brisbane
Years ago
is it just me or is Australia and surrounding areas the only countries not to be able to see touring NBA teams. Nba teams always tour china, europe and others in the pre season so it only seems automatic that soon australia should get the oppurtunity to see the best teams and players in the world. WHOSE WITH ME???
(Mod: Fixed the title for you.)
NBL in Guam
Years ago
Not only that but NBA players rarely come here. I couldn't believe danny granger was in Indonesia before last season.
If nbl has asian aspirations and it is well-known then NBA teams would tour here in a heartbeat.
vanexel31
Years ago
ive always wondered the same, something like this may help generate interest in the newBL. The 2000 US olympic team in Melbourne packed out the stadium.
lockstock
Years ago
I think it's all about exploring options and markets that they can tap into for the NBA top brass. Europe in particular is a realistic expansion option in the future, hence why the NBA Europe tour happens every year. Australia doesn't present thaa opportunity, and also has only 20 million people so it's not really a market I could see Stern and co being all that focussed on.
mystro
Years ago
the NBA players/owners and coaches are scared that the behavior of Australian profesional athletes (league players) will rub off on the young innocent impressionable Americans if they were to tour your shores to play exhibition games lol
Not a big enough market, and too bloody far away.
Isaac
Years ago
Why would they tour Australia? Our market is too small and basketball just doesn't get the attention that it does in China or Europe.
It did nearly happen, or at least it was definitely being negotiated. As early as the beginning of 1997 there were talks to bring two NBA teams to Sydney for 1999 pre-season games.
There was a lot of govt money available for luring big ticket sports events to the new Sydney Olympic facilities for launches/test runs. Soccer had Brazil, then a FIFA All Star side. Various rugby events, and I'm sure equiv. big ticket events in other sports that I pay no attention to. There was even an NFL game between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers!
Don't know the how/why of the NBA games not happening, but it was definitely on the table, and with the govt funding and timing, was sadly probably the best shot we've had and likely will have for some time.
we can't even get control of our own league - much less the NBA
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