Seven teams to line up for NBL’s June start

The New Zealand national basketball league will tip off in Auckland on June 23 with seven teams, but without the Wellington Saints and Southland Sharks.

The Auckland Huskies, Canterbury Rams, Franklin Bulls, Manawatu Jets, Nelson Giants, Otago Nuggets and Taranaki Mountainairs will play up to three games per week, over six weeks in the 2020 Sal’s NBL. All teams will be based in Auckland, with the venue to be confirmed.

Saints, the defending champions and winners of 19 titles since 1984, and the Sharks, the 2018 winners, had earlier flagged they would not be competing. The Otago Nuggets will join the competition for the first time since 2014.

For the first time in its history, the NBL will also feature a player draft. General manager Justin Nelson said it was a way of spreading the talent.

‘‘We knew it was imperative that we adapted, showed creativity and came up with something new and exciting. We believe, together with our teams and players, we have developed a format that will work well in the current environment.’’

Nelson said a new ‘‘world-first innovation’’ would also be trialled to decide tied games with a unique ‘first-team-to-score-seven-points’ concept instead of the traditional overtime period.

‘‘It’s likely this competition will be one of the few basketball leagues being played in the world at this time, that offers a big opportunity for an extended audience,’’ Nelson said.

‘‘It also presents us with a chance to try something new. We like to think of ourselves as innovators here in New Zealand and the ‘first-to-seven’ concept is a bit outside the square, which we think will be engaging for fans.’’

Tall Blacks coach Pero Cameron has welcomed the return of the NBL.

‘‘I know some of the guys really want this – they want to get back to work. For the Tall Blacks coaching staff, it’s really valuable as we look for that emerging talent putting their hand up for the national squad,’’ he said.

The NBL could be the national coaching staff’s only chance to see players vying for Tall Blacks selection ahead of the next international FIBA window in November.

‘‘There are young talented players who are back from US college who will be out to impress, plus we hope to see a number of current Tall Blacks in action as well. We will be watching with interest,’’ Cameron said.

One of those players is young Kiwi star Jack Salt. The former Virginia Cavaliers centre, who helped lead the college team to a 2019 NCAA Championship title, has inked his intentions to play with the Canterbury Rams.

‘‘I’m excited to get back to playing the game I love,’’ Salt said. ‘‘I’m grateful to be a part of a nation that has been diligent in its response to the virus. Because of that response, Kiwis have the opportunity to get back on court and compete.’’

NBL board chair Iain Potter, said the league’s management and teams have needed to think differently, and work together to create an exciting product for 2020.

The NBL will make further announcements about the competition, including a full schedule, soon.