The NBL is set to become self-regulated as of July 12. Source: News Limited
THE National Basketball League's return to self-governance and "divorce" from Basketball Australia is expected to be formalised on Friday-week but its relaunch may happen sooner.
A planned meeting called by BA chief executive Kristina Keneally on Friday has been postponed following promising talks with Network 10 today.
NBL Pty Ltd, which was incorporated on June 10 to coordinate the new league's affairs under the auspices of four of the eight existing clubs' chief executive officers, has confirmed all the teams will be back for tip-off to the 2013-14 season from October 11.
Keneally today joined NBL Pty Ltd representatives and former V8 Supercars executive chairman Tony Cochrane in discussions with Network 10 about the league's existing television contract.
Ten's agreement to televise matches is with BA and with the NBL set to demerge, clarifying the ongoing coverage has been a key issue.
BA today said Keneally was happy with the progress and the demerger would be completed as planned.
Suggestions the league was in jeopardy and its season might be "scrapped" were premature and inaccurate.
Similarly, a report on Monday confusing former owner Barrier Reef Basketball returning the licence for the Townsville Crocodiles' franchise to BA as signalling the club's "death" was entirely erroneous.
It was a mere formality, the Crocs now "under new management" and today revealing 198cm American swingman Josh Pace would be one of their two new imports.
Pace has been tearing up the New Zealand NBL for years and played under new Townsville coach Shawn Dennis at Hawkes Bay Hawks.
This season he is averaging 26.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists with Nelson Giants.
"I used to tell him, if I ever get a (coaching) job (in the NBL), I'll give you a call," Dennis said, and he stayed true to that promise.
