National Basketball League (New Zealand)
The National Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NBL, is the pre-eminent professional men's basketball league in New Zealand.
Nine clubs competed in the 2012 season with teams based in Auckland, Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Taradale and Wellington. The Christchurch Cougars voluntarily sat out the 2012 season, as they did the 2011 because of the financial implications of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however they intend to re-enter the competition in 2013.
The league has a limit of two imports per side. Many of the imports used come from the United States. The league also only allows one naturalised New Zealand player per team.
The quality of play in the league continues to improve as more and more New Zealand players are playing higher levels of basketball like college, ANBL and some even go onto make the NBA such as former North Harbour Kings star Kirk Penney.
Televised games have decreased since 2007 when TVNZ's television rights were sold to Sky TV, games were originally shown once a week but due to lack of demand only playoff games were shown mainly due Super Rugby, NRL and ANZ Championship games clashing with game times and a high interest by the public in those competitions. Southland Sharks highlights and interviews have been shown on Cue TV.
Read more about National Basketball League (New Zealand): History, Current Clubs, Former and Defunct Clubs, Competition Format, Broadcasting Details, Imports in The League, New Zealanders in The League, List of Champions
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