It has always been seen the norm for aspiring talents in the National Basketball League to one day reach the biggest heights of America’s National Basketball Association, and for good reason too.
The NBA always has been, and more than likely always will be, the greatest basketball league in the world. It is the fastest, most exciting and certainly the highest paid… why wouldn’t any aspiring basketball player not want to get there?
Well, everyone would… and I agree and acknowledge this, but let’s think for a moment.
Why are we as an NBL and Australian Basketball entity, wanting to see our players eventually leave? Why are we almost seeing ourselves as a progression point, rather than a bonafide destination league?
When we recruiting young Australian talent, who are instantly dismissing the chances of remaining in Australia long term, as their aim is to one day make the NBA? That is all well and good, but if that is the messaging we are allowing, how does that look for our league?
It subconsciously tells us the NBL is still not completely legit yet, it is still not quite a destination league that international players would be interested in coming to, which is not true. The NBL has risen to its highest levels, it is now a genuine basketball competition.
While still not NBA level yet, it could potentially reach that in a decade or two. So why aren’t we wanting our players to stick around, or at least not expecting them too?
There is so much focus on developing players to one day proceed to the NBA… why aren’t we focusing on retaining players to make this league truly great? Develop within, grow the league further, make it a truly recognisable competition that is right up there with the NBA.
Instead of making it a stepping stone for NBA aspirants, work to make it equal with NBA, and convince players to want to stay here… make internationals want to play in Australian just like they want to play in America. The next-stars program signings of Lamelo Ball and RJ Hampton are a step in the right direction and a fantastic initiative by the league, how long will they be around for though?
Players like Andrew Bogut, who has returned to Australia and is playing in our league for one of our clubs, how good is that!?
Mitch Creek is also returning to join the new South East Melbourne Phoenix, another exciting proposition!
It is incredibly unlikely, for now at least, but figure for a moment… imagine if Patty Mills returned to the NBL, or Joe Ingles, or if Matthew Dellavedova played for an NBL club?
The league would rise again, and that is what we want to see!
I have a dream one day this league will be on par with the NBA. There will be a team from every state and we will have some of our best talent here, rather than in America. The NBL will one day become a league known all around the globe, with players from all over the world coming here to play their passion.
There is a lot of work to do, the last five years have been a positive step in making this dream come to life, let’s hope the next five years are even more significant. The NBL is here people, it is real and it is beautiful.
The NBA is the best no doubt, but do not dismiss the Australian Basketball landscape. All we need is time, probably another decade. But having our best players and rookies leave for the NBA will not help the NBL quite as much as it appears it does to the naked eye.