On the Aussie Hoopla podcast we’ve often discussed the benefits of the NBL having its teams or an All-Star team participate in the NBA summer league but this latest concept maybe even better.
NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger has noted discussions are underway about holding the NBL Cup in the USA as a talent showcase focused on boosting the league and giving our players additional exposure to NBA scouts.
The plan would also aim to boost the NBL brand and benefit the league by attracting additional broadcast deals, sponsorship deals and attracting NBA level imports to play in the NBL.
The concept for the inaugural NBL Cup was from necessity, with COVID-19 quarantine rules impacting the league.
Loeliger has said a by-product of this is the interest the league has gathered from the NBA, with team representatives exploring the possibility of circumventing Australian COVID-19 quarantine rules to attend the NBL Cup in person.
With the NBL striving to become the most attractive option for NBA level players without NBA contracts, this NBA interest has Loeliger thinking of ways the league can use this concept to broaden the NBL’s horizons.
The first attempt at the NBL Cup, a competition-within-a-competition, kicked off today with the Cairns Taipans notching up a victory over the Illawarra Hawks in the tournament’s opening game.
All nine NBL clubs featuring in a total of 36 games over three weeks in a Melbourne hub. The opportunity for NBA and possibly other basketball leagues to see uncontracted NBA level players like Jock Landale, Isaac Humphries and Ryan Broekhoff, as well as NBA draft prospects like Josh Giddey, Mojave King and Tamuri Wigness in four live games in three weeks, would be a no-brainer for scouts.
“You saw how many people came from the US to our Blitz (preseason tournament) in the last couple of years and I can tell you that would’ve been even stronger again had there not been a two-week quarantine associated with flying in” said Loeliger.
“For those people who are watching with a keen eye from a scouting and reporting point of view, I know that they’re really excited that everyone’s playing at the same time. It will attract a huge amount of attention from the who’s who of basketball.”
The financial success of the NBL Cup will obviously determine future plans for the inaugural tournament, obviously, accommodation and hosting costs for nine teams to spend three weeks in Melbourne isn’t cheap.
When those numbers are yet to come in, Loeliger feels there is enough positives to predict this won’t be a one and done idea.
Loeliger acknowledges a lot of NBL fans in cities other than Melbourne and a potential commercial proposition that could drive interest from multiple cities beyond Melbourne who would want to host the event.
“I would like to think there’s a commercial proposition whereby – whether it’s Auckland, Sydney or Hawaii – they’re propositioning us as to why we should come and play in their backyard.
“We think we’re a really good value proposition and that we represent a significant economic impact where we go. “We’ll wait on that data to be able to prove it.”