https://basketnews.com/news-175331-nbl-an-in-depth-look-at-the-mysterious-australian-basketball-league.html

What qualities do you most value in a basketball team?

Second question, prompted by some recent discussion here: do you really really really hate 3 point baskets?

Melbourne United- representing the sporting capital of Australia and potentially the world

The Melbourne Tigers had a long and rich history and were rebranded as Melbourne United in 2014.

Recent successes include titles in 2018 and 2021 under coach Dean Vickerman, with sharp shooting guard Chris Goulding a staple throughout.

Jump on board!

Cat 39 - that's a great overview. Thank you!

Luuuc - I value good youth development, good club culture and an exciting system of play. Read & React, 5 out motion offense, spread pick & roll stacked with 3 point shooters? Sign me up. No problems with the 3 point line.

LV - Chris Goulding was great in Tokyo. I’ll take a look at some games.

I value good youth development

I'd say there are at least 10 players on NBL rosters who have come through the Breakers academy.

You're right, I forgot about the Breakers academy.

No other team in the league does though.

So there we have it - I suggest you support the NZ Breakers OP.

are there any news about some import players contract value? have been curious to find out about that.

My advice would be don't get too attached.

"You're right, I forgot about the Breakers academy. No other team in the league does though."

https://taipansacademy.com/

"You're right, I forgot about the Breakers academy. No other team in the league does though."

https://taipansacademy.com/

Taipans Academy has not been running for a few years now unfortunately.

What have they replaced it with? Forde was talking the other day about the pathway they have for local ballers from youth upwards to NBL.

Hopefully one day there will be a NBL youth league to create a sense of urgency amongst those passive local players in the first team who go through the motions and are far too comfortable because they know there is no one to replace them with during the season.

Essentially as a local there is no possibility of being dropped from the squad no matter how much you stink it up.

It's been a blight on the league and now with LK's resources is possible. Imagine ten hungry DPs per side going at it sourced from a club's respective state league played as curtain raisers.

I like the idea of a youth league. Interested to know who you think the passive local players are?

Youth team could consist of:

The four development players (DPs) in the first team squad. Instead of sitting on the pine and rarely playing they would get a full workout in the lower tier.

Plus four to six DPs representing the best youth sourced from the state league of each respective NBL franchise to reduce the need for relocation costs.

Imagine the hunger and thirst.

You're welcome LK. Now get it done.

I like the idea of a youth league. Interested to know who you think the passive local players are?

I like the rebranding of the state leagues to NBL1 but aside from the name there is still no direct link with the NBL in terms of a pathway for players. It's purely a marketing exercise at this point in time.

A youth league would create a tangible connection between the two as follows:

NBL
NBL Rising Stars (or whatever branding)
NBL1

This way if a player is under a certain age and balls out during a state league season there is a spot available with the local NBL's youth/second team in summer. Perform well there and a call-up to the senior squad is a possibility.

Imagine the great PR generated if a player made it all the way to NBL starter during one winter-summer cycle.

Perthworld, my solution to the problem of locals having guaranteed spots year after year no matter how hard they try is more imports, id go to at least 5, it means less guaranteed spots for locals to just cruise in, this is with the understanding some imports will be cheaper like Walker, some will be studs like Cotton and others will be somewhere in-between.

If you want to have links the to NBL1 you could say import 5 has to have played atleast 20 NBL1 games.

I dont mind the youth league idea, but not sure there is really much talent beneath the NBL to really push guys in the NBL and i dont think Hary Froling dominating at a lower level is going to push him or develop him further, but an import spot who could take his job completely may.

I don't think there is an issue with locals having spots year to year. It's a bloody competitive market in Australia, with lots of guys who can play and not many spots.

Harry Froling is a good example of a cruiser, but he's just blessed that he's 6'11 with skills. Those are hard to come by anywhere.

Walker is a good example for an import, not offering more than some locals could, and that third import Brisbane had last season, absolutely woeful, took the spot of some Australian player.
Look at Kuol from Cairns, never given a look in, gets last spot on list last season and now is a starter. Players are out there, it's the recruiting system in Australia that’s not working. Other lesser Australian players head to Europe, yes some in the lesser leagues but most don’t get a look in in nbl, Naar being a good example, how could Brisbane use a point guard that passes the ball at present, and yes I know they have got this high iq guy, so the commentary tell me. Lol.

Actually, this is a much better suggestion than constant hypothesising about which city should have an NBL team next. A youth/reserves league would be useful to vote to develop young players in a competitive setting as well as potentially provide an opportunity for guys at the end of the bench to be playing some minutes, including those out of form or recently returning from injury. It could be set up as players under the age of under 23 with maybe up to 3 overage players suiting up per game. You can play this is a curtain raiser to the main game.

"What have they replaced it with? Forde was talking the other day about the pathway they have for local ballers from youth upwards to NBL."

I don't know anything about this but would be like to know. Is there a source available for this information?

Without knowledge of how Carns runs things but, being association based, probably all junior, girls and boys in all represenative state-run comps, all the way to NBL1 and NBL.
Check it out on their web site or faceb???

I dont mind the youth league idea, but not sure there is really much talent beneath the NBL to really push guys in the NBL and i dont think Hary Froling dominating at a lower level is going to push him or develop him further, but an import spot who could take his job completely may.

Look at Kuol from Cairns, never given a look in, gets last spot on list last season and now is a starter. Players are out there, it's the recruiting system in Australia that's not working. Other lesser Australian players head to Europe

Actually, this is a much better suggestion than constant hypothesising about which city should have an NBL team next.

A youth/reserves league would be useful to vote to develop young players in a competitive setting as well as potentially provide an opportunity for guys at the end of the bench to be playing some minutes, including those out of form or recently returning from injury. It could be set up as players under the age of under 23 with maybe up to 3 overage players suiting up per game. You can play this is a curtain raiser to the main game.