Dear HKBA members and friends

As you know, from 2022, Basketball NSW is introducing an NBL1 competition and inviting community clubs like ours to join.

This is a really exciting development for us and for basketball in our local area and across the state and the country.  Once established, NBL1 will provide a high level competition which will provide new and improved opportunities for players and teams to compete at an enhanced level of excellence. This can only help to grow and further the game we all love.

The Board and I have spent some time now researching and considering entry into the NBL1 and I’m happy to tell you that we are absolutely committed to taking the Spiders there. We know our potential is great and we intend to realise it. 

Currently, all community sports organisations are under significant pressure due to the restrictions brought about by COVID-19. In so many ways the situation has impacted our bottom lines; in terms of our ability to get players on the courts and of course, in terms of our income stream.

Joining NBL1 means making focussed commitment - including a financial commitment - going forward. There is strong and unanimous support on the Board for Spiders to join NBL1, however, there were also questions about the best timing for us to take this move to ensure our participation is successful and sustainable. The main considerations and deliberations around the Board table were the uncertainties inherent in our ability to do business for the upcoming year while the Government is still settling it’s COVID-19 response and the attendant consequences for getting regular games happening.

Ultimately it was decided that 2022 is not the optimum year for HKBA to enter NBL1 and that we will need to work hard and smart to create the right conditions for us to field men’s and women’s NBL1 teams in 2023 that can be appropriately supported to do us proud. We have advised Basketball NSW that we are committed to joining the NBL1 in 2023.

This staged approach to joining NBL1 will help us to use the intervening year to get focused on continuously improving things inside our organisation and concentrating on helping our players, teams and members to get the most out of basketball and the Spiders.

From now on, I’ll be releasing a regular President’s message “In the Hoop” to keep all members in the loop about where we’re going and how we’re tracking to get there. And I want to hear from you – your questions, your comments and your concerns, as and when they arise. I want members to feel engaged and informed and to have an increased sense of pride and ownership in our Spiders Association.

Best wishes

Lloyd Babb

President 

HKBA