THE NBL is set to embrace the NBA's move to re-establish roots in Australia, using the world's showcase basketball competiton to promote its own talent and the sport.
Since closing its Melbourne office about 10 years ago, the NBA's Asian operation has focused mainly on China, but is now looking to re-engage the Australian market and will partner with Basketball Australia and the NBL to trigger several initiatives.
The move by the NBA comes as BA tries to establish a greater Asian presence, especially with the basketball boom in China.
If BA and the NBL can join forces with the NBA in any capacity, it would certainly enhance basketball locally.
If an NBA game was staged in Sydney or Melbourne, it would be a massive promotional boost.
"Ultimately, the goal is to get an NBA game here," BA chief executive Larry Sengstock said yesterday. "It's a costly exercise, but ... we want to get players and coaches here.
"We want to promote the NBA because we've got players (Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and David Andersen) in it. Andrew is a potential all-star and is doing very well."
A key plank in that promotion of Bogut, Mills and Andersen is to have them play annually at home with the Boomers, who could yet lead a national team push into Asia, where there are more financial and playing opportunities.
"We are looking at Asia because FIBA may come and tell us we have to move there (from the Oceania region)," Sengstock said. "We would welcome that level of competition. We're going to do more work and play more games in China.
