The coronavirus may have stopped fans from attending the NBL grand final series between Perth and Sydney but (touch wood) it seems the NBL will finish the season with play uninterrupted and financial losses at a minimum which is more than other sports bodies can say this week.
Sports events worldwide continue to be postponed or cancelled and the financial impact in USA, China and Europe is expected to be hurt many international teams, something which is likely to make the NBL one of the worlds hottest basketball destinations for next season.
The top European basketball competition, Euroleague, suspended all games after round 28 losing six rounds of competition plus playoff game revenue.
Losing 20% or more of a teams season will obviously result in team’s losing a minimum 20% of their revenue, something which will force a lot of the Euroleague’s current players to take a pay cut if they wish to play in Europe next season.
Although exact salary details are not made public, player salaries in Europe are approximately $700,000 to $1.3 million dollars and in previous years far outweigh the average NBL salary of $300-$600.
The NBL being a shorter season, finished with no financial losses to most teams and as Euroleague salaries inevitably drop by 20% or more, European teams would be reduced to offering salaries of approx $500-$600, bringing them into alignment with the same amount top tier players receive in Australia.
Some of Europe’s best players will be including Australia in their shortlist of where to play next season and those Australias currently plying their trade in Europe, many of those will recieve NBL offers equal to or more than their current European deals for the very first time.
The decision to play in Europe, where money is often uncertain, where it’s winter, people don’t generally speak English and players are required to play 60+ games will be offset in many case by an opportunity to play in Australia where you always get paid, it’s summer, everyone speaks English and players only have to play around 30 games.
The NBLs short season also giving players an option to join a team elsewhere mid-season (perhaps the NBA) and earn additional income. Suddenly Australia has become a very attractive option for the some of best basketball players in the world.
Most Australian’s choose to play in Europe over the NBL in pursuit of a bigger pay day but for the next 12 months that’s less likely to be the case.
Australian’s like Ryan Broekhoff, Mangok Mathiang, Deng Adel, Angus Brandt and Brock Motum have all been approached by NBL teams to discuss possibilities of playing here next season while the Euroleague is uncertain.
Melbourne United, the team most likely to sign at least one of these big names, with the team spending more on player salaries than 70-80% of the league each year and has an open slate for its roster next season, with Mitch McCarron and Casey Prather currently under contract.
Broekhoff, Mathiang and Mangok who all grew up in Melbourne the most likely options.
Adelaide 36ers owner Grant Kelley has made it clear he wants to bring a championship to the city of churches and having hired Jeff Van Groningen as General Manager, the same man who helped the Sydney Kings gain the signature of Andrew Bogut who will be doing all he can to convince another NBA level talent like Ryan Broekhoff or Mangok Mathiang to spend next season down under.
The Sydney Kings are also speaking to this group of players but with Andrew Bogut already on the richest contract in the league, it’s unlikely they will be able to sign any of the Aussies returning from Europe unless Bogut wins an NBL title and an Olympic medal over the next few months and decides to retire, something he has mentioned in recent media.
Perth, South East Melbourne and Brisbane, while lacking the roster flexibility of these two teams are also in talks with these players but less likely to be able to offer the money required.
Much like they did this season with LaMelo Ball and the next stars program, the NBL is ready to take advantage of this situation and bring more big name players to the league.
NBL teams will be unable to make a move until players and Euroleague teams know exactly how big an impact coronavirus will have on teams next season but what is clear is the gap between European dollars and Australian dollars will be smaller than ever before.
While the coronavirus might have ruined the atmosphere during the NBL grand final, it should pave the way to the most exciting NBL season we’ve ever had.
Visit our NBL Free Agent Tracker for more player rumours and recent signings .