The NBL in The Future
The NBL experienced its golden age in the early to mid-1990s, but its popularity, media attention, attendance and corporate support deteriorated and plateaued in the decade afterward. Australian NBA player Andrew Bogut suggested the NBL try to adopt a model similar to the Australian Football League (AFL) whereby there are the same 10 or 15 teams over a 10 year period . Disgruntled Australian basketball enthusiasts have suggested expansion to 16 teams, most importantly locating a team in the city of Darwin making the Singapore road-trip less drawn-out, also Darwin currently does not have the support for a national domestic team of any sort. Since the inception of the Singapore Slingers in 2006, both Asia and Oceania are represented in the National Basketball League, however Asian players are not considered local players unless they are from Singapore and play for the Slingers. The Slingers are no longer part of the NBL.
There has been significant support for the NBL to expand into Asia by many NBL players as well as ex-Australian Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian, be it differently to how it was done with the now-defunct Singapore Slingers which had a 14 hour round-trip flight to the Australian East Coast . The 2009/10 season is earmarked as the season in which the NBL will begin its revamping, much like the old National Soccer League which became the eight team A-League (later expanding to 10 teams). .
The Sydney Kings name was purchased for the sum of A$20,000 on 31 July 2008 adding hope to the club also making a return to the league . Other possible locations for clubs include Hobart, Wellington and even an Australian Institute of Sport team based in Canberra comprising the best Australian players under the age of 22. Canberra has not had an NBL side since the Canberra Cannons which folded in 2003, the success of the AIS team in the Australian Women's National Basketball League underlines the likelihood of such a venture working . John Brumby has called for a second Melbourne team to be added to the league.
Brisbane remains the most important team to come back into the league. While Newcastle is rumoured to be returning due to the strong drive from mining magnate Nathan Tinkler. Both teams are expected to re-enter the league in 2012-13.
A second Melbourne team (as well as the possibility of a second New Zealand team based in Wellington) will most likely be re-entering in 2013-14.
Canberra and Hobart are also rumoured to be interested in returning to the league within the next 5 years.
Read more about this topic: National Basketball League (Australasia)
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