I would like to see an All SEABL v All NZBL end of season men's and women's game played as a showcase, maybe one year in Oz and the next in Kiwi, alternating at a different venue each year to promote the game to the peeps!

Maybe even add some rivalry to this second tier comp' and sort out some opinions...

A few years ago (maybe circa 2008 - 2014) I would have said the NZNBL is miles stronger.

Some of those teams were unbelievable (some would compete with NBL teams back then) and even the lower teams back then even had 2 good imports, 2 good kiwis and some really good decent young talent.

I think recently a lot of teams have put security over spending; and spending has being pegged back in favour of opting for younger more inexpensive guys.

If you look at the NBL known names in each league it should give you an indication

Just looking at the leading scorers who have played NBL for example

SEABL - Daly, Coenraad, kendle, Wilson, K-Drew, Drmic, Trist, George, Hooley, Muo (4 currently contracted to the NBL)

NZ - Ili, Heuir, Weeks, Delaney, Adnam, Prewster, Bruce, Tait, Pledger, Evans Jr, Bradnt (7 currently contracted to the NBL)

Doesnt seem to be a massive difference at the top end of these guys, however id say NZ NBL bats a bit deaper and the import quality of NZ is often a bit better. Also compare the rosters of the top teams over the past few years, like Wellington Saints v Mount Gambier Pioneers for example.

To me the NZ NBL is better than SEABL from what I've seen.

Yes it does, typo on my part.

As i said not much difference in level of those top end guys, as shown by basically having the same number of guys in the NBL

Surely the top 4 or 5 NZNBL teams would dominate anyone from SEABL?

Not sure about the bottom couple - results suggest the bottom 2 NZ teams are well off the pace.

The key point was made above. There's no superstars in NZNBL. In terms of NBL achievements the best are Vukona, Brandt, Pledger, Ili, Majok. All have played major minutes on NBL championship or playoff teams. And plenty of guys who are, or have recently been fringe NBL players. So if you took the top 15 players in the two comps there might not be too much difference. But the key point is they're concentrated in 5 or 6 NZNBL teams. Where as there's 16 SEABL teams.

Browsing NZNBL stats, some interesting stuff

- Loads of quality bigs. Pledger, Majok, Brandt- 2 have played major roles (started, even?) on NBL championship teams and the other was starter on a minor premier.

- Some well known NBL names really struggling- Reuben Te Rangi averaging 8 points and 2 rebounds after 5 games. Oscar Forman's gone 3-19 from 3 and 3-26 overall so far! He's been scoreless in 3 of his 5 games.

- David Barlow is listed, hasn't played a game, but he's been playing with Sandringham in SEABL. What's the go there?

- Some NBL youngsters going well- Adnam, Ili, Heier (who's unsigned), Delaney all putting up big numbers so hopefully that's a sign of improvement and things to come.

In SEABL Hooley, Moller and Von Hofe playing starring roles on top teams. Melbourne United guys taking that championship confidence into the off season! (Except Barlow whose Sandringham team is languishing near the bottom)

Kilsyth have a good team on paper, and are leading the comp at 7-1 but I couldn't see how they'd get anywhere near the top 4 NZNBL teams.

Just back on the NZNBL VS SEABL thing for a second

Wellington Saints in NZ have....

Shea Ili, Majok Majok, Shaun Bruce, Jordan Ngatai, Leon Henry.

And a 22 year old import named LJ Peak who played for Georgetown and then played Summer League and NBA pre season last year.

And they're 2 wins, 1 loss.

There's other teams with impressive rosters also who have started well - most teams have played 4 or 5 games.

Pretty safe to say those NZ teams would kill Seabl

Totally agree LV

A NZBL vs SEABL all-stars game would be good.. And have rules, no players with NBL experience or league NBL or higher could play in the all-stars game and no imports allowed either, basically just aussies and kiwis...

The OP was asking about which league would be the better option for an NBL player looking to play in the winter, I believe.

It seems obvious that either league is fine, of course there are pro-cons for both, but they are both very good and suitable semi-pro leagues for an NBL player wanting to continue to play.

The money an NBL player may want to play seems to be so randomly available in either SEABL or the NZBL that it would have to be considered on a case-by-case basis and would be too subjective to comment on.

The discussion on which league has better players, teams or competition is a moot one because they are very different leagues in size and the competition in SEABL is much more widely spread.

That said, the main thing is that either appear good options, but I would suggest if the money wasn't great a player from Australia would probably choose to stay here instead of travel, same goes for the other side of the ditch...