2019-20 NBL Season + Off-season news

[Gozu]

The NBL have announced due to the coronavirus that the remainder of the Grand Final series will be closed to the public from tonight's Game 2 onwards and that if any players or officials test positive to the coronavirus the rest of the series will be suspended.

[Spargo]

Someone please punch Lachy Reid, hard.

[Gozu]

Someone please punch Lachy Reid, hard.

He used to be unbearable when he did full commentary on games over there.

[Gozu]

The Kings level the series and send it back to Sydney in an empty arena on Sunday.

Game 2

Sydney 97 (Tate 20, Bogut 19, Lisch 19) def Perth 83 (Cotton 27, Kay 17, Steindl 12)

Series level 1-1

[Gozu]

Perth take a decisive 2-1 lead in the GF heading back home for Game 4 on Friday night. Amazingly the away teams are 0-3 in the series.

Game 3

Perth 111 (Cotton 31, Kay 30, Plumlee 13, Steindl 13, White 10) def Sydney 96 (Tate 20, Newley 19, Lisch 16, Ware 11)

Wildcats lead the series 2-1

[Gozu]

The NBL have announced the remaining games of the GF series have been cancelled and a decision on outcome of the championship will be made in the next 48 hours.

[Jim05]

Have heard the Kings have pulled out

[Gozu]

Have heard the Kings have pulled out

Sounds that way.

Game four was scheduled to be played on Friday at RAC Arena. Sydney Kings management have indicated today that they did not wish to proceed with the remainder of the series given the global uncertainty and effects around COVID-19.

NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman said: “We respect the decision in what are extraordinary times for everyone. We are understanding of not just the players’ health and well being but also their desire to be with their families, especially given so many of them have family overseas.

“Having consulted with the Australian Basketball Players’ Association we have decided the remaining games shall not be played. With Perth leading the best of five game series 2-1, we will now consider a decision on the outcome of the championship over the next 48 hours.

https://nbl.com.au/news/remaining-nbl-g ... -cancelled

Surely they have to give the title to Perth then it would be a travesty if they didn't.

[Spargo]

Wonder if Sydney would have made the call if they were 2-1 up in the series...

[Gozu]

It's official the NBL have awarded the Perth Wildcats the championship and named Bryce Cotton the Finals MVP.

https://nbl.com.au/news/perth-wildcats- ... -champions

Well done they got both things right.

[Gozu]

The ownership of the Illawarra Hawks has collapsed with three parties currently in talks to take over ownership of the team and the NBL have said they will prop the club up financially until a resolution is found, staff at the club have reportedly been stood down.

Unfortunately the article is behind a paywall:

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/sto ... collapses/

Also due to the coronavirus pandemic the NBL have delayed the start of free-agency which was to begin today until the 1st May.

[DOC]

The NBL is on stand-by to take over the licence of foundation club the Illawarra Hawks following the reported collapse of Simon Stratford's ownership of the club.

Stratford formerly held a minority share of the club but took full ownership in February 2018 after telecommunications entrepreneur James Spenceley sold his 51 per cent stake.

Stratford's ownership has been on shaky ground since the end of the 2018-19 season when it emerged players and staff had not been paid their full entitlements - chiefly superannuation.

Staff at the club have reportedly been stood down.

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger announced Tuesday they were committed to the club remaining in the competition.

"The NBL is working closely with key stakeholders to ensure the ongoing viability of foundation club, the Illawarra Hawks," Loeliger said via a statement.

"We are in ongoing discussions with the owners of the Hawks and the Australian Basketball Players' Association (ABPA) and working together with them in what are challenging times for all sport and business right now.

"We are committed to the club remaining in the NBL and the league will step in and operate the licence should a resolution not be found in the short term.

"However, as is the case with many clubs across different sports, staff may be stood down as we work through this period."

[Jim05]

Potential No. 1 NBA draft pick LaMelo Ball and his manager, Jermaine Jackson, have purchased his Australian NBL team, the Illawarra Hawks, Jackson told ESPN on Thursday.

[Gozu]

The NBL would like to clarify the current situation regarding LaMelo Ball and the Illawarra Hawks.

The league can confirm LaMelo Ball and his management had discussions about being involved with the club while he was playing in the NBL last season.

At this point we are continuing to work with current licence holder Simon Stratford on a number of options for what we hope will be a fruitful outcome for Illawarra and the NBL.

The NBL has final approval on any transfer of licence and no application has been made to date. The NBL has no further comment at this stage.

https://nbl.com.au/news/illawarra-hawks-statement

[Gozu]

The 36ers have announced they've released co-captain Kevin White.

https://nbl.com.au/news/36ers-release-kevin-white

[beef]

The 36ers have announced they've released co-captain Kevin White.

https://nbl.com.au/news/36ers-release-kevin-white

Thats a surprise
Any word on new coach? Heard Adam Caporn turned them down (think hes a boomers assistant)

[Gozu]

The 36ers have announced they've released co-captain Kevin White.

https://nbl.com.au/news/36ers-release-kevin-white

Thats a surprise
Any word on new coach? Heard Adam Caporn turned them down (think hes a boomers assistant)

That is the talk that Caporn got the job but then they reduced their offer to him so he declined.

One name popping up a bit at the moment is ex-Breakers/Slingers coach Frank Arsego who is from Adelaide.

[Gozu]

Looks like the 36ers new coach is going to be Conner Henry who previously spent five years in Australia first as an assistant at the Perth Wildcats then took over as head coach there for the 2008-09 season and spent a season as an assistant at Sydney Kings. In 2015-16 he was as an assistant coach for the NBA's Orlando Magic and he also played a coupled of years in the NBA too.

He's back in the US at the moment and the Sixers are looking at contingency plans if he's unable to arrive soon with the team possibly being coached by a local in the interim until his arrival. The official announcement is expected to be Wednesday next week.

https://www.espn.com.au/nbl/story/_/id/ ... enry-coach

What I remember of him he was a very fiery loud mouthed coach not too dissimilar to Joey Wright but more defensive orientated than offensive.

[Gozu]

Big pay cuts coming for NBL players in season 2020-21 due to coronavirus.

Each teams' delegates voted on Thursday, sources said, with 15 of the 18 representatives voting in the affirmative, meaning the new measures are expected to go ahead. Contracted players were informed of the agreement after the vote.

The terms of the negotiation will see players hit by salary cuts for the 2020-21 season, sources said, with all parties agreeing to a tiered system of reductions. The minimum salary of $60,000 will remain, and those earning between $60,000 and $79,000 won't be affected by the cuts.

Those earning over $200,000 hit with a 50 percent pay cut, sources said.

All players will have an opportunity, in the two weeks leading up to free agency, to opt out of their current contracts, sources said, with each player's NBL rights to be retained by their respective club. The start to NBL free agency was pushed back to May 1, but there's potential for it to be postponed again.

With the current international travel restrictions in place, several high-profile Australians who would generally play abroad are considering playing in the NBL in the interim, sources said. Conversely, high-level players in the NBL - those who would receive the largest salary cuts - are discussing options that would see them opt out of their current contracts and play in Europe.

https://www.espn.com.au/nbl/story/_/id/ ... 50-percent

Rosters to be scaled back from 11 players to 10 with only two imports per team as well.

[Brodlach]

The Adelaide 36ers are excited to announce the appointment of Conner Henry as its new Head Coach for the next three years.

Conner Henry’s appointment was the culmination of a comprehensive local and international search by the club.

He joins the 36ers after previous positions including Assistant Coach of Orlando Magic and Head coach of the NBA D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants where he won a Championship and was awarded Coach of the Year.

Conner Henry had a standout career as a player, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before an NBA career which saw him drafted to the Houston Rockets before securing contracts with the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. His time at the Boston Celtics allowed him the chance to learn from some of the greats including Kevin McHale, Larry Bird and Dennis Johnson.

Adelaide 36ers Chairman and Owner, Grant Kelley said the appointment of Conner as the Club’s Head Coach was due to his outstanding career and growth as an accomplished basketball figure which has seen him successfully play in the NBA and then transition into coaching NBL, NBA and a Championship in the NBA D-League.

“Conner’s passion, dedication, positivity and drive to succeed has made him the perfect fit for where we are wanting to drive the club,” Kelley said.

Conner Henry said he is looking forward to being back in Australia after previously coaching at the Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings, “I am thrilled to be at the Adelaide 36ers and the opportunity to be at a club with a proud history of accomplishment, fantastic players and coaches and the passionate fans which drew me to the club,” Henry continued.

“There is a talented group of core players to build on and I am looking forward to creating a positive work environment. My philosophy is around positivity and I am excited to come to Adelaide and get started,” Henry said.

Adelaide 36ers General Manager of Basketball Jeff Van Groningen who along with Grant Kelley was instrumental in the recruitment said, “The club is in a compelling position with a new Head Coach and a core team that we will be building on in coming months – we can’t wait to get started and show our members and fans a great 2020-21 season.”

Conner Henry is taking on a fresh new Adelaide 36ers team for the 2020-21 season that has recruited young Aussie gun point guard Josh Giddey as a Next Stars player, while retaining the clubs reigning MVP Daniel Johnson, 2019-20 Co-Captain Brendan Teys, Jack McVeigh, Daniel Dillon, Obiri Kyei and local South Aussie Alex Mudronja, who has been elevated from the 36ers development squad.