End of the NBL?

[old dee 23,786]

Is the NBL dead it has been on life support for a few years now but the end may have arrived?

I wrote the following elsewhere but thought I would start a thread here.

Unlike most others I am a fan of Basketball and used to be a member of the Tigers.

I quit when they became "united" .

I still like basketball and this year will follow the Tigers in the "Big V' league.

There was a time when the NBL was threatening to take on the AFL.

I remember in the 90's going to Full houses at the Tennis centre on Friday nights.

In my opinion it got a little ahead of itself and spent more than it could afford then moved to Summer and IMO lost its way.

seems doomed now with two clubs in receivership another close and three being held up by wealth benefactors.

It is said that the owners of Melbourne United have put in $7million over the last three years.

It is gone I think and I as a force of one am disappointed.

The up side is I can support the Tigers again.

I wonder if I would do the same if the dees ended up in the Amos?

I think maybe yes.

[DeeSpencer 25,598]

2 weeks and no reply might be enough to answer your question.

Access to the NBA on TV has killed it. No point going to watch D graders when you can tune in to the worlds best on ESPN/league pass etc.

[Adzman 2,154]

The ABL was resurrected when the MLB took over ownership and poured cash into. MLB Players are sent to Australia to work on their game during the offseason which lifts the quality of play in the ABL.

The NBL would need a similar lifeline with a cash and player injection. If the number 13-15 guys on the bench of an NBA roster came out of to Oz the standard of play would be a drastic improvement. Also free agents trying to get back into the NBA have a feeder league that doesn't require them to go to Europe or China. In order for this to work the league must run parallel to the NBA or D-League to remain viable.

Also visibility and TV rights need reviewing. Get this on free to air and get it trending.

[Macca 16,949]

Years later and the NBL has come alive again.  Who would have thought?

A lot of work behind the scenes but the interest has grown to a point where the games are back on free-to-air again

2 games will be shown (live) on FTA every Sunday afternoon ... most always the times will be 1.00pm & 3.00pm on the 10 Network - C007 (Peach)

Season starts December 3rd

Edited November 11, 2021 by Macca

[praha 11,240]

NBL is bigger than its ever been... probably not mid-90s level but both Melb United and Phoenix doing very well.

Anyone going to United v Phoenix?