Tag: Jeremy Loeliger

NBA teams interested in preseason games vs. NBL clubs

Up to a dozen NBA teams have reached out to the NBL about playing pre-season games next season in a testament to the growing respect between the two leagues. NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger confirmed head office has received “unprecedented” levels of interest from NBA franchises. However, Loeliger indicated the league would “in all likelihood” need to limit the pre-season series to a maximum of four NBL teams to allow for a timely start to the 2022/2023 season.

“We are widely regarded as the best …

“We are widely regarded as the best league outside of the NBA itself so it’s little wonder teams want to play against our clubs and tune up for the season proper. “For our teams it’s a great credit to them and their professionalism and competitiveness that this many NBA teams want to engage and have them fly over for pre-season games.” An NBL team has never beaten an NBA rival in the 15 pre-season games thus far, but a few sides have come close.

The National Basketball League (NBL) …

The National Basketball League (NBL) and LaMelo Ball’s camp avoided a potentially awkward and damaging situation over the weekend. After a surprise involvement in the purchase of the Illawarra Hawks, Ball’s manager Jermaine Jackson jumped the gun by declaring everything a done deal. The NBL immediately pushed back, noting a miscommunication as the source of the confusion before committing to continue negotiations with Ball. On Monday, NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger joined SEN’s morning radio show to talk about the situation, his reaction and where the two parties stand now.

“It did catch us by surprise. A few …

“It did catch us by surprise. A few people got a bit ahead of themselves there. But it’s worth pointing out that we have had good discussions with LaMelo and his management as well as Tory Lavalle who is a local businessman in Wollongong and has been a proponent of of putting that consortium together. They are one of a number of parties that we are talking to.”

“We’re committed to ensuring Illawarra …

“We’re committed to ensuring Illawarra remains in the NBL and remains there for a long and fruitful future. We don’t want to see any club go under as a result of the coronavirus. There are a number of parties interested including LaMelo Ball and his management and we’re continuing to have discussions with them. Since LaMelo Ball’s team made those comments, we’d had another two or three expressions of interest from very significant offshore investors as well as another two or three locals who have put their hand up to show interest. These are really well-credentialed individuals and organisations so it’s a very promising sign.”

NBL commish says six to eight bidders competing to buy Illawarra Hawks

After a ‘surprise’ in LaMelo Ball’s camp declaring the purchase of the Hawks a done deal, NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger talked about the status of the sale.

The National Basketball League (NBL) and LaMelo Ball’s camp avoided a potentially awkward and damaging situation over the weekend. After a surprise involvement in the purchase of the Illawarra Hawks, Ball’s manager Jermaine Jackson jumped the gun by declaring everything a done deal.

The NBL immediately pushed back, noting a miscommunication as the source of the confusion before committing to continue negotiations with Ball. On Monday, NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger joined SEN’s morning radio show to talk about the situation, his reaction and where the two parties stand now.

“It did catch us by surprise. A few people got a bit ahead of themselves there.

“But it’s worth pointing out that we have had good discussions with LaMelo and his management as well as Tory Lavalle who is a local businessman in Wollongong and has been a proponent of of putting that consortium together.

“They are one of a number of parties that we are talking to.”

Loeliger would go on to discuss the status of the talks not only with Ball but with other parties as well.

“We’re committed to ensuring Illawarra remains in the NBL and remains there for a long and fruitful future. We don’t want to see any club go under as a result of the coronavirus. There are a number of parties interested including LaMelo Ball and his management and we’re continuing to have discussions with them.”

“Since LaMelo Ball’s team made those comments, we’d had another two or three expressions of interest from very significant offshore investors as well as another two or three locals who have put their hand up to show interest. These are really well-credentialed individuals and organisations so it’s a very promising sign.”

Where Ball and his consortium stand in the talks remain to be seen. Having a local connection in the form of Tory Lavalle will only help their bid for the team. And given what Ball was able to do as a member of the Hawks and the attention he brought to the league, his ownership brings an element that none of the other bidders will have.

But it appears the NBL is set on taking its time and vetting the buyers in this process, meaning Jackson’s declaration will be long in the past by the time this deal is done.

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Loeliger said the NBL regarded it as an …

Loeliger said the NBL regarded it as an “honest mistake” and remains committed to negotiations with Ball’s team. “It was a bit of misunderstanding and a miscommunication and I don’t think there was any malice intended,” Loeliger told AAP. “I don’t think anyone was trying to leverage the situation. “I think it just snowballed and it got a little bit out of control but we’ve all had conversations and there’s certainly no bad blood out there between anyone.”