Category: NBL

Illawarra Hawks ownership situation remains unsettled

Brandon King

It was initially reported that youngest Ball brother LaMelo and his manager Jermaine Jackson purchased the Illawarra Hawks, the club Ball played with this past season in the NBL. When the reports emerged that the sale was not in fact a done deal, it seemed that story was not reported with the same vigor. The NBL has released more information on this developing story , as the League seeks to square away the Hawks’ ownership situation. From nbl.com.au: Hungry Jack’s NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said: “After taking back the licence…

Read More

NBL statement on Tanzanian expansion

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: Hungry Jack’s NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman said: “The NBL remains in regular dialogue with the Tasmanian Government about plans for a 10th team in Tasmania starting with the 2021-22 season. “Clearly the Tasmanian Government has more important priorities right now as it tackles the impact of COVID-19 on the local community. We completely understand and support this and have agreed to put on hold activity in relation to the new team for the next two months to allow the Government to focus its efforts on protecting…

Read More

COVID-19 pandemic halts Taipans’ free agency

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au : Cairns coach Mike Kelly has revealed the COVID-19 situation has numerous Taipans locked down across the world, as the club’s free agency and offseason plans come to an unexpected halt. With a majority of Cairns’ playing group already settled in different cities globally to begin their winter programs, the COVID-19 lockdown has thrown a spanner in the works and forced the Taipans to adjust their methods. After a stunning NBL20 campaign, where Cairns fell one win shy of qualifying for the Grand Final, Kelly wants his side…

Read More

NBL releases second statement regarding Illawarra Hawks’ ownership situation

Brandon King

The NBL has released a follow-up statement to the seemingly developing situation surrounding the ownership of the Illawarra Hawks. An initial statement released by the league somewhat downplayed the initial reports of LaMelo Ball and his manager buying the club, it was quite easy to decipher the tea leaves and grasp that something may be afoot Below is the latest from the league: The NBL has taken back the licence for the Illawarra Hawks after the club was placed into voluntary administration. Hungry Jack’s NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry…

Read More

Illawarra Hawks release statement regarding ownership

Brandon King

Thursday it was reported by ESPN and multiple outlets, including this one, that the youngest of the Ball brothers, LaMelo, along with his manager Jermaine Jackson, had purchased the Illawarra Hawks, the NBL Melo played for this past season. However in the words of the great Lee Corso, “not so fast my friend”, as this statement released by the Hawks , while not refuting those initial reports, it ,at the very least ,indicates there is something happening with Illawarra’s ownership status: The NBL would like to clarify the current situation…

Read More

Australia’s National Basketball League suspends free agency

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: Due to COVID-19, the Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) has agreed with the Australian Basketball Players’ Association to postpone commencement of the forthcoming free agency period. The free agency period, which was due to start on March 30, will be delayed until at least 1 May, unless the parties agreed in the meantime on a basis to commence sooner. The NBL, clubs and Australian Basketball Players’ Association (ABPA) will consult on the appropriate arrangements for the free agency period as we all continue to monitor thesituation with…

Read More

NBL Statement on the Grand Final

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: The NBL wishes to clarify and respond to comments made in respect to the Hungry Jack’s NBL Grand Final Series presented by MG. Given the escalating threat of COVID-19 over recent weeks, the NBL regularly consulted with both the Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats right throughout the series. The NBL made the decision to proceed with game one as planned in Sydney on Sunday March 8. In the days leading into game two in Perth last Friday we were in constant contact with both teams. A number of…

Read More

NBL cancel remaining games of Grand Final

Brandon King

It appears that the Coronavirus has halted one of the few remaining outlets of basketball, or any professional sports, Australia’s National Basketball League. Game four of the league’s championship series, the Grand Final was to be played Friday between the Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats. However the Kings brass stated they did not want to play the game in lieu of the global circumstances surrounding COVID-19. NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman had this to say in a statement: “We respect the decision in what are extraordinary times for…

Read More

Perth takes 2-1 lead in NBL Grand Final

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: A career-best Nick Kay performance with Bryce Cotton again brilliant has put the Perth Wildcats one win away from back-to-back NBL championships after outlasting the Sydney Kings 111-96 in Game 3 of the Grand Final series at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. Led by dynamic duo Cotton (31 points, seven assists) and Nick Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, four assists), Perth rebounded from a 97-83 loss to the Kings on Friday night to beat Sydney for the second time on the road in the Grand Final series.  Kay…

Read More