Category: National Basketball League

Injuries got in the way of Mitch Creek’s NBA return

Brandon King

By Liam Santamaria. A late-season knee injury and the COVID-19 pandemic robbed South East Melbourne Phoenix star Mitch Creek of a return to the NBA earlier this year. As the 2019-20 NBL season was drawing to a close, Creek and his management were in advanced talks with a Western Conference NBA team whom the versatile forward was preparing to join before injury struck. Creek revealed last week that he was set to fly to the U.S. the day after South East Melbourne’s final regular season game. Speaking with NBL great…

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NBL looking forward to 2020-21

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman says the league is going “absolutely full steam ahead” to stage the 2020-21 season. The COVID-19 pandemic has stopped the sporting world, raising questions on what NBL21 will look like. But Kestelman told SEN’s Dwayne World: “We’re absolutely full steam ahead to get a season up and running. “I think for everyone the last four to six weeks feels like a big blur. We’re slowly coming out of the haze and absolutely starting to plan for what’s possible, what’s not and different…

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36ers name Conner Henry as head coach

Brandon King

From nbl.com.au: The Adelaide 36ers have announced the appointment of Conner Henry as its new Head Coach for the next three years. Conner Henry’s appointment was the culmination of a comprehensive local and international search by the club. He joins the 36ers after previous positions including Assistant Coach of Orlando Magic and Head coach of the NBA D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants where he won a Championship and was awarded Coach of the Year. Conner Henry had a standout career as a player, at the University of California, Santa Barbara,…

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NBL, ABPA and teams agree on terms for 2020-21

Brandon King

In preparation for a basketball landscape that will look vastly different from the last time the league was in action, the NBL, the Australian Basketball Players Association (ABPA) and the NBL ball clubs have come to terms on an agreement for next season. From nbl.com.au: The Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League, Australian Basketball Players’ Association (ABPA) and the nine NBL clubs have reached an agreement for the forthcoming 2020-21 Season. Under the agreement announced today: Players have agreed to tiered reductions in salaries ranging from 27.5 per cent for players…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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