Hoops

NBL clubs linked to Asian League?

Defence, that's interesting news about the ASEAN league starting to come together.

I'm one that thinks it would be great for Australian/ NZ clubs to compete with Asian clubs. It would create a lot of interest, and could generate good sponsorship and tv coverage if done right.

However, I also think expanding the NBL to include several Asian teams is probably too unwieldy and certainly very unrealistic with money problems in the short term. (And I don't like the idea of rogue clubs going to Asia either, because it isn't constructive for an Aussie league in the long run)

Therefore, if this ASEAN league comes together, I think there is a very exciting opportunity emerging for the two leagues to play an end of season tournament. This could be a top 4 v top 4 scenario, or even a seeded knockout tournament like the NCAA has (this might mean 8 teams from each league, for a 'sweet 16' starting round).

By playing a tournament, you cut down on travel costs and (assuming you get tv to commit) very intense tv coverage for a couple of weeks. Hopefully with all that coverage, you could put up a big prize pool, and this would help all clubs to improve their operations the next year.

I really hope the ASEAN league comes together and that someone at BA/ NBL headquarters is giving some serious thought to something like this. It's the kind of thing that I think could get Aussies interested in basketball again!

Yeah, that's me. I had to re-register at Ozhoops as Dave (long story).

Anyhow, from FIBA's perspective I doubt there would be any difference between relocating a team to a different zone versus starting a new team - because the Slingers used the existing Hunter/Canberra license when they started in the NBL, it was a little of both. However, FIBA are generally not in favour of leagues stretching across the geographic zones - it's a similar case with Wellington in the A-League. What happens if they qualify for the ACL when they're an Oceanic club?

It wasn't a straightforward process to get FIBA approval for the Slingers in the NBL, and I would imagine a "rogue Asian league" involving Melbourne/South/Perth would have even more trouble getting the nod. Unless it was sufficiently rogue to bypass FIBA altogether, but that would be opening a whole other can of worms. For the record, I haven't heard anything which suggests that any of the above clubs are looking at Asia as a serious option.

sorry spelling - ASIAN

Isaac, do you mean that after 1 year, if the Perth Quokkas no longer wanted to participate in the ASEAN league they would come back to Australia and apply to participate in the NBL as the Perth Wildcats again. Same team, same owner, same coach, same everything except the name.

Also a problem would be that although its a sanctioned FIBA league, FIBA would have to agree to the Australian clubs moving to the ASEAN league. I couldnt see them allowing that when they have (maybe) there own national league to compete in.

You won't see ex-NBL clubs joining the ASEAN League, because the organisers want to hold firm on the ASEAN aspect. There was interest from an Australian group (with no links to the NBL), but they were knocked back.

Thats right Isaac, they do, our clubs don't...

getting the team over there might be a killer...specially when they will be travelling alot of the time...flights will be most of the budget..like now, but at a more expensive cost..