Keller
Years ago

The Elephant in the NBL room.

So this Elephant being Larry Kestelman.

In what code and what world are you allowed to own a team in the league you own?

Larry is a snake. He's not making teams pay for overspending due to how much the slimeball has spent on United and is trying to will United to a championship by smashing the soft cap.

I think he's a cancer and an unprofessional twat. He should dip out of owning United and do what is right - people will laugh when they hear the owner owns a team within the league that smells of corruption.

Topic #41956 | Report this topic


Anonymous  
Years ago

How much are United even spending?

Anderson 500K
Ware 300K
Goulding 300K
Prather 300K - 400K
Boone 200K
Moller 70K
Adnam 70K
Majok 100K
Wesley 100K
Hooley 60K
Barlow 90K

Just a guess has to be similar to that though?



Reply #650920 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Short memory of how pathetic this league was just a few seasons ago. He has done wonders for the comp. Hush now child.

Reply #650921 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Doesn't mean he should get away with corruption dumb anon.

Reply #650922 | Report this post


J  
Years ago

How was this not a post about the officiating???

Yes it's not ideal that he owns a team, however neither was what the competition was before he took over, i'll take former. If they win one, i would suspect there may then be more transparency moving forward.

Reply #650924 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Reply #650928 | Report this post


snooch  
Years ago

If Ware, Goulding, Prather and Boone are only on the figures quoted above then huge credit to whoever is doing the recruiting because they are master negotiators.

Reply #650929 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

It's a potential conflict of interest. It's not corruption.

Reply #650931 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Years ago

Andersen is rumoured to be on $500-$600K and Goulding is on $400K. I would think they would be spending close to $2.5M on that roster. Has to be around $1M more than any other team.

I think LK has done a lot of great things for the league but there is a distinct South Dragons whiff about Melb Utd this season and I just hope after he buys that championship and then content with having climbed that mountain doesn't turn around and pull all his money out like the Dragons owners did.

Reply #650932 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

He has no ownership of United. Yet the NBL owns the Bullets.

Reply #650933 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

And the AFL own two clubs and props up over 50% of the league, do BA still hold the licence to the Lightning, FFA own at least one ALeague club...

It's reality, go educate yourself on modern day sport troll.

Reply #650938 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Years ago

Pretty sure the Lightning are now owned by the entity that also owns the Sixers, Adelaide Basketball or whatever it's called.

Reply #650941 | Report this post


Train  
Years ago

This is so disrespectful and ungrateful to LK.

The LK era has brought in major sponsors including HJ's as a naming right sponsor this year.

He has negotiated deals seeing EVERY game live on Foxtel and 3 games on FTA TV.

He has resurrected the Brisbane Bullets, organised NBL x NBA games and single handedly save the NBL from a very near collapse.

A snake?....Cancer and an unprofessional twat? Show a bit of respect and give the guy a break.

Reply #650944 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Look the loony bins sucking the teet of a multimilionaire, pathetic followers.

Reply #650945 | Report this post


AC  
Years ago

The seasonal "LK is a New World Order reptilian on a pursuit to destroy the NBL from the inside-out" thread. Never fails to deliver.

A few geese on here. Maybe the critics like seeing teams comprised of lacklustre talent playing in tin-sheds? The NBL hasn't been this great since the 90's, and still it has a long way to go to get back there.

If you guys want to put your pocket-money together to buy out United and run it how you see fit, then please do so!

Reply #650946 | Report this post


Ben  
Years ago

Saw topic, thought for sure this thread would be about Homicide. Disappointed.

Reply #650947 | Report this post


Dome Rat  
Years ago

The same group that owned the Tigers owns the United licence for the NBL. LK doesn't own United

Reply #650948 | Report this post


Train  
Years ago

It's funny how these threads pop up after someones team gets belted by 20+

Reply #650949 | Report this post


Hespect  
Years ago

AFL own GWS and Gold coast (I think)

NBA took control of the Hornets (pre Pelicans).

Reply #650950 | Report this post


LoveBroker  
Years ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_United

Check who the owners are.

Reply #650951 | Report this post


Wookiee  
Years ago

Someone a bit late to bed and a bit grumpy... school tomorrow, kiddo, off you go...

Reply #650952 | Report this post


Hogwash  
Years ago

Salty form from the OP.
It's only October.... Melbourne spent heaps last year it didn't get them far

Reply #650953 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Whoever started this thread......just wow! Go build up the SEABL and compete! I love where the league is heading, you need to wake up! When it was run by BA or whoever's basketball mate got the job, it was on a huge slide!

Reply #650954 | Report this post


LoveBroker  
Years ago

I agree with very little of what the OP is saying. However there is a valid point, where is the luxury tax and the equalisation payments? I am OK with not having it provided the league says they have scrapped the terrible idea.

Reply #650955 | Report this post


ME (he/kangaroo)  
Years ago

An owner who owns a team in the league, or no league.

I know what my choice is.

Reply #650956 | Report this post


D2  
Years ago

Whatever the corporate structures in place, we know that LK was/is very much involved in ownership of Melbourne. So yes, its a massive conflict of interest.
But what's the alternative?
If you're lucky enough to have a squillionaire willing to splash their cash, they generally want a bit of control.

I don't necessarily buy into the whole "he's done so many wonderful things for the league," but at least we HAVE a league. At a bare mimimum he's injected financial stability into the league itself.

There is now a lack of transparency over the whole salary cap issue, and that's a problem, but it is by no means restricted to MU.

Reply #650957 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

With all the complaining about the salary cap people seem to forget when we had a hard salary cap and premierships were won solely by blatantly spending triple that.

Reply #650960 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

"An owner who owns a team in the league, or no league" Yep no League.

Reply #650962 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Melbourne might be spending over the cap, but Perth won a premiership last season bringing in cotton on 20g a week, and Sydney were well over the cap but just failed. Those three sides are still spending big, it's just that Melbourne has won two games that now the haters are sooking again.
Better the league as it is now than what it was, thank f..k. We'll done LK.

Reply #650964 | Report this post


AngusH  
Years ago

I'm with anon #964. League is great, and we're going on 3 seasons in a row where, if I'm home, odds are I'm watching any game that's broadcast no matter who's playing.

Reply #650965 | Report this post


n/a  
Years ago

you over estimate the actual control over day to day ops that LK and his partner michael slepoy have in running united. LK has taken a back step to the running of united. He is not involed. Yes he is courtside at all the games but he isnt running the team.

Also... you all act like LK is the only person running things in NBL HQ. Dont forget about Jeremly Loeinger and everyone else involved. You act like every move is based for united's advantage. We wouldnt have NBL without LK, so stop moaning and just enjoy the product.

Reply #650966 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

It's a potential/perceived conflict of interest but I have to ask:

Where does the OP think that this has actually come into play?

If he's the owner of United but not the league I still think he'd be putting a lot of money into his team. In fact by being the owner of the league that might encourage him to invest even more.

Reply #650980 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

"I don't necessarily buy into the whole "he's done so many wonderful things for the league," but at least we HAVE a league."

He's taking a "build it and they will come approach". The first steps may seem fundamental and nothing special, but it's not easy. The NBL is developing and improving relationships with TV partners, corporate sponsors and overseas leagues. This is the groundwork that needs to happen before you can really take off.

Don't sneeze at solid TV coverage, improved sponsorship and exposure with Chinese games and now the NBA games. We are headed in the right direction.

Reply #650982 | Report this post


Zodiac  
Years ago

Those three sides are still spending big, it's just that Melbourne has won two games that now the haters are sooking again.


It's probably got more to do with them obliterating the cap last season as the highest spending team in the league and then adding the league MVP runner up this season.

Reply #650985 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Just remember that you're allowed to exceed the cap. Melbourne aren't breaking any rules here.

Reply #650986 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Thread title did not deliver.

Reply #650987 | Report this post


Freethrows  
Years ago

LK's option on thecleague runs out at the end of this year. What happens then? The level of professionalism shown by his team is a lot higher than that of previous concerns, yet still leaves a lot to be desired.

I agree with D2's concerns about lack of transparency, and I'm very concerned about what decisions the League, or any small part of it not owned/run by LK, will make in terms of future ownership and direction of the league. There are serious questions that require answers.

Reply #650988 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

"I'm very concerned about what decisions the League, or any small part of it not owned/run by LK, will make in terms of future ownership and direction of the league. There are serious questions that require answers."

Such as? What are examples of "the direction of the league" that have hinted at troublesome decisions made to favour Melbourne United?

Reply #650993 | Report this post


CT  
Years ago

"With all the complaining about the salary cap people seem to forget when we had a hard salary cap and premierships were won solely by blatantly spending triple that."

AMEN.

Reply #650994 | Report this post


koberulz  
Years ago

LK's option on thecleague runs out at the end of this year. What happens then?
If they want to, the clubs can vote to take back ownership of his share.

They'd be stupid to.

Reply #650995 | Report this post


D2  
Years ago

The promises that were made:
1) Salaries to be independently reviewed.
2) Results to be made public.
3) Overspending clubs to be taxed.
4) Tax collected to be distributed to clubs under the cap.
5) Bench-stacking curtailed by bench-cap.

Has any of that happened??

Reply #650996 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The AFL don't prop up the AFL - their TV money does.

For argument's sake, Kestleman purchased a company (NBL), spruced it up, polished it, and attracted sponsors (not top line sponsors like Nike, Qantas or Toyota but sponsors nonetheless.

Now he can make money on his investment. That's his goal. The real test (as always) will be when he gets bored. His son is heavily involved in the running of the league and no doubt, this will be a dad handing the company over to his son at some point.

Reply #651008 | Report this post


LV  
Years ago

Some people just can't be pleased.

The NBL is going better than it has in 15+ years. On multiple levels - talent, public interest, TV coverage.

But yeah let's whinge about LK. SMH.

Reply #651009 | Report this post


proud  
Years ago

I'd like more clubs in the league for sure, that's my biggest gripe but I think LK has done amazing and if you're an NBA player like a Bogut or Mills or Ingles and you wanted to buy an NBL team then it looks a lot better investment than several years ago.

Also with the adventure into the NBA, we may come to see an owner like Mark Cuban for example buy a team down here and invest in his draft picks playing down here, with the way the league is dealing with sponsors, it's certainly a lot more feasible and say AU$10m is bugger all to Cuban so he could see it as being worth it if his 2nd rounders come back the NBA the next season much more advanced than when they left then that is great for all involved.

Thank you Larry and Jeremy

Reply #651011 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

So if you don't have Foxtel you only see 3 games live. Telstra who gave the coverage away for free last season don't now.
Small clubs getting belted by teams that over spend by shitloads wont survive.
No luxury tax rules being put back. All lies asD2 correctly pointed out above.

Reply #651014 | Report this post


koberulz  
Years ago

So if you don't have Foxtel you only see 3 games live.
That's the highest number of FTA games per week since at least the 90s, except you also have the option of NBL.TV for $5 a month.

Small clubs getting belted by teams that over spend by shitloads wont survive.
Illawarra and Cairns both made the playoffs last year.

The publishing of salaries was discussed in this article.

Reply #651016 | Report this post


Dome Rat  
Years ago

The comments around declaring players salaries seems a bit of a cop out. It's gone from publishing them to only publishing a player's details if it was deemed necessary. my guess is that the players union pushed the privacy issue and had the NBL concede.

Reply #651018 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Players salaries should be private,it's no ones business.

Reply #651021 | Report this post


NBL Lover  
Years ago

Hello

Reply #651023 | Report this post


NBL Lover  
Years ago

Hello,

I think having Larry here for the NBL is one of the greatest things ever.

Him owning United isn't ideal, but without him there would be no Melbourne team.

Having no Larry at all would mean no NBL as we know it. With him it looks that the NBL is much more popular than the A-League.

I don't mind him owning United, and if their was some sort of corruption I am sure United would win the championship over and over and over, but they are yet to win once since he took over. Plus, no matter who is on your team, they still have to perform. A team of champions doesn't compare to a champion team.

Good luck to him and I wish him every success for him personally and for the league.

Reply #651026 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

I don't have a major problem with the public salaries backtracking. If clubs are doing the right thing then I agree it's unnecessary.
The luxury tax / equalisation situation is the one that concerns me.
Last season we were blessed with a very even competition, but unless the promised system is put in place to help maintain that balance things could get ugly in a hurry.

The ownership conflict of interest factor is obviously not ideal either, but I think it's a necessary evil for now.

Reply #651032 | Report this post


ME (he/kangaroo)  
Years ago

"Having no Larry at all would mean no NBL as we know it. With him it looks that the NBL is much more popular than the A-League."

Well TV numbers and attendance says no to that assertion.

Either way I think people just like to complain. The NBL is doing better than it has since the 90s and seems to be getting more sponsors and partnerships and announcing new things every day that benefit the whole league, not just Melbourne United. If you're salty that Melbourne have something of a super team, that's your problem. Games have never been won on paper and Melbourne has never so much as got to a Grand Final series with any of their "super teams".

This whole thing just reeks of an angry Perth fan's drivel tbh. Those same Perth fans weren't complaining when Perth was the only team with cash behind it and when Nick Marvin was throwing his weight around more than needed in the decisions made for the league til that point.

As for LK suddenly leaving, I think you're deluded. The guy hasn't built his portfolio by suddenly leaving projects. There are projects he has seen to fruition that are less of a passion for him than the NBL, and the deal to give back ownership of the league was only if the teams wanted that, and I can guarantee they do not.

Basically, get over yourself. If Melbourne win it all in the end with their super team, it just means the other teams with cash will have to match them next year. And the budget teams have always competed anyway. They will still win games, make play offs. I am sure everything LK does is in the interest of the league. And he has done more for the league in a single day than people like OP have done for it over an entire lifetime.

Reply #651033 | Report this post


Tiger  
Years ago

Anderson 200K
Ware 200K
Goulding 200K
Prather 200K
Boone 170K
Moller 50K
Adnam 50K
Majok 50K
Wesley 70K
Hooley 40K
Barlow 70K
My predictions on what Melb are spending.

Reply #651035 | Report this post


Hogwash  
Years ago

Haha Tiger

Reply #651036 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

LOL!

Reply #651037 | Report this post


Spot Up  
Years ago

Keller, you should be proud that your lack of understanding of professional sport has actually resulted in an interesting discussion about the current state of the NBL.

The NBL is in a great place right now. There is an obvious risk associated with LK's backing, however it's a risk well worth taking and things are on the right track at the moment.

Interesting comparison with the A-League/FFA situation as it stands right now. If FIFA come in and turf out Steven Lowy (son of Frank) as the Chairman, it'll be interesting to see how this impacts on the future funding of that sport in this country. The governance structure for soccer seems more fragile than basketball right now, notwithstanding the popularity..

Reply #651038 | Report this post


jumpshot  
Years ago

Must be a Perth complainer .... because for once in the last 100 years, then may not win the championship.

Reply #651040 | Report this post


Dome Rat  
Years ago

Ware is on 600k plus which is why Randle wanted the same money as they have the same agent.

Reply #651041 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

That's the highest number of FTA games per week since at least the 90s, except you also have the option of NBL.TV for $5 a month

This is the highest number of games on FTA ever, since back in the 90s the FTA deals were for local markets so you would only see a max of two games per round if your local team were playing twice on that weekend. So I'm with you on the fact someone brings it up as a complaint - WOW!

Reply #651044 | Report this post


Mr Black  
Years ago

So does anyone have ACTUAL figures other than "supposedly" this and that? Yeah that what i thought. Armchair experts are best at being keyboard warriors and not much else.

How about we applaud the guy for not only rescuing the league, but turning a total basketcase in to something worth whatching?!

If you have genuine issues wth the guy, they go watch your state or local league, I'm sure they would welcome the support

Reply #651051 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Last season they were all free for Telstra customers idiot. For what ever reason they aren't now supporting the NBL. I am happy to pay my $5pm for all games and hove to try and find when and on what channel the FTA games are on.
Crowd figures are not be seen for some reason.
Expansion needs to happen soon and again with the salary cap effectively open slather now, we will see the 90's revisited again with the weaker clubs being uncompetitive as a result.
The Brisbane experiment will need to work as well this season. That's unlikely too.

Reply #651052 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

What has free Telstra last year got to do with FTA FREE TO AIR? Moron!

Reply #651054 | Report this post


LoveBroker  
Years ago

No one knows and can prove the player salaries unless they are in the front offices.

Talk of Cotton on 20k / week, Ware $600k a season etc are all speculation as there is no substance behind it.

For the record, NBL TV have re-implemented their free accounts. So streaming is free again.

Reply #651062 | Report this post


CT  
Years ago

Or just create 8 separate accounts and login as whichever team is playing on a free account? Then all games on nbl TV are still free...

Reply #651067 | Report this post


Keller  
Years ago

I'm loving the "you know nothing, Jon Snow" rubbish directed toward me.

so quick to jump behind a Millionaire and defend them even if they blatantly change the rules to suit the club they own and the other bigger market clubs. (maybe you enjoy inequality in society? Or love being under the thumb of your "betters"?)

Here is why the ball was placed firmly in LK's court:

Owns the league, decides to change the cap to a soft cap knowing MU and other big market teams would benefit and would be free to spend as much as possible; hoped this would attract large crowd numbers to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - has so far failed in attracting crowd's to Brisbane and Sydney to the point it's embarrassing. Has stated clubs would pay tax for overspending and made it a rule - has since swept this under the rug because his team have spend 1-2 million more than other teams and he's a grubby sleuth who is used of working around the rules to make money.

Reply #651070 | Report this post


LoveBroker  
Years ago

I created 7.

Reply #651071 | Report this post


KingPodge  
Years ago

I miss the days when MVP's were announced at 11:45pm.... Thanks for nothing LK.......

Reply #651077 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Fta means free. Regardless of the medium it's transmitted on.

Reply #651081 | Report this post


Luuuc  
Years ago

The medium for FTA must always be air, and preferably air at normal atmospheric pressure.

Anything else and the shot is affected and the FTM suffers.

Reply #651087 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Wow #651081 just wow.

Reply #651088 | Report this post


leungtl  
Years ago

Anderson 200K
Ware 200K
Goulding 200K
Prather 200K
Boone 170K
Moller 50K
Adnam 50K
Majok 50K
Wesley 70K
Hooley 40K
Barlow 70K
My predictions on what Melb are spending.


So even in your fantasy world, Melbourne are still 200k over the cap?

Reply #651092 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

That's like saying the average person on here is on $20K a year.

Reply #651093 | Report this post


Hogwash  
Years ago

Why speculate on salaries its just embarrassing.

Reply #651094 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Minimum player salary is $45.000.

Reply #651096 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

I bought my mate an elephant for his room.
He said, "thanks".
I said, "don't mention it"

Reply #651116 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

^^^^

Perfection

Reply #651123 | Report this post


AngusH  
Years ago

Melbourne outbid both Brisbane and Sydney for Moller. I imagine he's on a lot more than most folks seem to think.

Reply #651126 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Again, you're allowed within the rules to be over the cap.

There's supposed to be some sort of tax if you do go over - just because they haven't broadcast what these payments have/will be, doesn't mean the rule isn't there anymore. Unless someone has more info?

Reply #651132 | Report this post


ME (he/kangaroo)  
Years ago

"Owns the league, decides to change the cap to a soft cap knowing MU and other big market teams would benefit and would be free to spend as much as possible; "

Yeah, because the league in general hasn't benefited from the talent that money has brought here.


"hoped this would attract large crowd numbers to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - has so far failed in attracting crowd's to Brisbane and Sydney to the point it's embarrassing. "


And Sydney's weird managing style, poor coaching and strange player selections have nothing to do with that I suppose? meanwhile the last few games in Sydney last year were nearing 10K and it's improved exponentially from before new ownership when they average 2-3K.

:
Has stated clubs would pay tax for overspending and made it a rule - has since swept this under the rug because his team have spend 1-2 million more than other teams and he's a grubby sleuth who is used of working around the rules to make money. "

Ah yes, all rich people are devious. Do you have any other evidence of him being a "grubby sleuth" or just your half baked conspiracy theories?

Reply #651135 | Report this post




You need to be a registered user to post from this location. Register here.



Close ads
Serio: Tourism photography and videography
Little Streaks - The fun and interactive good-habits app designed especially for kids.

Advertise on Hoops to a very focused, local and sports-keen audience. Email for rates and options.

Recent Posts



.


An Australian basketball forum covering NBL, WNBL, ABL, Juniors plus NBA, WNBA, NZ, Europe, etc | Forum time is: 9:11 pm, Thu 12 Dec 2024 | Posts: 968,026 | Last 7 days: 754