NBL’s cultural move
Calls for the introduction of an indigenous round
FORMER Cairns Taipan Timmy Duggan believes if the NBL embraces an Indigenous Round, it would lead to more people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent making it to the professional level.
Since 1979, just 15 indigenous Australians have represented their country, proud Territorian Duggan being one.
Last Sunday, the Illawarra Hawks hosted a celebration of indigenous culture when they played the Sydney Kings at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
That was a step in the right direction, but Duggan wants the whole league to embrace the concept by establishing an Indigenous Round.
And the Razzle men’s coach would be willing to volunteer his time in order for that to happen.
“The AFL does it very well, and we’ve seen it in the past in the NRL with the Indigenous All Stars (v All Stars) game,” Duggan said.
“Yes (the concept is not far off in the NBL). Two of our greatest basketball players in Patty Mills and Andrew Gaze have embraced the concept.”
Duggan said Darwin had some solid pathway systems set up for indigenous basketball players to progress to higher levels.
“We’re seeing a lot of indigenous players in remote areas and schools, but they’re not progressing to the highest level,” he said.
“We’ve only had 15 players in the NBL over the past 40 years and half of them are from far north Queensland.
“That’s because they’ve got an NBL team up there, so they’ve got a pathway and they get to watch elite players often.
“You often see so many kids move away (in an effort to play in the NBL) but they come back home, and you ask why.”
Duggan said naming the NBL Indigenous Round would be a no-brainer.
“I’d love to see it called the Michael Ah Matt Round. He was the first indigenous player to represent Australia, which was at the 1964 Olympics,” he said of the Australian Basketball Hall of Famer, who he is related to, and who grew up in Darwin.
“So it would be fitting if that was to happen.”
The late Top End legend passed away on February 14, 1983. Ah Matt’s son Shane played college basketball for Metro State in Denver.
It would mean a lot to him if the NBL introduced an Indigenous Round from next year.
“My father Michael Ah Matt is the greatest indigenous basketball player in the history of Australian basketball,” Shane said.
“I really can’t remember him but I cherish and appreciate the stories people always tell me.
“As a member of the 2000 Metro State College of Denver national champions, before the game we had a shoot around.
“(LA Lakers legend) Mr James Worthy was commentating our game, and requested to talk to me only, due to the fact he knew of my father.”