Steph Curry puts his support behind the NBL

It just so happened that the NBA champion and best shooter in the world was promoting his new Sony Pictures animation “Goat” and the chemistry felt perfect.

Sony PR reached out to the NBL’s marketing guru Jack “Chazz” Gray who penned a few quick lines and couldn’t believe his luck when they delivered a video with Curry from way down town telling everyone to watch the NBL action.

And Crosscourt understands, there’s more Curry to come with promos for HoopsFest in Perth and the Christmas night games also in the works.

HE’S A VISIONARY

NBL boss Larry Kestelman wants to take a round to America and has reached out to NRL supremo Peter V’landys in a bid to make his bold move a reality.

V’landys has helped rugby league turn its opening round extravaganza in Las Vegas into a resounding success and Kestelman is keen to emulate a similar concept in hoops.

The NBL has a foothold in America via countless former players in the NBA – headed by ex-Next Star Josh Giddey at the Chicago Bulls.

Australian basketball is also highly respected by the basketball community in the US.

Kestelman sees a valuable opportunity to expand the NBL’s already booming brand in America.

It’s why he has spoken to V’landys about how basketball can “follow in the footsteps” of the NRL and break into the US market.

“I’ve met Peter and I have a huge amount of respect for him because I think what he is doing with the NRL is fantastic,” Kestelman said.

“I think he is a visionary and he is someone that, ‘gets shit done’.

“So, I’ve definitely had a chat with him and I’d love to see that (games in America) model evolve in basketball.

“This is a bit of a dream but I’d love to play NBL games in the US.

“I’d actually like to take all the clubs to the US for a round. Why not even take our pre-season Blitz and go to the US.

“We’d have to pick our moments and what we do, but I’d like to see pre-season or regular season games in America.”

The NRL has played opening round games in America for just two years, but it is already paying off with rising broadcast numbers.

his season’s second instalment of the Las Vegas venture saw viewership in the US increase by more than 600 per cent on the 2024 season opener.

This year’s Raiders versus Warriors match attracted an average US audience of 371,000.

In comparison, last year’s Sea Eagles versus Rabbitohs match drew an audience of 61,000 in the United States.

Kestelman is confident the NBL can also attract significant American eyeballs, although he declared any games would be played before the NBA season.

“Because there is no point competing with them,” he said.

“We have visions of continuing to expose our game globally and I see games in America as a great chance to grow the NBL.”

EURO EXCITEMENT TAKES OFF

Basketball history is set to be made on Thursday night in Melbourne, with a capacity crowd at John Cain Arena for the opening game of the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament.

EuroLeague powerhouses Panathinaikos and KK Partizan will put on a show in front of a sold out crowd of over 10,000 fans.

“To have a true split between Panathinaikos and Partizan supporters is something we’ve never seen before on Australian soil in basketball,” NBL Director Nikola Milivojevic said.

“It sets the perfect stage for the Sydney games on Sunday where fans can expect the same intensity and spectacle.”

The demand for tickets underlines the excitement and global significance of this historic occasion, with the tournament being held outside Europe for the first time.

Both club presidents from Panathinaikos and Partizan are thrilled to be a part of such a historic partnership with the NBL.

Ostoja Mijailović, President of KK Partizan, is delighted with the crowds.

“We cannot understate how massive it is for two European clubs to attract more than 10,000 fans in Melbourne. It proves once again how basketball brings people together, and how important our club is to millions of supporters around the world. We will give the crowd a great show tonight, and we can’t wait to do it again on Sunday when we play in Sydney.”

Fans can turn their attention to Sydney and Qudos Bank Arena, where two blockbuster games will take place with Panathinaikos and Partizan lining up against the NBL’s best in the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers.

KIWIS WOULD LOVE AFL — NEW UNITED STAR

As Tasmania’s hopes for a footy team continue to get tied up in bureaucracy, could the AFL’s future lay across the ditch?

Kiwi forward Finn Delany has taken to life in Melbourne like a duck to water, the new United man quickly becoming enamoured in Australian rules culture.

And, while he’s still looking for an AFL bandwagon to jump on, Delany reckons the code has a place in New Zealand, one day.

“People obviously love their footy here and their basketball too,” Delany said.

“I think it’s a really great, creative sport that New Zealand would love.

“We should try and get more in New Zealand.”

So could we see a Karmichael Hunt-style code switch a la the early days of the Gold Coast Suns?

Perhaps not.

“I don’t know if I’d be the first player (for a NZ AFL team),” Delany laughed.

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“I might be their first No.1 fan, though.”

While Delany is focusing on United’s Sunday home opener with his former club, New Zealand, he’s had one eye on the AFL prelims.

He reckons it’s going to be a Collingwood-Geelong grand final because “they’ve both hit form at the right time” — classic.