Earlier this week the Herald Sun reported NBL teams could return to playing pre-season games against NBA teams in North America. With up to a dozen NBA teams reportedly expressing interest.
The matches between the two leagues, referred to as NBLxNBA, began in 2017 and were held annually prior to the COVID pandemic.
The article by Matt Logue stated that NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger confirmed head office has received “unprecedented” levels of interest from NBA franchises.
However Loeliger indicated the league would “In all likleyhood” need to limit the pre-season series to a maximum of four NBL teams to allow for a timely starts to the 2022/23 season
When asked about their potential involvement in NBLxNBA, Tasmania JackJumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse told the Mercury (as reported by NBL.com.au) that he would be keen to have the JackJumpers involved.
“We would certainly welcome the opportunity to put our hand up to play,” Simon Brookhouse said.
In past NBLxNBA matches there has been an effort to schedule matchups for that have a link between the two teams. Such as Ben Simmons’s Philadelphia 76ers played against his hometown Melbourne United in 2018, that same year Adelaide’s Joe Ingles played against the 36ers, and Kiwi Steven Adams and the Grizzlies played against NZ Breakers in 2019.
Although there are no Tasmanian players in the NBA currently, we had a look at some potential match ups for the JackJumpers.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Probably one of the most obvious links between the two franchises is Scott Roth, who has played and coached both teams during their expansion year.
In his final NBA season as a player, Roth joined the Timberwolves, who were an expansion team in 1989. Despite the the Timberwolves going 22-60 that season, Roth was an integral part of a team that was brought NBA basketball to the state of Minnesota.
More than 30 years on, Roth is doing it all again, but this time as a coach. As he was given the reigns on pulling together the JackJumpers, and bringing basketball to Tasmania.
Embed from Getty ImagesCharlotte Hornets
A game that could be sold as the “bug brawl” or the “sting showdown” thanks to their nicknames, both teams are currently the two newest franchises of their respective leagues. The Hornets joined the NBA in 1988 and were an immediate success, leading the NBA in attendances for seven seasons. However, following several poor seasons on court in the late 90’s and dwindling crowds, their ownership moved the team to New Orleans in 2003 (renamed the Pelicans’ in 2013). But didn’t take long for the NBA to return to North Carolina, the Bobcats joined the NBA in 2004 as the 30th franchise. Michael Jordan took over ownership in 2010 and four years later re-named the team back to the Hornets.
A JackJumpers matchup against the hornets would also see Lamelo Ball return to action against NBL competition. Ball never played against the JackJumpers, but did make his NBL debut at the Kingborough Sports Centre at the 2018 Blitz.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut a mascot battle between Hugo the Hornet and Jack the JackJumper would also be pretty entertaining.
Milwaukee Bucks
The current NBA champions proved it was still possible for “small market” NBA teams to have success. Looking at Neilson TV ratings (via sports media watch), the market audience for the Milwaukee area is ranked 26th among NBA markets. This ranking drops to 37th in the United States once the three other major US leagues (NFL, MLB and NHL) are included.
Their 2021 championship and re-signing of 2020 NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay with the bucks until 2025 are seen as a huge wins for small market teams in the NBA.
Then there is the success of their Wisconsin neighbors the Green Bay packers. The most successful American Football team (13 league championships) in history, all from a city of just over one hundred thousand.
Embed from Getty ImagesTasmania can relate. The state is often not considered by the majority of sports leagues in Australia when it comes to creating new teams. Despite being overlooked by the AFL and the A league in recent years, the NBL bucked that trend by establishing the JackJumpers in 2021.
We really like the idea of matchup of small-market teams, they also both wear the green and white uniforms pretty well too.
The views expressed in this story are of the Green Ant Rant and the author, they do not reflect the views of the NBL or the Tasmania JackJumpers.
