NZ NBL gets green light for 2021 imports
GM Justin Nelson confirms he has been granted the critical workers’ exemptions he needed for upcoming season. By
NEW Zealand’s National Basketball League will have its imports back for 2021 after gaining the crucial government tick of approval to include a full slate of overseas-based players.
League General Manager Justin Nelson had been sweating on the critical worker exemptions required under strict Covid-19 regulations for the looming NBL season which tips off on April 24.
But on Friday he received the news he had been waiting on, with exemptions granted for 18 international players and another three coaches to enter and clear their managed isolation ahead of the league’s start.
‘‘First and foremost we’re very grateful,’’ Nelson told Sunday News yesterday. ‘‘We know it’s a very changed world. We’ve put in the hard yards to get to this stage. There are more than 200 employees across the NBL now, collectively it’s a $7.5 million business and it’s growing rapidly
‘‘After the success of [the NBL Showdown in] 2020, we didn’t want to see that growth hampered in any way. More importantly it means a lot to the community, it means a lot to the rising crop of New Zealand basketballers who get the chance to play alongside and learn from these elite athletes and it certainly means a lot based on the work we’ve done over the last couple of years.’’
The final hurdle cleared of a process that started with immigration last December now means imports can apply for visas under the ‘‘critical workers’’ category, having already had spots in MIQ booked.
And, in its 40th year, the league can go ahead with what Nelson is terming ‘‘one of, if not the most exciting crop of players we’ve ever seen’’, including more than 10 players with direct links with NBA programmes.
Already Wellington’s Saints have announced exciting
Marc Hinton.
shooting guard Kerwin Roach and the 2.18m Romaro Gill as their imports, the Rams have signed former Hawks and Brisbane Bullets standout EJ Singler and ex-Sydney Kings import Deshon Taylor for their restricted spots, the Huskies have recruited ‘‘dead-set star’’ Armoni Brooks and the Franklin Bulls have snaffled 38-game Memphis Grizzlies NBA player Josh Selby who once shared coMVP status of the Summer League with Damian Lillard.
And Nelson confirmed Kiwi collegiate star Matt Freeman
would return from his first pro stint in Germany to link with the Bulls.
‘‘It is more critical this year given our top 20 Kiwi players are currently playing overseas in competitions that are running a long way behind time which has seriously impacted on our league. It’s a very unique situation,’’ he said.
The critical workers exemption comes as a major break for the NBL as it ponders the uncertain status of the 19 Kiwis playing in the Australian NBL – many of whom are due to
come back and link with their Kiwi teams at some stage during the season.
‘‘Our rules mean to qualify for the finals players have to be back and on court by mid-June,’’ said Nelson. ‘‘The great unknown is the ANBL which is twisting and turning every week depending on the Covid-19 situation. We’d like to think our top Kiwis will be here for the pointy end, but it’s somewhat of a lottery and an environment we can’t control.’’
The New Zealand NBL is back to 10 teams with Saints, Hawke’s Bay and the Southland Sharks returning from their one-year absence to bypass the Showdown. It tips off on April 24 and will encompass 93 games through to a final four on the weekend of July 22-23 (with Auckland, Napier, Christchurch and Invercargill the chief contenders to host that).
Nelson also said he was close to confirming the women’s NBL for 2021, which would likely take place in a short, sharp format similar to last year’s successful 18IN18. He is hoping it will tip off just after the Olympics wrap up in August.