The NBL certainly talked up a big game before the season. Larry Kestelman said things to the effect of “We will not be doing anything, with anything less than total professionalism.” Indeed, the fans and players have been wrapped up in such talk, believing Kestleman to be the prophesied ‘White Knight’ of Australian…
Read MoreMake no mistake about it, Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams is a bonafide star. He has the fashion sense of Kanye West and the “I don’t give a ——” attitude of Dennis Rodman. His name is revered in the fabled New York playgrounds as shown in the Robert Garcia documentary Doin’ it in the Park, and…
Read MoreDwayne Russell called it today when he said “The Adelaide, Perth rivalry is not a manufactured one.” The man was absolutely right. What we saw tonight at Adelaide Arena was high-octane, play-off level basketball, borne of the passions and stories of seasons’ past. The Adelaide 36ers took their high-flying, full court…
Read MoreLess than a month ago, the NBL and Australian basketball community rejoiced at news that the NBL had signed with Fox Sports. I personally called it a ‘Landmark’ deal as it promised something the league has never had: EVERY GAME LIVE in HD. Not SOME games LIVE. Not some games NEAR…
Read MoreThe NBL has made a lot of partners this off-season And today announced Europcar, another internationally renown brand, as its latest partner. And the partnership has been named something obscure, like “car rental partner”. I am not sure how often car rental will be a factor for the NBL. Also, only days ago, we had…
Read MoreIt is time that we put on our tin foil hats and get a bit strange and paranoid here, basketball fans. The past few hours have yielded some news which is seemingly unwelcome for Melbourne United. Please take heed of the word “seemingly.” Ibekwe has been granted (giggle) leave on ‘compassionate terms’…
Read MoreNBL General Manager and majority owner Larry Kestelman is a man of action, and today’s confirmation that the Brisbane Bullets are set to return for the 2016/17 season is testament to this. It is something the prior incarnations of the league had tried to do – and failed. It is something professional business…
Read MoreSome of the NBL’s biggest and brightest were up early this morning for the annual grey jumper convention. In celebration of all things bland, they also showed off their new ISC jerseys. I can only assume that the jerseys are politely coloured as to not draw focus away from the sponsor…
Read MoreLarry Kestelman has mentioned the NBL will be announcing some “household names” as sponsors during an interview with Peter Switzer of Switzer Daily on Monday. After throwing a couple of curve balls at confused fans with American renown – yet Australian unknowns McDavid and Shock Doctor, Kestelman said the next announcements will be “a…
Read MoreThe Champions League Basketball concept was born in 2014. Since then, Co-Founder Matthew Hollard has brought together an Executive Team and an Advisory Team, both comprising of expert basketball and business personnel. With a desire to grow the game of basketball in Australia the team have already begun connecting with fans and setting things…
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Over the past three NBL seasons, clubs have spent almost $97 million assembling their rosters, but how much of that money has translated into wins, and which teams have delivered the best value for money? These figures represent cash spend, not salary cap spend. Cash spending includes player salaries and additional costs such as agent fees, bonuses, import related expenses and luxury tax, rather than simply the amounts counted against the league's salary cap. How much have NBL teams spent over the past three seasons?…
READ MORELarry Bird believed players began tuning out coaches after three years. Pat Riley reportedly put the limit at five, while Steve Kerr admitted his Golden State players were tired of hearing him in his fourth season. Now Justin Tatum is in his fourth season with Illawarra, and the Hawks have gone from NBL champions to the bottom of the ladder. Could they be experiencing the same problem? Justin Tatum transformed Illawarra from one of the NBL's worst teams into champions. But ahead of today's clash…
READ MOREIn 2002, the Melbourne Tigers were fighting for survival when they identified an opportunity to attract supporters from their biggest rivals. Their plan to honour Brian Goorjian was blocked by the Victoria Giants, potentially changing the course of Melbourne basketball history. In 2002, the Melbourne Tigers devised a plan that could have changed the future of their club. The Tigers were emerging from financial administration, crowds were falling and the club had been forced to abandon its home at Vodafone Arena, now known as John…
READ MOREA new funding proposal, a crucial November meeting and renewed interest from the NBL could finally provide a pathway for professional basketball to return to the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast's long-running push to return to the NBL has reached another critical stage, with Mayor Tom Tate preparing to meet Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie in November to discuss the future of the proposed $1 billion Gold Coast Arena. After years of negotiations, changing timelines and funding setbacks, the city's hopes of securing an NBL…
READ MOREFour-time NBL champion and 1994 Grand Final MVP Paul Rees joins the podcast to reflect on his journey from small-town basketball to a 17-season NBL career with the Brisbane Bullets, North Melbourne Giants and Adelaide 36ers. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Rees about winning championships with North Melbourne and Adelaide, playing under Brett Brown and Phil Smyth, representing Australia at the 1994 World Championship, and battling Brian Goorjian and some of the NBL’s best teams throughout…
READ MOREJensen Bradtke wearing his father Mark’s famous No. 50 should be one of the great stories of NBL27. Instead, it has again exposed a question Melbourne United has never properly answered: when does Melbourne Tigers history belong to United, and when doesn’t it? Seeing BRADTKE and No. 50 together on a Melbourne basketball jersey again should be nothing other than a celebration. Jensen Bradtke is beginning his first season with Melbourne United, wearing the same number his father Mark wore through one of the great…
READ MOREEvery NBL pre-season, there is plenty of attention on players around the league who could take the next step in their professional basketball journey. A breakout can happen in different ways. For some players, it’s getting more opportunity. For an established player, it can mean building on what they have already achieved and elevating their game to another level. For others, it may simply take a new home where their skills can be maximised. Below are four players who I think are ready to break…
READ MOREFormer Sydney Kings and Canberra Cannons import Mario Donaldson joins the podcast to revisit his time in the NBL, including competing in the famous 1994 NBL Dunk Contest, the highs and lows of his seasons in Sydney and Canberra, and the success he found playing around the world. Host Dan Boyce chats with Donaldson about arriving in Sydney in 1994 and playing alongside Leon Trimmingham, helping the Kings return to the playoffs and establishing himself as one of the league’s best outside shooters. Visit dunk.com.au…
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