And people wonder why some people who win large sums of money are broke in the future.

I would donate to my team before donating to the NBL.

Donating to the NBL is giving money to LK directly right?

Having said all that, there are a lot of more deserving charitable entities I would consider before the Adelaide 36ers.

No, I wouldn't.

But it's an interesting question to ask what raising the salary spend per team by $500,000 might do? This year the average spend per team is about $1.7 million (based on average player salary attributed to an NBL spokesman in a Fox Sports article in October 2018). So we'd be looking at an average spend of $2.2 million per team.

Some teams have spent a lot more than others this season. So would an additional $500,000 for a team spending $1.2 million this year have greater impact on their ability to field a better quality team than $500,000 for a team spending $2.2 million this year? Would the overall NBL product quality improve? Or would most of the money go into higher salaries for current players (because teams could bid more to poach/keep talent like Sobey, Grida, Froling, Trimble, etc.)?

PS - I notice OP doesn't propose investing anything to improve the quality of refereeing. Does OP feels it's not worth investing there or that it's not necessary?

If you want to invest in the NBL, you'd surely want to buy a team. And make it profitable as a point of pride

I would buy the Adelaide thirty snitches and then immediately shut the team down for my own amusement.

If you were going to spend a load of money on player payments for just a year it'd be ideal if you ensured the Asian player rule actually meant the NBL had the top 8 Asian players in the world. That'd ensure the league got crazy ratings from overseas and actually build a base so the league could grow.

It's also interesting to note if Peter John is right and the NBL salary cap is $1.7 million it's the same as the Big Bash salary cap.

PeterJohn

$50 million would buy a lot of refs.

You'd be broke really quickly!!

Firstly divorce the wife, so you only have $25Mil - Get a new younger chick or maybe two!!

Back and forth for USA few times a year to sit courtside, forget about the NBA.

Spend the rest of the time investing in actual investments that will return money and perhaps profit none of which include the NBL!

HELL NO.

Look I'm a hardcore long-term NBL fan going back to the golden era and love the league but there are better causes out there if you want to donate a lump sum. Like helping children.

Buying refs. Total waste of money.... what would you get that you can't get talking to a brick wall.

I'd buy Trevor Gleeson a shirt that fits him.

IMO, the suggested allocation of funds would not realistically move the needle and would have virtually no long-term effect. Especially a one-season $500k influx to a club.

I would purchase a second South Australian franchise giving long suffering Adelaide fans an alternative option to the 36ers.

Agreed Isaac. If you want to put money effectively into the NBL, it probably needs to be done complimenting, in assistance to what LK has started.

When I say that, I mean he didn't just put $10-20mil in to cover costs of running the league and ambition, that money provides a security and confidence for others to put their money in.

By way of example: investing in the 36ers would be a good way a good way to provide stability for a core capital city team with a strong sporting fan base. Stable NBL sides with the resources to consistently pay for quality talent like Melbourne, Perth, NZ provide value for themselves and the league generally, it's a positive ripple effect.

I'd imagine chucking in $500k is a good way for it to be lost pretty quickly - putting in $500k-$1mil would be better predicated upon drawing in others to do the same in a consortium, and influencing public expenditure of capital - such as pushing for an upgraded memorial drive to have capacity for Adelaide 36ers.

There are better ways to make/gamble money and there are more deserving charitable causes.

How much would it cost to get 48minute games and being back jump balls ?

I don't understand the hate for OP, maybe his wording isn't correct but the passion is there and a financial consultant will help with any stupid decisions made on a whim

Coke and hookers wwwwaaayyyy before giving anything cough nothing cough to the NBL..