Is it time to stop taking NBL teams to the NBA?

Is it time to stop taking NBL teams to the NBA?

Google Advertisements

The NBL is not the NBA.

That is the message to take out of Adelaide’s 81-133 loss to the Utah Jazz today.

Playing against NBA teams, in America, with NBA rules and court dimensions is always going to be a tall order for any NBL team. Not only do they have to compensate for a difference in speed, size, strength and athleticism, but they also have to quickly acclimatise to rules that exist to highlight the strength of the American teams – such as defensive three-second rules in the key, and a bigger keyway and court dimensions to allow freer movement for lengthier athletes.

Zone defences, which are usually an equalizer for international teams when they play Team USA, struggle to cover the kinds of spaces left on an NBA court. And the Utah Jazz was clinical in exposing Adelaide’s inability to cover this space, bullying Adelaide by an embarrassing 52 points.

In short, the NBLxNBA series, as it is often called, is indeed a showcase. But what it showcases is how an NBA team can surgically and meticulously dissect NBL teams when playing to their own rule book. How scorelines might look if played in Australia with FIBA rules is hard to gauge from this.

Which leads us to a question – Why? Why does the NBL continue to lead itself like a lamb to slaughter? What is there to gain from this yearly David and Goliath battle?

For some, they believe that the end game is having an NBA preseason or exhibition game played in Australia. Others think it grows our global credibility, and gets the names of NBL franchises into the minds of basketball fans and betting types across the world.

Growing relationships with the NBA is obviously a worthy pursuit. It is the relationships between the two leagues that have allowed for many of the draft-and-stash import gets we’ve seen over the years, including Didi Louzada and James Ennis. But are there other ways to grow these relationships without a yearly series in NBLxNBA, which is basically a public expose of our league’s shortcomings when compared to the best in the world?

As for an NBA game on Australian soil, Australian fans have been crying out for this for literally decades. The Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers game in Mumbai, India, just gone adds further insult to injury for Australian fans, who’ve followed the league religiously since childhood, bought the jerseys, the league pass, and many of whom have jetted off to the US to see the action in person themselves.

Yet, that is part of the problem. Australia is not a market the NBA needs to grow. Australia has the second most NBA League Pass subscribers of any country in the world.

The NBA’s flag is firmly set on Australia. There is no conquering for them to do here. And yet, we send our teams to them, help them prepare for their seasons, at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars from each team’s coffers.

This is money that could be better spent on player salaries, game-day entertainment, or any other endeavour that would bring a quantifiable benefit.

The eyes of the world are on the NBL right now. LaMelo Ball’s first NBL preseason game caught over one hundred thousand of them on Facebook Watch.

The NBL is most certainly growing in global awareness. But I am not sure that 52-point losses help the NBL when it comes to global credibility. For a league that touts itself as the second-best league in the world, the NBL certainly appears to enjoy showcasing the stark differences between itself and the very best.

There have been a few close games between the NBL and NBA – highlighted by a last-second one-point loss by Melbourne United to Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 – and there may yet be another close game to come.

But for me, the novelty has worn off.

The NBLxNBA series serves as a distraction from the serious work of establishing momentum within an NBL season for NBL teams. The games barely get passing interest from the media. And as of yet, there has not been a quantifiable positive to come out of the series.

The NBLxNBA series was a fun distraction while it lasted, but it’s time to concentrate on ourselves.

Jarrad Hurley (79 Posts)

Jarrad Hurley's professional basketball aspirations led him to the dizzying heights of the Adelaide social league circuit. After an epiphany that his hoop dreams would go unrealised, he put the ball down and picked up a pen. Jarrad lives vicariously through the successes of Australian basketball, is a mad 36ers fanatic, and might just cry if the Boomers ever medal.


Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Luke Kendall on developing basketball in India, 2006 FIBA World Champs & Sydney’s 2005 NBL Title

    Former NBL player and current Casey Cavaliers head coach Luke Kendall joins the podcast to share his journey—from his junior basketball days to professional success and now a rising coaching career. Kendall developed under legendary coach Mike Dunlap at Metro State, where he won a national championship before moving to the NBL. He played for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coast Blaze, winning a championship with the Kings before injuries forced an early retirement. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of…

    READ MORE
  • Larry Kestelman Says Geelong Deserves an NBL Team But Is Missing a Real Estate Component

    The possibility of an NBL expansion team in Geelong has gained momentum, with league owner Larry Kestelman confirming the city is a strong candidate—provided it can secure a suitable venue. However, much like we outlined in an article a number of years ago, How the Geelong Supercats could return to the NBL within 3 years, the missing piece isn’t just a stadium, but a real estate-backed development plan to make the project financially viable. Kestelman recently acknowledged Geelong’s growing basketball scene, citing record participation numbers…

    READ MORE
  • The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise

    There have been championship runs in the NBL defined by dominance and the sheer weight of talent that could overwhelm opponents before the ball was tipped. The dynasties of Perth, the star-studded reign of Melbourne, and the rise of Sydney’s financial muscle all tell tales of powerhouses that knew how to stay at the top. But there has only ever been one championship like Wollongong’s in 2001—a title won through sheer resilience, a team that had no business being there until they forced their way…

    READ MORE
  • If Dyson Daniels Doesn’t Win Defensive Player of the Year, It’s a Disgrace

    The Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award is supposed to recognise the most dominant defender in the NBA. If that’s the case, then Dyson Daniels should already have his name engraved on the trophy. But as the season winds down, there’s a growing concern that Daniels might get overlooked simply because he’s a guard. If that happens, it won’t just be unfair—it will be a disgrace. Daniels is Leading the NBA in Every Key Defensive Stat There’s no argument against Daniels’ defensive dominance this…

    READ MORE
  • Sydney Kings’ Xavier Cooks Faces Further Consequences After Positive Cocaine Test

    Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks has served most of his one-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine but may still face additional disciplinary action from his club. He was provisionally suspended in early February after returning an adverse analytical finding just two days before the Kings’ sudden-death clash against Adelaide. Basketball Australia later confirmed the ban, though the club initially cited “personal leave” as the reason for his absence. Despite the violation, Sydney Kings officials reportedly want to retain Cooks, who remains under contract for…

    READ MORE
  • NBL Free Agent Tracker

    Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…

    READ MORE
  • How Aussie Hoops Is Vital For Asia Basketball

    The recent FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Traralgon showcased not just Australia's dominance in the region but also why Australian basketball is becoming an invaluable asset for Asian nations looking to grow their game. The Boomers' commanding victories over Indonesia (109-58) and Thailand (114-64) were not just displays of superior talent but reflections of an elite system that consistently produces world-class players. For Asian basketball federations seeking a model to learn from, Australia offers an ideal blueprint—one that balances elite player development, a thriving professional…

    READ MORE
  • New Sydney NBL Team: A Next Stars Hub in the Making?

    A second Sydney NBL team is expected to be the league’s next expansion franchise, with Gold Coast, Darwin, and Canberra all encountering significant roadblocks in recent months. It’s believed the Harbour City Stars is the leading candidate for the team name, following a branding strategy similar to how San Francisco’s Golden State Warriors use a regional moniker rather than the city’s name. This broader identity would emphasize the team’s connection to Sydney’s iconic harbor while avoiding geographical constraints within the city. In addition to Harbour…

    READ MORE
sekolahtoto SEKOLAHTOTO SEKOLAHTOTO sekolahtoto http://178.128.104.2/ sekolahtoto sekolahtoto sekolahtoto sekolahtoto

SEKOLAHTOTO

SITUS TOGEL

depo 5k

https://www.instalikes.org/

sekolahtoto

situs toto

slot deposit 5000

sekolahtoto

situs togel

situs togel