Australia’s NBL chooses the worst possible weekend to launch new basketball season
NBL supremos pick the WORST possible weekend to launch their new season – here’s why Aussie basketball fans have every right to scratch their heads
- Basketball league makes shocking decision
- Let sports wrestle for cover
- Comes after the announcement of games on Christmas Day
The top men of the National Basketball League have chosen to challenge the might of the AFL and NRL by launching their new season on the same weekend that both footy codes play their grand finals.
Last year’s grand finalists, the New Zealand Breakers take on Cairns on Saturday 30 September at 5.30pm – just after the traditional 3pm kick-off for that day’s AFL decider – with Illawarra taking on at 8pm against the Sydney Kings.
The following day, Adelaide take on Melbourne United at 2pm as most of the country will be glued to the build up to the NRL grand final. That is followed by South East Melbourne’s clash with Perth at 4pm, just before the rugby league’s flagship game kicks off at 7.30pm.
It’s a staggering decision considering last year’s biggest AFL game was watched by over three million viewers, while the NRL had nearly 2.4 million Aussies.
Last year’s champions, the Sydney Kings (pictured), will struggle fiercely to see their opening game against Illawarra just hours after the AFL’s Grand Final concludes
The same goes for the New Zealand Breakers (pictured in last year’s finals series) playing at 5.30pm – just hours after the traditional kick-off for Aussie Rules’ biggest game
To make matters worse for the NBL, results washes in both codes dominate media attention days after the last siren.
To say that basketball will be competing for attention on one of the most important days of the league is a huge understatement.
The NBL is no stranger to making left-wing choices when it comes to the league’s schedule.
They made history last year when they announced that the Sydney Kings would take on Melbourne United on Christmas Day – something no other Australian sporting organization had done before.
“It’s the last planning frontier in the sport in Australia,” said Sydney Kings co-owner Paul Smith.
Last year’s AFL grand final (winners Geelong, pictured) attracted more than three million viewers and dominated media coverage long after the final siren sounded
Penrith’s victory in the 2022 NRL decider (pictured) was also witnessed by millions of Aussies with days’ coverage of the aftermath
‘We are a changing society. Christmas is not a sacred event for all of us and it can be a lonely day for many people.
“So to be able to come to a world-class venue for a world-class game of hoops, or just watch the Sydney Kings on television at home, it’s a game changer.”
Many had their doubts, but the move seems to have paid off as the league schedules two games on December 25 this year.
The Tasmania JackJumpers, the league’s newest team, meet South East Melbourne Phoenix at Hobart’s MyState Bank Arena for the first game of the double-header at 5:30 PM.
After leading the first Christmas Night Draft last season, reigning champions the Sydney Kings will host intrastate rivals the Illawarra Hawks at 7:30pm.
Billed as a first for Australian sport, the Kings masterminded and orchestrated the first Christmas night game last season in an attempt to emulate the traditional NBA festive clashes.
The Sydney Kings (star player Xavier Cooks, pictured) were one of the driving forces behind another puzzling NBL scheduling decision: playing a game on Christmas Day last year
That move – which involved Kings ownership group member Andrew Bogut (pictured) – must have been a success, as the league will play two games on December 25 this year.
Former NBA center Andrew Bogut, a member of the Kings’ ownership group, was a driving force behind the concept.
The game attracted over 300,000 television viewers, the most of any NBL game up to that point of the season, and led to a large home crowd rush for the eventual championship-winning Kings.
The Kings were always excited about the prospect of hosting more Christmas games and the league concluded the 2023 editions on Friday morning.
“After the incredible response we had last year, it was important for us to plan a huge Christmas double-header this season,” said league owner Larry Kestelman.
“We were the first professional sport to play a game at Christmas and as our competition continues to grow, we want to continue to break new ground and innovate.”