Nuggets up first in NBL draft
In a way it’s appropriate the Otago Nuggets get the first No 1 pick in the Kiwi NBL’s first draft taking place in Auckland today.
Arguably no club has benefited more by the decision to go with this hybrid, largely centrally funded national league concept – officially known as the Sal’s NBL Showdown – more than Dunedin’s Nuggets who return to the big league for the first time since 2014.
Spat out the back of the old league because of organisational and financial issues, the Nuggets had planned to re-enter the NBL in
2021, taking their time to build a solid organisation and roster to honour their return to the top flight of Kiwi hoops.
But then along came the coronavirus pandemic to throw a wrench in the works of the sporting world and suddenly all plans for 2020 were having to be redrawn. When the Saints, Sharks and Hawks all pulled out of the reconstituted league masterminded (June
23-August 1, with all games at
Auckland’s
Trusts Arena) by
NBL General
Manager Justin
Nelson, spots opened up and the Nuggets – along with newcomers the
Auckland
Huskies – leapt at an unexpected opportunity.
They have been rewarded with the very first pick in today’s draft that will stream from
5pm on stuff.co. nz, as well as be beamed live on
Sky Sport 3, which Nelson didn’t mind admitting had ‘‘a bit of romance about it’’.
Nuggets spokesperson
Angela Ruske told Stuff they were rapt to mark their entry into the league with the top draft pick and with it likely that the first three selections could all be ‘‘live’’ (ie, not part of the pre-selection process), head coach Brent Matehaere can be expected to pick up a quality performer.
Among players not pre-selected (freeagents, by another name) are Jordan Ngatai, Tom Vodanovich, Hyrum Harris, Derona Raukawa, Izayah Le’afa, Tai Wynyard, Everard Bartlett and BJ Anthony who have all played for the Tall Blacks.
It’s likely other recent internationals such as Mika Vukona, Jarrod Kenny, Sam Timmins, Jack Salt and Tohi Smith-Milner have been preselected.
‘‘We were hopeful we might get that first pick and we think we will have a chance of putting a very competitive team out there,’’ said Ruske. ‘‘In a funny sort of way we have benefited from the situation caused by Covid-19 and we are planning to make the most of it.’’