NBL legend Andrew Gaze has called for the league to shut down operations for the 2015-16 season in the wake of both the Townsville Crocodiles and Wollongong Hawks entering voluntary administration.
Seven-time NBL MVP Gaze believes the league should take a break with both cash-strapped clubs a threat to pull out of next year’s competition unless emergency funds are found in the coming weeks.
“Shut it down, re-group, get the right model, because the model is broken,” Gaze told SEN radio.
“Don’t put band aids over it the model is broken, there’s got to be new ideas and a new thought process on how the competition could be run because this is death by a thousand cuts.”
“This is death by a thousand cuts, because it is dwindling away and away to a point where now you’ve got two teams in jeopardy, six teams in the competition and another team (Perth) exploring its options elsewhere.
“It is not good.”
Player agent Michael Oakes disagrees with the Gaze comments and said league would suffer if it were to close its doors for a season.
“I think going ahead with a reduced six team competition is the best option for the NBL,” he told CraveOnline.
“Closing the NBL down as suggested will kill off what corporate sponsors are left with the league,” he added.
Sponsorship may not be the only thing on the line should the NBL fold- the league has established itself as a hotbed for fringe NBA talent in recent seasons with individual clubs building strong relationships with US teams and offering a European or NBA D-League alternative where young talent can be seasoned and develop for a season or two in comfortable conditions.
Youngsters James Ennis (Miami Heat), Jordan McRae (Philadelphia 76ers) and DeAndre Daniels (Toronto Raptors) have enjoyed recent successful stints in the NBL while veterans Josh Childress, Sam Young and Johnny Flynn have also spent time Down Under as marquee signings.
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