This is such big news that I felt it was worthy of more than just a Tweet. It seems the NBA is looking to rebuild its partnership with the NBL, a partnership we haven’t see since the last time Leon Trimmingham threw down a reverse windmill against the Geelong Supercats.
Brooks Meek, the NBA vice-president of basketball operations international, spoke with The Age yesterday:
We are going to sit down with Basketball Australia and work out the common areas. We are looking at expanding and building the grassroots, teaching and training coaches, providing opportunities for an exchange of information, whether it be Australian coaches giving us information or us giving Australian coaches information, providing avenues to broaden the fan base of basketball”
This is some of the best news I’ve heard in a while for the future of Australian basketball. It also makes me very proud and reinforces the whole reason I started doing this blog several years ago. When I approached the NBA requesting a media pass during my trip to the US in 2009 they were surprised (to say the least) when I said I was from Australia. They were extremely cooperative from then on, allowing me to catch a number of games (including a few big playoff games), and also helping JT get to a couple as well.
Last year the NBA’s Digital Media department contacted me about placing some NBA banners and embedded video on our blog, citing the fact that Australia was one of their biggest growing markets based on ILP subscriptions and visits to their website (a fact The Age also mentions in their article). It was clear to me then that the NBA had bigger plans for Australia, so reading the article in The Age this morning left me ecstatic.
The NBA is serious about this. It is in their long term interest to grow the game Downunder. And without trying to sound self-serving, I’m just thrilled that NBAMate has been able to play a part in this over the last five years.
Onwards and upwards from here.
Tags: NBA in Australia, NBL
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Andrew Bogut (GSW)
Patrick Mills (SAS)
Aron Baynes (SAS)
7 Comments until now.
I got to visit the NBA Australia offices when they used to have full-time staff down here, those were the days.
Basketball has always been massive in Australia, i know in victoria basketball is the most played sport by juniors, even more than afl! Its always a pleasure to come on this website and read about the sport i love so much, keep the good work up!
NBA Mate is a fantastic blog site very informative and gives a great account for the down under followers. Its a buzz to read and follow the sport. Great work guys.
I think the reason Australia’s ILP subscriptions are so high is due to the terrible quality of general broadcast coverage Australian TV provides. I don’t have league pass, nor will I, my computer is slow enough as it is, but if I did I’d prefer to watch at least 5-6 decent varied games a week compared to being forced to watch one horrible Bucks game from a provider like “Fox sports wisconsin”.
That is of course if the season ever starts up again.
I think the NBA has been very clever about this. They’ve waited until the NBA is marketable to Australia again. Durant, Rose, Griffin… all very marketable guys who present well and don’t project a “gansta” image that rubs Australian media outlets the wrong way. To be honest this NBA-in-Oz push could’ve happened years ago if not for Carmelo Anthony’s wannabe-hard persona and Kobe’s time in Colarado.
All that’s needed is a few games from Mills, Bogut and maybe a TV commercial where Blake/Rondo/”Aussie” Kyrie Irving talk about ball in Oz, and the TV audience would grow exponentially.
Exciting times ahead!
I am not surprised at all. the competition of Australian basketball is getting better and many Aussies are playing in top competition all over the world.
Im a worker at Allphones Arena, Sydney. We’ve been told that the NBA is planning on havning a game at our venue between 13-14 November 2011. No public announcment yet as nothing is confirmed, although at this point, its likely to go ahead.
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