to find a window.
“So, what you really want is for it to be in school holidays, because that’s your better chance of interstate visitation, and that’s what drives the investment from state governments.”
The need for the NBL to lock away dates and times for Hoops Fest is critical, especially given the issues the Perth Wildcats had less than two weeks ago when a Kylie Minogue concert booked at RAC Arena meant they had to find an alternative venue for their first final.
BULLETS KEEN TO LOCK IN NEXT COACH
Championship-winning Sydney Kings mentor Chase Buford has emerged among the lead contenders for the Brisbane Bullets’ head coaching job.
Crosscourt understands Buford, who led the Kings to consecutive NBL championships in 2022 and 2023, is considered and early frontrunner in the race to coach the Bullets after the club parted ways with Justin Schueller.
The fiery son of legendary San Antonio Spurs CEO RC Buford would be a major coup for Brisbane, given his proven record in the NBL. After multiple run-ins with the league while in Sydney, he’d be a thorn in the NBL’s side with his combative nature but is the type of character the league needs to be successful.
Buford’s among a list of potential candidates who include former New Zealand mentor Mody Maor and club legend Sam Mackinnon.
Fellow club great Derek Rucker had expressed interest but, while Brisbane officials have spoken with the former league MVP and respected analyst, it’s understood his view has softened and the Bullets are unlikely to head in his direction.
Crosscourt has been told the Bullets have had an avalanche of interest, which began almost the moment is was revealed, last Monday-week, they’d parted ways with Justin Schueller.
The Bullets are in the early stages of their search and will pull together a panel featuring ownership, front office and independent members to wade through the candidates.
Chief executive Mal Watts said the club’s vacant coaching position had been popular.
“There has been a ton of interest,” Watts said.
“We’re going to run a process but what I’ve taken out of this is we’re a destination club.
“This is all about changing the narrative of the Bullets that has been dire times.
“Every decision, no matter how hard, is in the best interests of making positive change.”
HARRELL HINTS AT CHANGE
Montrezl Harrell has left the door open for a return to the NBL – but hinted that might not be with Adelaide.
The 36ers want to re-sign NBA-level talent Harrell, but the big man’s Saturday night social media post left some wondering if that wasn’t going to happen.
“I would play in the NBL again if chances happened,” Harrell said.
“Where that may be I’m not sure of though, but was blessed to get back on the floor this year so I take that.
“Hope you guys enjoyed me as a player and I wish you guys nothing but success in the future.
“Best of luck next year and for the years to come.”
It is looming as a crucial off-season in Adelaide, with five key players off-contract heading into free agency.
Harrell is joined by Kendric Davis, Jarell Martin, Lat Mayen and Sunday Dech in facing key decisions on their futures.
As revealed by Crosscourt, Davis has attracted interest from NBL rivals, including the Sydney Kings.
Sixers brass want Davis to return – he is the priority – while there remains a chance Harrell returns and the club then targets a pass-first point guard to maximise the talents of he, Dejan Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries, the two elite Aussies who were often frozen out by the ball-dominant Davis.
While Martin likely won’t be back, Mayen and Dech are priority role players the Sixers will look to re-sign.
Despite a recent cooling, sources believe it’s unlikely the American guard can coexist in Adelaide with coach Mike Wells.
Davis and Wells, who has locked in a return next season, butted heads throughout NBL25.
For all the guard’s brilliance, he had a polarising impact on Adelaide’s locker room, sources said.
Davis collected the 36ers’ MVP award on Friday night, averaging 25.6 points, 7.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds across his 29 games.
In his speech, he ended with: “Hopefully we’ll see y’all again”.
With the lure of other NBL clubs and the big money available overseas, time will tell.
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