The National Basketball League (NBL) will again be elevated to major sport status in Australia with Melbourne businessman Larry Kestelman, through his LK Group, set to take a controlling stake.

Mr Kestelman is also co-owner and Chairman of NBL team Melbourne United. As a result of his controlling stake in the league, he will step down as Chairman and take on the role of Executive Director of the National Basketball League.

Graeme Wade will remain as independent Chairman of the NBL Board and will focus, along with Mr Kestelman, on forming a new board that will drive broadcast and general revenue for the league.

Mr Kestelman said he remained committed to Melbourne United but will concentrate his efforts on restoring the NBL to commercial success, including establishing an NBL Commission and securing a media rights partner and major sponsor ahead of next season.

"I have a strong team running the club but now my interest in Melbourne United is just going to be as an owner. I will now be dedicated to making the league successful," he said.

“We've seen the popularity of basketball around the world, and it is my vision to bring the sport back to where it belongs in Australia, as one of the leading sporting codes at both a grassroots and professional level.

“It’s going to be my job to reignite the passion behind the NBL and I stand ready for the larger challenge of achieving success for all the clubs.

“In this business of sports entertainment we need to set the league up as a more commercial and professional organisation across the board.”

The LK Group commitment to the NBL will be over $6 million. The funds will drive an ambitious growth program with a focus on the delivery of a compelling entertainment product, fan engagement and national marketing campaigns.

NBL Chairman Graeme Wade welcomed Larry Kestelman’s commitment to the League.

“We are on track to re-capitalise this league so it can run like it needs to be run. The longevity of this competition relies on the stability of clubs, and Larry’s vision is very much in line with this,” Mr Wade said.

“He leads by the numbers and the NBL head office and all clubs will benefit from Larry’s commercial expertise and enthusiasm for the sport. This is set to be a very positive development for basketball in Australia.”

I agree with Happy Days on this, we are yet to see what the major changes will be and how they will make an effect on the league but it is some good news for the NBL, at last.

If what is happening to FIFA right now is anything to go by, I wouldn't be concerned about the NBL in regards to declaring ones interest. Kestleman has well and truly declared it!

Now scrap the damn points system!

Agree^ what is the purpose of a points system when there is a sallary cap anyway?

GREAT NEWS FOR SPORT IN THIS COUNTRY! LETS GET BEHIND IT!

Not sure why this has anything to do with Marvin but Kestleman has clearly declared his self interest in growing the league and of course it will also benefit his own franchise. Nothing wrong with that unless he blocks a second Victorian based team because it might reduce the profit or influence of the United Group. That is the only real concern here!

No reason @KET why the NBL can't create an enforceable sallaray cap system is there? Other leagues do it, don't they?

word is Kestleman will change the name of the league to the "Major League Sports League" (MLSL) to entice fans of other popular US sports

https://twitter.com/NomadCram/status/603699459654987776

Excellent article here:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl-meet-the-man-who-is-going-to-fix-australias-national-basketball-league/story-fni2u9cl-1227372284189

Lets hope now the nbl can become credible.

NBL: Meet the man who is going to fix Australia's National Basketball League

"I think if I see an opportunity or I see something broken, I need to fix it," he says.

That is why the hugely successful property tycoon and businessman’s LK Group has sunk over $6 million for the controlling stake of the National Basketball League.

He wants to lead the NBL out of the abyss and turn it into a viable commercial venture, but there are more sentimental reasons why he is putting his money where his mouth is.

As a passionate basketball person he could no longer sit back and watch the competition he loves continue to deteriorate.

“The state of the league that I am getting it in, I am not sure we can get away from the fact that we have no television deal right now,” he said.

“We’ve also had no major sponsors, so I feel very confident that I can improve on that quite easily.

“It will be one of the smaller businesses that I own right now as it stands, so I don’t feel the pressure to improve it.

“What I feel the pressure of is to actually live up to my own expectations of what I see as the vision of the league in the future.

“And that is to be a world standard league that can be proud of itself.”

Before taking over the NBL, Kestelman first turned his attention to the Melbourne Tigers.

He and his family went from supporters to sponsors and then eventually to owners of the club that is now known as Melbourne United.

It has given him a strong grounding in how to run a sporting organisation.

“We decided to take over and fix it and prove to ourselves that you can actually have a professional basketball club in Melbourne that can hopefully be there forever,” he said.

“We took that challenge on three years ago and the scoreboard reads pretty well.

“When we took over we had very few members and attendances were very poor.

“We finished last season with sold-out crowds of 11.000 people and sold out corporate sponsorship.

“The track record is there and I feel like that is a job that if not done then at least on its way and I have a great team there running the club.”

The first priority will be to secure a broadcasting deal for the league, which Kestelman is confident of achieving for the coming season.

“I think the potential is limitless,” he said.

“Marketing and promoting the sport is important as well, so I’m hoping to do that with the right media partner.

“Last year when we started the season I don’t think there was even a whisper.

“There was nothing in the paper, I don’t think there was one TV commercial or one billboard, so that is something we will definitely rectify.”

Kestelman also believes the business community will get behind the resurgence of the NBL and has urged business leaders to get in touch with him to open discussions.

He will not be a walking piggy bank for the eight clubs, but he will work with them to improve their business practices.

“My focus is not necessarily on the clubs and their financial viability,” he said.

“I’m there if a club needs assistance and that’s without a doubt.

“But I’m here to help them build their businesses and provide services that they otherwise might not have.

“And that includes sharing knowledge and helping them commercialise what they can’t.”

Kestelman’s goal is to stabilise the league, build it and then expand it into key areas such as Brisbane.

He says there have also been approaches from areas such as Wellington, Tasmania and Canberra to consider.

Then he believes it will be time to look to Asia.

“My long-term goal for this is for it to be as viable, as professional as the best leagues in the world,” he said.

“But I also want to capitalise on the opportunity that we have by our geographical location similar to other businesses, be it mining or agriculture.

“Our neighbours are in a position where their financial success and their world recognition is growing.

“We are in a perfect time zone so there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t achieve a much broader participation from those counties.”

Kestelman does not flinch when asked what his long-term vision for the competition is.

“I want to see completely sold out crowds and basketball to be the hottest ticket in town, which I think is very achievable,” he said.

“I want to see grassroots players and kids visualise a pathway and follow our players rather than just look to the NBA.

“The NBL, as it already is and can be, is a wonderful competition from the player’s point of view and the experience that I’ve enjoyed as a corporate sponsor, a father and a participant.

“For me the vision is to set up something that competes from an entertainment point of view on any level.

“When people are watching on television, I want them to feel like they are watching the NBA even if the standard is just one step below.

“I want them to have heroes and villains and kids to visualise playing for the Sydney Kings or Melbourne United or Cairns Taipans.”

NBL doesn't need a 2nd team in Melbourne, it needs stability, crowds, presence in all capitals, and prime time TV broadcast (Friday night and Saturday basketball).

Get all that, and franchise rights will become very valuable. Hopefully a media (tv) company sees the potential return on investment.

The Rivalry between the Tigers and *second melbourne team* has always been among the best in the league and good for all parties. The "old brand" that people either loved or hated against the new young fresh brand. It worked really well. I was as disappointed as anyone when the Dragons folded, even after they'd beaten the Tigers in the finals because that crowd, and the rivalry had become really great.

Problem being now, United has, by the way it has positioned itself, a second team coming in doesnt have that insta rival. Its two new brands that people barely know.

Can you really see a man with his ego doing that?

"I couldn't make the Melbourne Tigers Brand work, so I gave up on it, but I think you should have a chance to do it".

Not a chance.

Be interesting to gaugue the replies on this and see how many are positive and how many are negative. From that you will get a great idea of why our game is o far down the toilet that it will take a huge effort to pull it out.

We can all sit on here and talk a whole heap of shit. This guy has put his money behind it and backed it up. Yes he has the means but that is besides the point, I love this game and if this guy can start leading it back to where it was then I am all for it.

Hopefully our balling community can actually unite and get behind something rather then the usual shit slinging.

Anon^ I don't think there has been that much negative slinging of the manure as you may think! Perhaps it is you that should ease up with the language there pal?

Does this guy care about marketing at all?

If so, the league has a chance.

What would be the point of this if it's to go backwards from FTA to Foxtel?

The NBL now have the money to ensure the league stays on FTA.

The magic fix is his money. Him spending $6m is like me buying a new bbq.

The $s are not significant but require some some homework.

He got the NBL cheap and on his terms. It will take a LOT more than the $6m, but he certainly has it.

This is really good to see. I hope the injection of cash allows teams to continue to block fans of other teams on Twitter, or for them to be allowed to hire more DJ's as assistant coaches. Those are the sorts of things the league needs to see more of.

Brisbane is well and truly dead unfortunately. Since the wise nbl board made that stupid Blitz announcement, no one not even a Bendant wants to back it.
Plus you want to retain the clearly incompetent board members that single handedly after taking over from BA, managed in a very short time to bring the Nbl to its knees.
This is it. Last chance. Go Lk.

How is theNBL board responsible for Wollongong Coal pulling the pin, or Townsville not selling out their tin shed? Its not even the Hawks fault the first thing occurred!

Oh, and it was Fraser Neill who promised the Brisbane team, not the board. But people lapped it up because so many just listen to only what they want to hear.

Nick Marvin was in charge of that but now I guess we will never know.