There have been plenty of signings in the NBL offseason, with over 70% of the players in the league coming out of contract, there has been more movement than most of us expected. This no doubt includes the marquee signing of Andrew Bogut by the Sydney Kings, but there’s still one signing that remains up in the air and that’s the NBL television rights deal.
i’m sure all hoops tragic’s have their list of changes they’d like the NBL to make. More teams, Quieter music, 48 minutes, etc. but there’s something I’d much prefer to see!
Monday. Night. Basketball.
Up until the early 1980’s, major sporting events were played on weekends in Australia, but in 1985, the then VFL (now AFL) introduced irregular Friday night matches and fast forward 33 years and Friday Night Football is a staple of the footballing culture. Everybody knows when AFL football is played and the NBL would benefit massively from having a night that they can call their own.
In an ideal world, the NBL reaches the monumental live free-to-air television (FTA) deal that they have been talking about and that FTA network is brave enough to put the renovation/cooking/dating show on hold for four Mondays in January and take a chance on weeknight sport.
But why Monday night and why January?
- Summer TV is mostly just filling time
- People are more apt to go out during daylight savings
- Kids are on holidays can stay out a little later
With all this in mind, I present to you the first four games of the NBL’s Monday Night Basketball series, proudly supported by (insert brand here), live on FTA with a 7:30pm tip-off. Over to you, Matt Russell, Corey Williams and Steve Carfino.
January 7th
Perth Wildcats @ Sydney Kings
Let’s face it, the Kings are the marquee team in the upcoming NBL season. They have signed the biggest name to ever play in the NBL and they play in the biggest media market in the country, so of course, they will be featured in the first Monday Night game and what better opponent than the old guard, old reliable, the model consistency the Perth Wildcats. Plus, Bryce Cotton the reigning league MVP vs. Jerome Randle in the battle of the point gods.
January 14th
Melbourne United @ Adelaide 36ers
Ideally, this should be the first the team that Melbourne play in Adelaide during the 2018/19 NBL season. It’s the Grand Final rematch in front of the always crazy 8,000 Adelaide fans. The story of this one tells itself, albeit with potentially different characters (United have yet to resign Caper Ware, Casey Prather and Josh Boone, while Mitch Creek has left the 36ers to play in Europe, and the status of Josh Childress and Shannon Shorter is still up in the air).
January 21st
New Zealand Breakers @ Brisbane Bullets
This was a game that I originally pencilled in to be a New Zealand home game, but due to the time difference, wouldn’t quite work that well for the Australian audience (Sorry New Zealand fans). This matchup has intrigue due to the Australian Boomer-heavy club that the Bullets have become this offseason going up against our off-shore rivals the Breakers.
January 28th – Australia Day
Sydney Kings @ Melbourne United – Open Air Game
The two biggest cities in the country doing battle on Australia Day in Melbourne with the roof of Hisense Arena open as twilight turns into the night is must-see television and what better way to cap off a long weekend than some Monday Night hoops with the biggest names in the game.
These are four games that showcase the best the NBL has to offer on and off the court and while taking four regular “games” out of the season and turning them into events. Image watching the news of these games host broadcaster and they are reporting live from the stadium as its filling up an hour before tip-off.
Imagine turning in for the Pre Game Show and we see images of celebrities taking their seats or Andrew Bogut and the Sydney Kids arriving at the arena surrounded by media and then that incredible shot in the sky of the roof of Hisense Arena opening or that undeniable vibe you get from the crowds in Adelaide and Perth and that’s all before the game officially starts.
What a way to kick off your week it would be.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
