I know this is going to get shot down as some of the numbers may not be 100% but
if the question is about should NBL players be playing in the league, then there is probably a bigger question around the future direction of the league and restricted player rules however in not too distant memory elite NBL Aussie players playing include to name a few:
West has had: DJ, Jeff Dowdell, Jason Cadee
Eastern has had: Adam Gibson, Ben Madgen, Brad Hill, Aaron Bruce
Sturt has had: DJ
Southern: Creek, Drimic
South: DJ, Creek
etc.
if the question is around not providing room for juniors, then looking out Rd 18 box scores a quick guess (I don't know everyone so assume each team is off by 1 or 2) at the number of juniors (u18 or earlier) in the 12 for each team:
Eastern - 5
Woodville - 7
North - 5
Central - 7
South - 4
F/Ville - 7
Sturt - 10?
Norwood - 4
West - 6
Southern - 5
If the question is how many games should you need to qualify for finals, then comparison to other leagues:
SA Premier League 40% of minor round games, player needs to get on court or play ressies that week
SEABL 30% (from memory I couldn't find the by-laws) just needs to be suited up ready to play
Big V 40% just needs to be suited up ready to play
Waratah 40% just needs to be suited up ready to play
WA SBL 33% just needs to be suited up ready to play
minor point but there clearly is no criteria in place for the South American competition DJ went to as my understanding is he went there to just play in a relegation finals series?
if the issue is around should he have played less than a minute in specific games this was in attempt to avoid having to go down the medical exemption path and has happened numerous times in the past with a variety of clubs. Nobody has ever kicked up a fuss when this has previously happened, similar scenarios happen when clubs try to have guys play ressies but not start them but sub them in at the first chance. I can't be bothered to go down the path of going through individual webcasts play by plays to provide examples of when this has happened as it was accepted practice but most teams.
If the issue is around granting the medical exemption, only BSA know the reason but I seem to recall him having reported back issues towards the end of the NBL finals so it would not be unreasonable to need medical time off. No different to west's player who was also granted a medical exemption playing in an unrelated competition. the only questions I could foresee where it shouldn't have been granted is if he wasn't yet a registered player (which given he suited games early when he was injured would indicate this not to be the case) or he wasn't genuinely injured (which was clearly the case but feel free to ask the sixers physio/doctor)
