The NBL was forced to cancel the remaining two scheduled games of the Grand Final between Sydney and Perth, after the Kings made the decision not to risk themselves travelling due to the on-going COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic.
Therefore, after lengthy conversation between NBL owner Larry Kestelman and Commisioner Jeremy Loeliger, the 2020 championship was awarded to the Perth Wildcats, who at point of cancellation were leading the series 2-1.
“I certainly wish we were meeting under different circumstances. We’re very saddened by the state of the world and our beautiful country. Last Friday we had to make the difficult decision to play behind closed doors and that was very much guided by instructions and guidelines given by government and medical professionals. We consider families a priority.”
“On Tuesday we had a conversation with the Sydney Kings management and ownership group. They advised us they would not be proceeding with the final two games of the Grand Final series. We at NBL feel total compassion and understanding of why the decision was made.” Kestleman said in regards to games two and three that were both played in front of zero spectators.
“We feel the rules set out in the NBL operations manual are clear in this regard. In this instance games four and five were cancelled by the league due to unforeseen circumstances. Consequently, the champions of the Hungry Jack’s NBL 2019/20 season are the Perth Wildcats. We can now announce the winner of the Larry Sengstock medalist for our Grand Final MVP based on the votes from games one to three, is awarded to Bryce Cotton.” Loeliger added.
Albeit in unprecedented circumstances surrounding the rapidly spreading virus, the argument made on several social media platforms the tenth Perth championship will forever have an asterisk beside it is nonsense.
The Perth Wildcats have proven time and time again they are not only the premier club in Australian basketball, but one of the greatest sporting franchises in Australian sport. Their tenth championship from 34 consecutive finals appearances speaks volume of their club both on and off the court.
When the NBL was established in 1979, the competition ran with a one-game Grand Final. The team who played the better basketball on the day was crowned the champions, no excuses, no second chances.
That was until the league introduced a typical style of NBA-like basketball competition with a series in 1986, but with only three games played to decide an eventual winner.
This continued until 2003 when it was further-extended to a five game series.
In 2010, when the league was on it’s knees and struggling financially, it reverted back to a three game series again until Larry Kestelman took control and injected a few million dollars into the league the five-game series returned in 2017.
Althought this particular scenario of a three game series was under vastly different circumstances, this cannot be used as an excuse to say the Wildcats are not deserving of the championship.
The Wildcats spent the entirety of the season in the top four, and although they failed to win the minor premiership they were never a legitimate chance to miss the finals.
More than anything though, the Western Australian’s have proven once again they are able to play their best basketball when it truly counts. Come the finals, the Wildcats rarely disappoint, as they have proven for the tenth time now.
Dual Grand Final MVP Bryce Cotton placed himself further in the conversation of best important and Wildcat this conversation has seen. A combined total of 90 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists across the series, an absolute no-brainer for the best-on-court award to go along with his third NBL Championship ring in four seasons down under.
Andrew Vlahov, Damian Martin, James Crawford, Mike Ellis, Ricky Grace, Scott Fisher…. he is in that mould of Wildcats royalty already.
The cliche; A champion team can beat a team of champions, rings true for Perth in this season’s shorter series. While they have many stars in their lineup who are certainly champions in their own right, they bring out the best in one another and their team chemistry is the greatest this league has ever seen.
Damian Martin who just keeps on keeping on, was instrumental in the three games with 14 rebounds in the three games and seven assists. He is the best defensive player in NBL history.
Terrico White, who suffered a relatively average season came to the forefront in the finals, exploding onto the scene with over 30 minutes in all three games and 23 points overall.
Miles Plumlee showed his credentials when it really mattered; 29 points in total and put the comments about his inability to adapt to the Australian league to rest.
Nick Kay furthers his pushes for Boomers selection for the Tokyo Olympics later this year (if it eventuates) with his second NBL title, accumulating 64 points in an incredible show.
The entire uniform of the Wildcats made life hell for the Sydney Kings, who although were able to win the second game, had a very flat finals campaign.
Will Weaver was totally out-coached by Trevor Gleeson, who now sits just one championship behind the great Brian Goorjian who won six titles across three NBL clubs.
Sydney’s coach was unable to get the best out of his key-playmakers. With the exception of Andrew Bogut, who was dynamic in all three games posting scores of 18, 19 and 8 points and was far and away Sydney’s best performer along along with Jae’Sean Tate who battled his heart out with 16 rebounds and five assists in total, the rest of the calvary failed to truly arrive.
Casper Ware had a dismal finals campaign and went missing in all three games, scoring just five points in the series opener and continually failed to make the big shots count on several occasions.
This comes as a disappointment to all involved with the Kings when considering his mocking and shouting at the Melbourne United bench after defeating his former club when defeating them in the Semi Finals series.
This comes as an opportunity wasted, possibly the final one for the Kings. Looking at the demographic of their list, Andrew Bogut (35), Brad Newley (35), Daniel Kickert (36) and Kevin Lisch (33) may have missed their last chance at a championship.
One or more of these players could retire or even be moved on as Will Weaver shifts his focus to the 2020/21 season which commences in October, provided COVID-19 has passed by then.
Although one could argue the pandemic has played a part in the Kings demise, it could just as easily be argued there was no excuse to not win in games two and three?
The Kings were, by the way, top of the NBL ladder from rounds 1 through 28… the first and only time a club has ever done this. But it all counts for nothing, because their championship drought now extends to fifteen years.
There are no excuses, no asterisks, nothing at all that can take this championship away from the Perth Wildcats.
Stand together, West Australia… you are the rightful Champions of the NBL once again and it is well-deserved one at that!
Dan is a self-confessed Aussie hoops tragic from Adelaide, South Australia. He is a young sports broadcaster and journalist with a passion for the NBL and Australian Boomers. Also hosts his own sports podcast; Amato's 5th Quarter.
