I see they're still going out of their way to avoid saying all games are live on Fox.

Is anyone asking for Matt and Dwayne Russell to return? Both horrible basketball commentators.

I totally see where Kobe is coming from, but my TV guide says both Foxtel and FTA have this Saturday's game live

Also, wasn't Anstey involved in some rival Australian Basketball League?? CLB ?? odd inclusion ?

Warren Tredrea? They make it sound like he will be a play by play caller?

I think we can all acknowledge that regardless of how competent he was behind a mic that Derek Rucker won't be shown on NBL coverages again which is a shame but understandable.

It looks like none of the girls led by Abby Gelmi (channel 7 cricket) have been resigned, what are people's thoughts on that?
Going back a few seasons ago channel 10 had Melissa Marsh as part of their Perth games coverage (being former captain of the Waves/Lynx and brother of cricketers) and she was very good, any chance of getting her back?

I wonder if the Go/Fox telecasts will be the same product?

Abbey is a queen but the channel 7 paybags are just too big it seems

Pretty sure Tredrea does the Channel 9 SA sport on the news or at least used to I assume Greenwood is probably contracted to 9 as well.

Simon Kerle the value bet here.

So my Bill Lawry prediction hasnt come true....yet.

This will be hit and miss with so many commentators.

Looking fwd to hearing Kerle.

Somebody will need to wake me up when Brad Rosen is commentating. Zzzzz....

Why don't Fox give Josh Garleppp a gig? He's already on their staff and knows basketball. The football guys are average at best. Is Dwayne engaged to CG43 yet? Unconditional love.

Ate you kidding me. Brad Rosen is in the top 2-3 commentators. Understands the game and I love the way he explains it.

Brad Rosen is unbelievable.

Brad Rosen has settled down and lets the game breathe a little more now.

Don't know why people hate on Heal, he is as qualified as anyone to talk national and international hoops plus you can tell has a deep passion for Aussie basketball.

Tall poppy syndrome...

I'm guessing that a lot of the hate for Heal, as with Rucker, is unrelated to his basketball credentials.

I agree with above, Matt McQuade should get a gig here, he's prob the best play by play guy I've heard, doesn't talk shit but says enough to be informative and knows how to go to different levels when its crunch time.

Does everyone else agree Matt should feature?

I agree.

(and FWIW, so does Matty Knight. Twitter Link )

I totally see where Kobe is coming from, but my TV guide says both Foxtel and FTA have this Saturday's game live

Heal is awful. Maybe he's a love/hate guy like he was as a player? Though I did actually like him for the most part as a player, I think he's pretty terrible behind a mic.

What has happened with the fraud stuff linked to Brett Brown?

As far as I know he hasn't been charged with anything.

As with the AFL the hot heated players become good commentators as they call a spade a spade.

We don't have many like him. As others have mentioned I think Simon Kerle may be good to listen too as he doesn't sit on the fence.

Heal was "cleared" of the fraud charges because there was no witness available in court - Brett Brown was busy with a little thing called the NBA playoffs

Dump Corey Williams and I'll forgive the other less-popular appointments. Please... Please?!

Tredrea on tv every nite and radio triple m due to the contract .....
..... greenwood popular here .... all a bit extra for basketball out of it....

My two favourites by a country mile are back. Redhage and Rosen are the best 2 by far. No bull crap, not looking for the BIG call to make there ego better. They just call it and say it From a basketball perspective. Love it

Putting words in my mouth much, Kobe?

No, I'm just not seeing how that one game being live on Fox alters the situation in any way.

Call me biased, but I'd rather have James Harvey in that list. Looking forward to Simon Kerle though remember hearing him on some pod and he was funny.

Have the WNBL commentary been revealed?

WTF .....No Abby Gelmi?

Have the WNBL commentary been revealed?

Whatever Kobe, can't be bothered mate.

I want to see Tragardh calling WNBL again

Yeah disappointing no James Harvey, he added some swagger

Greenwood is great to have for his basketball knowledge and I guess he will speak very well.

But something just sits uncomfortably with having him commentate - not because of his lack of skill or knowledge - but just the way he u-turned on basketball and in particularly the NBL.

I can't put my finger on it - just my opinion but there seems to be this thing to try and use the AFL to bring in people (I could be wrong I don't know the market/how it all works over there). Just seems weird.

For mine Rosen didn't add a heap with his message, even though his presentation definitely improved. I prefer the guys more recently out of the game, their insight is more up to date having been a part of the way the game has evolved recently.

I don't mind Rosen, commentary-wise.

Redhage is the worst...absolute robot

Some interesting inclusions and omissions...
Minus the Russell 'Brothers', (mainly Dwayne "delightful" Russell), add Harvey and Rucker.
Hope Santamaria gets more of a look in, did very well on the NBLxNBA game he interviewed in, upgrade on Greer.

Some interesting inclusions and omissions...
Minus the Russell 'Brothers', (mainly Dwayne "delightful" Russell), add Harvey and Rucker.
Hope Santamaria gets more of a look in, did very well on the NBLxNBA game he interviewed in, upgrade on Greer.

I don't mind Greer. Does a good job - he does have a habit of rambling on though - in that PHX x Breakers game, he was talking for a few minutes straight in game. [talking about the NBL - when obviously they envisage that commentators in that position a brief to allow the in game commentary].

Abbey Gelmis is at Channel 7 doing the cricket, Neroli Meadows is doing the cricket for Fox this summer.

They've put up a pretty big team of commentators - remember the days when it was just Casey and Carf?

MACDUB - In Adelaide sport interest is mostly AFL and most of that is the Crows.
Most are happy Greenwood came to the Crows and interested in what he does.
That's Adelaide .
If the Crows bought the 36ers then I would be on air . It was said onair , here.

Are you ok Camel 31?

I think Greer, Rosen and Santamaria are all very good, particularly Liam. I'd much rather guys like this than Russell and Russell, Heal and Homocide.

Rosen is Zzz and Greer pretty average IMO.

The Russell's get hate it seems mostly because they commentated AFL/NRL before basketball and not the other way around like Grybas, Casey. They aren't bad.


The Reasonable
John Casey - Obviously
Steve Carfino - When he's not anchoring the commentary
Dwayne Russell - He's a fine commentator, haters going to hate
Matt Russell - See above
Anthony Hudson - Quality caller - goes through fluctuations of good enthusiastic calling (see AFL 2005/06) and dull over it calling (see AFL post 2006)
Lacy Reid - Good caller, can cop the Wildcats patriotism
Shane Heal - Don't like him as a person, but he's fine in the role he has and brings star prominence to the media side of the NBL

The Question Marks
Chris Anstey, Oscar Forman, Mark Worthington, Simon Kerle - Never heard commentate
Liam Santamaria - Nice stuff with NBA x NBL, decent in NBL preseasons, lets see how it translates into professional NBL calling
Shawn Redhage - Still a bit green last year, could make a major step in commentating though
Rob Canning - Experienced in Sports Tonight, would be a good TV show anchor for NBL IMO
Warren Tredrea, Hugh Greenwood - Star reputation, lets see how it translates to commentating
Paige Cooper, Seb Costello, Nathan Strempel, Sam Squires, , Alison Ariotti - Never heard of these people, can't comment either way

The Mute Button
Brad Rosen - I don't want to fall asleep
Homicide - Calm Down - Stop saying "listen up kids" or pretending you're making a big call on something obvious "I'm telling you.... Remember I said this!"
Cam Tragardh - Voice isn't for radio/TV, sorry. I like what he's saying, just not how he says it.

Now that the first round is over, what are everyone's opinion of the commentary so far? I'm curious to hear the new commentators like Kerle and Forman again.

Kerle was my biggest disappointment as I was expecting something else -- unfiltered commentary, maybe -- but his flat tone of voice doesn't work well on TV.

I'm guessing that Kerle was the only one they could get in Brisbane. That way there are no travelling costs.
Losing Harvey, whatever reason, was a big gap to fill. A class act.
He fitted in with everyone, sounded great. Still on the Gold Coast, hoping they get him back. Tragardh over Wortho...anyday. MW more desperate for work these days.
Heal is the only guy on a full contract, Fox squeezing every second they can out of it. Game advertising/presentations have been excellent. Me thinks the budget for that area has been raised, but the commentary side probably cut!!

To be fair to Heal even though I don't like him as a person he's a very good commentator, presents well and good for banter without descending to Homicide levels.

Honestly there probably isn't a better representative as a face for the NBL outside of maybe Gaze but with his Kings job and not being known for much in the way of controversial opinions I would even think Heal probably is 'better'.