New NBL team

[chadjaja]

I can't believe it hasn't been posted here yet but the Giants license has been bought out and the new team will play at the Vodafone arena. A bit surprising about the venue and even the Tigers with a good supporter base can't pull crowds there and break even.

Two teams is Melbourne is no big ask as Vic is the captial of ball and always has been but with the talent drain to the US college system and other leagues I can't see this being a blockbuster thing.

No info on a team name etc yet.

 

[MetallicA']

it will be the victoria giants, once again.
nuthin to rave about,
12 teams now, nba has 30 and also 50 states hehe
not trying to compare the standards because its quite pathetic the difference but with fairly new commissioner rick burton i beleive the nbl is goin in the right path, they should try get 16 teams in the leauge and bring back a tassie team, tassie need sumphen, i think its bullshit how they dont have any team in all footy codes and basketball.
last time i checked tassie was a state of australia and they get left out of everything. poor mavs what do you do all day

 

[Trey]

i think they have said they wont call them anything like titans, or giants, or magic or whatever the others were...spectres!

there is still some very talented guys floating around in the ABA, but when old NBL vets like Stephen Whitehead kick ass...its a bit of a worry (or at least he was when I was playing U22 youth league)

No doubt they'll be as competitive as NZ and Newcastle...

I agree, Tassie need a team, if they are going to NZ, then why not Tassie?

And the NT...surely!

 

[chadjaja]

Ahh Stephen Whitehead is one of my good mates from way back! He WAS on the boomers team way back remember when they were decent too.

Yeah the Nunawading Spectres became the South East Melbourne Magic after a merger with Westide Saints. The original Saints were StKida. The Giants were Coburg and were supposed to be called the Coburg Melobourne North Giants and the league vetoed the name and changed it to North Melbourne. EVEN though they weren't from there!

And it goes on and on. The tigers have done ok but have been shipped around various venues.

Hobart could surley support a team again.

What the teams in the big cities need to do is some sort of affiliation with another major sports team. And bring some crossover fans with them.

Soccer has a huge following as it envokes passion from nationalities. Basketball has its from a junior base. Therefore the Tigers are safe as they have a great junior program. Good on you Mr Watson!

Although the Nunnawading program has probably churned out more NBL players than any in the country.

Back years ago the talent stayed here. You worked you way up the rep and state ranks and then played VBA then NBL or CBA or SEABL. Now the decent kids head off to US college or even Europe. Thats the main problem. We are strong in International ball but lack the actual depth staying in the country to support a really strong league. THAT and the NBL has NEVER had a decent promotions team since about 94! The marketing department should all be sent to Iraq
:evil: