If their books are in order: definitely.

I doubt FIBA would allow this.

Why would fiba not allow it?

They tend to have a policy of teams not crossing zone boundaries to play in competitions. They also don't like teams paying in cross boundary leagues without first playing in their own national league first.

You might recall Singapore had to be ruled on by FIBA when they played in the NBL.

Back then there was no where else for Singapore to play. FIBA's argument I would think is that a team from NZ can play in the NZ pro league or in the ANBL.

The circumstances have changed since then. The reasonably fledgling Asean league has also won special exemption from FIBA as a full H/A league where the competing teams do not first play in their own national league. From memory the ANBL (breakers) and Asean League are the only league's that are currently allowed to do this.

The Adriatic league might be an exception but I think even then its teams firstly compete in their own national leagues.

Viewership wise, I think there should be no reason NBL would not want to get another NZ team in. And check out the ASEAN teams, average height is not competitive at all compare to Aussie and NZ top teams. Get another NZ team in NBL is a big step forward for Australasia basketball development, inject more competition and patriotic elements. Euro league is good example.

Definitely should look at this before a Brisbane team, and even before a second Melbourne team, IMO.

I think it would also be refreshing to have another organisation that operates outside of the cronyism of Australian basketball.

Gold Coast will fold inevitably, the local community doesn't care about sports, so Wellington should come in to replace them, and then the second Melbourne team soon after that. I think the dust should settle for several years then before adding a Brisbane team.

In ten years time you'd hope the league would look something like:

QLD:
Townsville
Cairns
Brisbane

NSW:
Sydney
Wollongong

VIC:
Melbourne Tigers
Melbourne II

SA:

Adelaide

WA:

Perth

NZ:

Auckland Breakers
Wellington Saints

With plans to add another REGIONAL team.

Mick,

here is the recipe for the NBL to continue to be a poor performer as a TV and sponsor based product:

a) add teams on the basis they can afford it (Newcastle...)
b) add more regional teams
C) add teams from insignificant overseas markets (Wellington)

or for the NBL to give itself a chance at building a strong TV audience and build a suite of national sponsors

a) Add Brisbane
b) Add Melbourne II
C) Buttress Melbourne I
D) Downscale by 1 regional team in Queensland

Wellington may make a strong moral case, but is not a population/commercial centre like Auckland is, and it will not add to the TV product in Australia.

It is not about cronyism, whether than is rife or not, its about building in core markets.

Anon, thats great for NZ, but no value for ANBL. TV coverage is not the answer in itself, TV in the right markets generating the right viewership is much closer to the answer.

It is unlikely those games would be picked up here. Its a struggle to get the breakers picked up.

For TV to work in Australia for the NBL, then a main city Australian team needs to be featured every week. Having four of them (melb 1/melb 2/Bris and Syd) is far more valuable to the league.

I've explained in other threads that there is no value say to iinet in having coverage in NZ. There is no value to centrebet.

iinet would take a lot more notice and be more likely to continue/up their involvement if there are teams in Brisbane and Melbourne than in Wellington.

The league is not yet a big brand sponsors opportunity. Inking a deal with an organisation that truly spanned both NZ and Aus sponsorship budgets would very very difficult.

Agree with Ho, you need to be in the big markets to make money from sponsors/tv rights.

10 years from now id like to see the NBL as this:

Cairns
Townsville
Brisbane (a better option than gc)
Sydney
Wollongong
Melbourne
2nd Melb team
Breakers
Adelaide
Perth

10 is a good number of teams. NQ love their basketball and get good fan support, keep both. Blaze a little unlucky but reality is the city has no soul and have never sold out a game.

Have a 36 game season, each team plays everyone else 4 times, twice home twice away. Creates a strong product for sponsors/tv.

If the league wants to expand, next off the rank should be a West Sydney or 2nd WA team.

How would ASEAN league compare to NBL/NZNBL?

Higher level than NZNBL?

Nick Mills awarded Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

"Nick Mills, who established the Wellington Saints basketball team and has been owner and chief executive since 1982."

Since 1982? Impressive.

Little bit of stability there