Category: National Basketball League

LaMelo Ball and manager purchase NBL team

Brandon King

LaMelo Ball is not yet in the NBA, but that hasn’t stopped him from making moves or planning for his life post-playing career. The youngest and most talented of the Ball brothers and projected top-3 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft( whenever that will be) along with his manager, Jermaine Jackson ( no, not that Jermaine Jackson) purchased the Illawarra Hawks of Australia’s National Basketball League. Ball played for the Hawks this past season. Before his season was cut short due to a foot injury, Ball averaged 17.0 points, 7.5…

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Statement from NBL owner Larry Kestelman and commissioner Jeremy Loeliger

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: A message from NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman and NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger: These are unprecedented and challenging times and, like all of you, our simple wish is that we all get through it as safely and quickly as possible. Sport is an important part of people’s lives, but at this critical time, we are very aware of putting things in perspective and that the health and safety of each and every one of our families, friends and the wider community should be everybody’s number one…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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NBL statement on Grand Final series

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au : NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman has made the following statement: “After consultation with local, state and federal authorities as well as our clubs, we have made a decision that the remainder of the Hungry Jack’s NBL Grand Final Series presented by MG between the Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats will be closed to the general public. “The health and well-being of our players, staff, officials and fans is paramount. As a family sport we felt this was the only decision to make. “We commend the Kings,…

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Champion signs with NBL, becomes official on court apparel provider

Brandon King

From NBL.com.au : The NBL is pleased to announce the return of Champion to Australian basketball as the league’s new Official On-Court Player Apparel Partner. Whilst the announcement marks an exciting new partnership for Champion Australia, Champion is no stranger to the basketball court, having produced the on-court NBA jerseys during the 1990s and into the 2000s. Under the three-year agreement, Champion will design brand new team jerseys for the 2020/2021 NBL Season, along with a range of NBL club streetwear for basketball fans to enjoy. NBL Owner and Executive…

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Perth defeats Sydney 88-86 in Game of 1 NBL Grand Final

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: The Perth Wildcats have drawn first blood in the NBL Grand Final series with a Bryce Cotton-inspired 88-86 win over the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday Shooting for back-to-back championships and the club’s 10th overall – more than double the next best in NBL history – the Wildcats trailed for most of the first half but produced down the stretch in a dramatic final term to go 1-0 up in the best-of-five series. The 27-year-old Cotton went into the game averaging 33 points against the…

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Melbourne beats down Sydney 120-85 in Game 2

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: Melbourne United said they wouldn’t let their Game 1 capitulation hurt their confidence and they proved this with the most remarkable demolition job of the regular season champion Sydney Kings at Melbourne Arena on Monday night. Melbourne turned on a record-setting performance to thrash the NBL title favourites 125-80 and force a deciding Game 3 at Qudos Bank Arena on Thursday night as their best-of-three series is now tied 1-1. United came into the season with high hopes having played in the previous two Grand Finals and then…

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