3 imports is more than enough.

^ Sydney working on it already.

Already have 3 imports with option for next star. I think that's enough

Yeah, this was discussed pre-LK regarding guys like Massingale, but now that there's a third import it would just be excessive.

It's a bit ridiculous if you can manage 5 Americans on a court. Three classic imports is right, and the next stars has been a marketable/reputation success so we can accept 4 but that really is the limit.

Go back to strictly 2 imports. Give Aussies and Kiwis an opportunuty to play. Naar has shown how opportunity to play is key to development

I would like to see 3 imports total, with the third import slot strictly reserved for a next star or budget import to maximise the opportunities for Australian players.

"Budget imports" and next stars are simply taking the place of locals. Sure, the next stars are an "extra" roster spot, but their minutes come at the expense of Australians and Kiwis.

2 Imports is enough.

Issue with taking on locals instead is it reduces the quality of talent in the competition.

Australia is in a lucky position where we have 50-60 really good Australians in the NBL and a few more abroad who could conceivably be brought back to the NBL, this allows the competition to remain predominantly Australian while being one of the best leagues in the NBL talent wise.

Disagree. Australia has quality talent who could contribute at NBL standard if given the opportunity, that's shown each year as new players step up to the level. We've added a new team this year without diminishing the standard.

If that was the case, teams would go local instead of a third import.

Which Australians are there at the moment that are third import standard and would accept third import pay?

"2 imports would be as boring as bat shit."

Yeah, we all know those third imports - guys like Benson, Sigler, Ramone Moore, Taylor and Hobson are the guys keeping the league alive

"Go back to strictly 2 imports. Give Aussies and Kiwis an opportunuty to play. Naar has shown how opportunity to play is key to development"


Is Naar's development really that important? Isn't going to NBA. Isn't going to be a Boomer. I think I'll keep my imports for entertainment value.

"2 imports would be as boring as bat shit.
More NBL teams are needed to give more opportunities to Australians and nz players not less imports."

Yep. Absolutely.

And sorry everyone, if you dropped imports to 2, you'd lose most of the buzz of the league. Look at the top 10 players in the league. 7 will be imports.

Well said Cram and Paul.

There are plenty of talented Aussie kids.

"Look at the top 10 players in the league. 7 will be imports. "

How many are the team's third import?

People forget that there are guys in the same category as Cooks and Magden, playing in Europe, who will come home for the right opportunity.
At the other end you've got guys like Dech, who robably wouldn't have a spot if not for expansion, Then you have guys like Poziglou and Travers, who could be holding an 11th man slot.

"People forget that there are guys in the same category as Cooks and Magden, playing in Europe, who will come home for the right opportunity."

Remember also that those players could be playing here, now, as marquee locals if teams offered them enough money. Every second and subsequent marquee local reduces the number of imports the team can have, though. Given teams are choosing third imports over additional marquee locals, you can take it they're not paying marquee rates for those third imports. So those third imports are just replacing Australian and NZ based locals. Any further imports would just replace more such locals.

Remember also that teams can already have a fourth import, if they're from an Asian/Oceanian country approved by the NBL. That's how Wesley originally entered the league and how Singh got on the Sydney roster a few seasons back. So any increase in import limits would mean six team spots could be filled by overseas players.

The NBL risks becoming simply a poor man's NBA if the local content is further diluted.

The poster who said 2 imports would be "boring as batshit" must not have been around in the 90s.

So what do most teams spend on their imports total?

Between 500k for all 3 if you're someone like the Hawks OR in excess of 2 million of you're someone like Melbourne.

I'd love to see us drop back to 2 imports to open up one more spot on each roster for a local & if teams then spent 2 mil on 2 imports instead of stretching it across 3 spots, wouldn't we get EVEN better imports AND more opportunity for key locals in each team? Maybe also freeing up more dollars to chase other quality Aussies balling in Europe, G League & other places?

Why bother with Aussies at all they can play NBL1

There's a few factors at play here: 1) Standard of talent; 2) Standard of depth; 3) Salary expenditure; 4) Local contingent for that Australian connection to its own league

The third import provides the cheapest way to get a talented player, particularly for guards/forwards. This is clear. If this was not the case, teams would use a local aussie instead of an import.

If you take that away, either you're decreasing overall depth - which is something valuable about the NBL opposed to places like China - or you still have to spend more money to get the Aussie euro players. Increasing expenditure (unsustainably) isn't something we should be wanting clubs to do in the midst of a full-on arms war.

The NBL wants all four of those factors, having that third import means added depth to the league because teams can spend less to achieve that 4th/5th decent player on their roster, the money saved can be used to spend more to attract Australians from overseas.

They have also increased the rosters from 10 to 11 to ensure there are a decent number of Australian spots and opportunities to develop Australians.

This is an area I think the NBL have actually done a really good job in balancing those four important factors.

I preferred the NBL when there were more "boring" Australian players.

"All of those players are better than froling and his brother"

And this is why the Froling's and other young players need more court time.

"And with only 2 imports who's to say teams wont still get a dud import? "

Then sack him and get another. Simple.

"... it means Australians are getting more playing time..."

No. More imports being in the league, by definition, means Australians are getting less court time.

Great idea, for the third import slot, rather than allowing a fourth import

Most third imports are mediocre at best Moore, Singler, Hobson ( worst of the lot) Kidd, Hunt and Benson ( now gone).
You could say go back to two imports but unless you get an influx of high level college, NBA or Euro guys you would have to fill the gaps with state league level players.

"Yeah that's why Phoenix are 2nd last. Good thing there is parity in the League"

I look forward to reading your discussion about how the standard of the league has dropped this season.

Addition of new teams is reason enough to include a third import.

Phoenix came into a great situation where Creek and Madgen were available so they could score their core aussie stars without needing to poach from other teams or wait until contracts finish.

The hope will be when Tasmania enters the extra salary available will help draw some more Australians back into the league. They are more likely to have to poach and pay premium to draw some good core aussie talent.

The only team this year thats really got 3 imports working well is Cairns, but they are cheap elsewhere on the roster with the Aussie Talent.

Even with 3 imports are many of the 3rd strong imports actually that much better than the locals who's minutes they are taking? or Perhaps its young returning college guys who would get more exposure to NBL minutes?

As in depth as I expected.

They aren't bad, it’s just the nature of the NBL where if you don’t put the effort in on game night, if you don’t getting things clicking you will lose no matter who you play.

The NBL is competitive, the talent is there, the parity is always a question to be raised but the fact it hasn’t been so clearly prevalent over the years is due to incredible efforts of Hawks of the past, cairns of today and the Joey Wrights during an extended period

Are 106 and 154 the same clown.