1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:15,387 Speaker 2: So As mentioned, the National Basketball League have handed the 4 00:00:15,427 --> 00:00:20,067 Speaker 2: Indian Panthers and immediate and indefinite suspension for the rest 5 00:00:20,067 --> 00:00:24,427 Speaker 2: of the twenty twenty five basketball season, and investigation into 6 00:00:24,467 --> 00:00:28,227 Speaker 2: serious allegations is ongoing amid claims of lack of payment 7 00:00:28,707 --> 00:00:32,627 Speaker 2: and poor treatment of players. During the week, a source 8 00:00:32,747 --> 00:00:35,347 Speaker 2: close to the Panthers told News Talks edb that the 9 00:00:35,387 --> 00:00:39,467 Speaker 2: team's overseas players were leaning on food banks because they 10 00:00:39,507 --> 00:00:42,987 Speaker 2: were short of money. The Panthers, though, say all players 11 00:00:43,067 --> 00:00:47,187 Speaker 2: have been paid, while staff and creditors will be fully 12 00:00:47,227 --> 00:00:51,227 Speaker 2: paid by the middle of May. Let's bring in longtime 13 00:00:51,427 --> 00:00:54,707 Speaker 2: basketball coach Jeff Green, who's seen a lot in his 14 00:00:54,747 --> 00:00:56,627 Speaker 2: life and this is just the latest chapter. Jeff, thanks 15 00:00:56,667 --> 00:00:58,427 Speaker 2: for taking the time. Who are to chat to us 16 00:00:58,827 --> 00:01:01,467 Speaker 2: in general terms? First of all, what have you made 17 00:01:01,587 --> 00:01:04,747 Speaker 2: of this whole Indian Panthers situation? 18 00:01:06,427 --> 00:01:10,347 Speaker 3: There was always going to be a disaster right from 19 00:01:10,347 --> 00:01:14,467 Speaker 3: the word go, and you know, to have a team 20 00:01:14,627 --> 00:01:19,107 Speaker 3: coming at a late stage as Indian Panthers did and 21 00:01:19,947 --> 00:01:24,667 Speaker 3: no real ties to New Zealand, et cetera. So it 22 00:01:24,787 --> 00:01:27,507 Speaker 3: was always going to be something that had to be 23 00:01:27,587 --> 00:01:33,707 Speaker 3: really planned well and carried out, et cetera. But obviously 24 00:01:33,747 --> 00:01:38,547 Speaker 3: it was rushed and that's starting to show and the 25 00:01:38,627 --> 00:01:44,787 Speaker 3: people behind the scenes haven't stumped up as they promised, 26 00:01:44,827 --> 00:01:49,107 Speaker 3: and so you know, it's it's it's been an exercise 27 00:01:49,187 --> 00:01:53,787 Speaker 3: that hopefully we never go through again. But to be fair, 28 00:01:56,467 --> 00:02:00,067 Speaker 3: you know, the Panthers had a long term game and 29 00:02:00,107 --> 00:02:04,067 Speaker 3: it wasn't the New Zealand NBL, but but that sort 30 00:02:04,107 --> 00:02:06,587 Speaker 3: of shot their long term plans as well, so they 31 00:02:06,587 --> 00:02:08,187 Speaker 3: don't tidy up there. 32 00:02:08,067 --> 00:02:10,587 Speaker 2: Act what is their long term plan? 33 00:02:12,147 --> 00:02:15,147 Speaker 3: I suspect the long term plan because all their owners 34 00:02:15,867 --> 00:02:22,387 Speaker 3: are based in Australia, so you can assume that they 35 00:02:22,427 --> 00:02:27,507 Speaker 3: were doing similar things to what the Tasmanian Huskies did 36 00:02:27,907 --> 00:02:30,907 Speaker 3: early on a few years ago when they entered the 37 00:02:30,987 --> 00:02:34,987 Speaker 3: New Zealand MBL and then they left and became the 38 00:02:35,027 --> 00:02:38,867 Speaker 3: Tasmania jack Jumpers in the Australian MBL. So I think 39 00:02:38,907 --> 00:02:42,187 Speaker 3: that's what the Pences were sort of perhaps looking at 40 00:02:42,987 --> 00:02:46,147 Speaker 3: longer term to be in the Australian League. But the 41 00:02:46,227 --> 00:02:49,587 Speaker 3: fact that they were getting all their players out of 42 00:02:49,667 --> 00:02:54,147 Speaker 3: India and they had to be exceptions made you know, 43 00:02:54,827 --> 00:02:57,467 Speaker 3: it was just missy and it was too rushed. 44 00:02:59,187 --> 00:03:02,067 Speaker 2: Do you think that the New Zealand basketball community were 45 00:03:02,107 --> 00:03:07,387 Speaker 2: aware of the problems around the franchise from fairly early 46 00:03:07,467 --> 00:03:09,667 Speaker 2: on because they got through what nine games the Panthers. 47 00:03:09,907 --> 00:03:12,547 Speaker 2: Do you think there was an awareness about the issues 48 00:03:12,587 --> 00:03:15,147 Speaker 2: facing the franchise quite early on in the piece? 49 00:03:15,747 --> 00:03:21,027 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, And you know, right from conception and that's 50 00:03:21,107 --> 00:03:27,067 Speaker 3: my point, from conception to actually having something a bit 51 00:03:27,107 --> 00:03:32,947 Speaker 3: more solid, every step along the way was always met 52 00:03:33,027 --> 00:03:37,267 Speaker 3: with a delay of some sort. And you know, it 53 00:03:37,387 --> 00:03:40,947 Speaker 3: was a good example of that was they didn't attend 54 00:03:40,987 --> 00:03:46,467 Speaker 3: pre season, the pre season tournament held in Gray Mountain, Westport, 55 00:03:47,507 --> 00:03:50,867 Speaker 3: so they didn't attend that, and their excuse was, oh, 56 00:03:50,947 --> 00:03:54,587 Speaker 3: we don't have enough, we can't get any visas to 57 00:03:54,587 --> 00:03:56,867 Speaker 3: get into the country. Well, you've known about this for 58 00:03:56,907 --> 00:03:59,547 Speaker 3: a long long time. Then all of a sudden, there's 59 00:03:59,547 --> 00:04:01,867 Speaker 3: no visas for your players to get into the country. 60 00:04:03,067 --> 00:04:06,627 Speaker 3: And that could be a valid excuse, absolutely, but they 61 00:04:06,667 --> 00:04:09,667 Speaker 3: had known about it the problems. 62 00:04:09,747 --> 00:04:09,867 Speaker 1: Then. 63 00:04:10,307 --> 00:04:13,627 Speaker 3: Then there was a national camp held by the Indian 64 00:04:13,707 --> 00:04:16,627 Speaker 3: national team and that's where all players are met to 65 00:04:16,627 --> 00:04:20,787 Speaker 3: be coming from from the national team, So they couldn't 66 00:04:20,907 --> 00:04:25,787 Speaker 3: end for the first three games, so you know, they 67 00:04:25,947 --> 00:04:28,707 Speaker 3: only had a skeleton. So then they asked whether they 68 00:04:28,747 --> 00:04:32,907 Speaker 3: could use some Kiwis for the first three games, and 69 00:04:32,947 --> 00:04:36,107 Speaker 3: so the league said, okay, well let's do that. And 70 00:04:36,147 --> 00:04:41,067 Speaker 3: then then there was more problems with visas and players 71 00:04:41,107 --> 00:04:43,747 Speaker 3: weren't wanting to come out, et cetera, et cetera. So 72 00:04:43,787 --> 00:04:49,227 Speaker 3: it was just everything that I thought would go wrong 73 00:04:49,827 --> 00:04:53,467 Speaker 3: went wrong, and the excuses kept coming and filing up, 74 00:04:53,987 --> 00:04:57,227 Speaker 3: and then all of a sudden, the players out eight 75 00:04:57,307 --> 00:05:00,427 Speaker 3: or nine games decided that enough was enough. And I'm 76 00:05:00,467 --> 00:05:03,547 Speaker 3: talking about the Kiwi players that they had hired on 77 00:05:04,627 --> 00:05:08,147 Speaker 3: and one of the imports, and you know, then some 78 00:05:08,187 --> 00:05:11,627 Speaker 3: of the Indian players that were out here also had problems. 79 00:05:12,107 --> 00:05:18,227 Speaker 3: You know, a depth into the lifestyle and not accommodation 80 00:05:18,507 --> 00:05:22,347 Speaker 3: wasn't up there, and there wasn't they didn't have any 81 00:05:22,427 --> 00:05:26,347 Speaker 3: practice facilities, so you know, it was just a shambles. 82 00:05:26,467 --> 00:05:32,787 Speaker 3: So yeah, you wouldn't expect the news on the end 83 00:05:32,987 --> 00:05:36,107 Speaker 3: be able to do anything other than throw a suspension 84 00:05:36,147 --> 00:05:39,227 Speaker 3: on them for now and see where they they surface. 85 00:05:40,067 --> 00:05:43,587 Speaker 2: I think every sporting organization is keen to innovate, aren't they, Jeff? 86 00:05:43,627 --> 00:05:46,227 Speaker 2: You know, innovation is key if you want to develop 87 00:05:46,267 --> 00:05:49,747 Speaker 2: your sports. So this was an attempt at innovation. Was 88 00:05:49,747 --> 00:05:52,947 Speaker 2: it just a just a poor attempt at innovation? 89 00:05:53,507 --> 00:05:57,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was. It was a lot of well thought 90 00:05:57,547 --> 00:06:02,427 Speaker 3: out plan and well, you know, and the guy responsible 91 00:06:02,467 --> 00:06:08,147 Speaker 3: for it was you know, he's done some innovations within 92 00:06:08,187 --> 00:06:12,427 Speaker 3: the New zeal NBL in the last couple of years. 93 00:06:13,907 --> 00:06:17,067 Speaker 3: But it's all of those sort of innovations. You know, 94 00:06:17,227 --> 00:06:20,267 Speaker 3: some are good, some are bad, some are terrible, and 95 00:06:21,187 --> 00:06:24,267 Speaker 3: you know, but as you say, you've got to try them, 96 00:06:24,747 --> 00:06:27,107 Speaker 3: but you would think that you would try them in 97 00:06:27,187 --> 00:06:33,987 Speaker 3: an area that doesn't actually affect the NBL teams, or 98 00:06:34,027 --> 00:06:38,427 Speaker 3: you know, fully discuss the proposal with everyone concerned. And 99 00:06:38,467 --> 00:06:42,187 Speaker 3: as I understand, these things aren't fully discussed and so 100 00:06:42,267 --> 00:06:46,267 Speaker 3: it's just someone with the innovative ideas and said, well, 101 00:06:46,267 --> 00:06:48,947 Speaker 3: this will be good, let's put this in. So I 102 00:06:48,947 --> 00:06:52,147 Speaker 3: think that's that's where it's wrong. And I think the 103 00:06:52,227 --> 00:06:56,427 Speaker 3: NVBL board has to commission they call themselves, has to 104 00:06:57,907 --> 00:07:00,587 Speaker 3: take responsibility for them because they're the ones that are 105 00:07:00,587 --> 00:07:01,307 Speaker 3: pushing it through. 106 00:07:01,827 --> 00:07:03,987 Speaker 2: Do you feel like there's been a degree of accountability 107 00:07:04,027 --> 00:07:05,027 Speaker 2: around what's happened here? 108 00:07:07,187 --> 00:07:10,947 Speaker 3: No, I don't think I don't think anyone's been accountable 109 00:07:10,987 --> 00:07:16,187 Speaker 3: for it other than I thought part of the general 110 00:07:16,187 --> 00:07:19,867 Speaker 3: manager for the Panthers. I thought he fronted up really well. 111 00:07:20,147 --> 00:07:24,307 Speaker 3: I thought, you know, there was nothing that was untrue 112 00:07:24,347 --> 00:07:28,867 Speaker 3: with what he said, and he admitted some of the mistakes, 113 00:07:28,907 --> 00:07:33,467 Speaker 3: et cetera, et cetera. But I think the underlying factor was, 114 00:07:33,867 --> 00:07:37,587 Speaker 3: you know, what about the authorities, what have they done 115 00:07:38,747 --> 00:07:42,707 Speaker 3: helped the situation, rather than just hey, let's do this 116 00:07:42,827 --> 00:07:46,787 Speaker 3: is a good idea, and those ideas just never work. 117 00:07:47,307 --> 00:07:50,347 Speaker 3: And even though the Huskies were in as part of 118 00:07:50,387 --> 00:07:54,267 Speaker 3: the league a few years ago, it sort of worked. 119 00:07:55,667 --> 00:07:57,987 Speaker 3: But their long term goal was as soon as they 120 00:07:58,067 --> 00:08:00,267 Speaker 3: got a license, they're always going to go into the 121 00:08:00,347 --> 00:08:04,227 Speaker 3: Australian League, and so you know, they went around for 122 00:08:04,267 --> 00:08:08,907 Speaker 3: too long. But it's people just don't plan for these 123 00:08:08,947 --> 00:08:11,427 Speaker 3: things properly, and like you know, to have people come 124 00:08:11,467 --> 00:08:15,347 Speaker 3: from another country, at least Australia is a hot skip 125 00:08:15,347 --> 00:08:19,947 Speaker 3: and the jump away from us, you know, but we 126 00:08:20,027 --> 00:08:23,787 Speaker 3: can't say that about India. That's a long long way away. 127 00:08:25,067 --> 00:08:28,307 Speaker 2: Do you think if this will cause any reputational damage 128 00:08:28,347 --> 00:08:31,947 Speaker 2: to the league for overseas players or coaches who are 129 00:08:31,987 --> 00:08:33,347 Speaker 2: considering coming down here. 130 00:08:34,147 --> 00:08:36,547 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so. It's because, like you know, one 131 00:08:36,587 --> 00:08:40,027 Speaker 3: of the things that we do rely on, Like you know, 132 00:08:40,187 --> 00:08:44,147 Speaker 3: the MBL isn't like the Australian VL's. It's a very 133 00:08:44,227 --> 00:08:48,587 Speaker 3: poor cousin to the Australian MBL. There's not as much money, 134 00:08:48,627 --> 00:08:52,707 Speaker 3: there's not as much sponsorship, et cetera. So, like you know, 135 00:08:53,507 --> 00:08:56,427 Speaker 3: but it is a it is a good destination, particularly 136 00:08:56,467 --> 00:09:00,827 Speaker 3: for impwarts that some that are struggling in their careers 137 00:09:00,867 --> 00:09:05,027 Speaker 3: and they come down here to rejuvenate their careers. Some 138 00:09:05,147 --> 00:09:08,947 Speaker 3: are are injured. I know a few years ago we 139 00:09:09,027 --> 00:09:15,067 Speaker 3: had a player from the NBA that was rehabby and 140 00:09:15,227 --> 00:09:17,587 Speaker 3: so he wanted to come down here and play, and 141 00:09:17,667 --> 00:09:19,827 Speaker 3: so he spent a season down here and he was 142 00:09:21,387 --> 00:09:25,627 Speaker 3: just rehabbed. He wasn't one hundred, but being a player 143 00:09:25,667 --> 00:09:30,947 Speaker 3: of caliber, he was able to play really good basketball, 144 00:09:31,187 --> 00:09:35,147 Speaker 3: but it wasn't up to NBA standard. But yeah, so 145 00:09:35,627 --> 00:09:40,267 Speaker 3: we do have a reputation of blooding some Americans and 146 00:09:40,747 --> 00:09:45,987 Speaker 3: giving imports and opportunity to further their career because and 147 00:09:46,027 --> 00:09:49,947 Speaker 3: it's like that in the coaching ranks Australians that have 148 00:09:49,987 --> 00:09:54,027 Speaker 3: come here to coach is enormous and because it's another 149 00:09:54,147 --> 00:09:59,027 Speaker 3: line on their CV that they can promote. So you know, 150 00:09:59,547 --> 00:10:04,267 Speaker 3: the New Zealand League definitely has a good reputation from overseas, 151 00:10:04,347 --> 00:10:07,827 Speaker 3: but it's it's how we hand that as a league 152 00:10:07,947 --> 00:10:09,107 Speaker 3: is the problem. 153 00:10:09,667 --> 00:10:12,427 Speaker 2: Let's hope that this doesn't do any any major damage 154 00:10:12,547 --> 00:10:14,547 Speaker 2: as far as the league's concerned. Now, I guess with 155 00:10:14,587 --> 00:10:18,587 Speaker 2: the Panthers suspended, it goes to eleven teams. Do you 156 00:10:18,627 --> 00:10:21,267 Speaker 2: think there's a time where there'll be twelve teams again? 157 00:10:21,347 --> 00:10:24,627 Speaker 2: But a twelfth New Zealand team? Is there anybody else 158 00:10:24,627 --> 00:10:25,267 Speaker 2: who can come in? 159 00:10:27,427 --> 00:10:32,827 Speaker 3: There? Probably is, but it's my concern would be the 160 00:10:32,907 --> 00:10:36,667 Speaker 3: current teams. You know, how they're going, like you know, 161 00:10:36,867 --> 00:10:42,467 Speaker 3: and you always hear things around the traps, but not 162 00:10:42,627 --> 00:10:47,307 Speaker 3: everyone is successful and so like you know, there's a 163 00:10:47,307 --> 00:10:50,107 Speaker 3: lot of shoe string budgets out there, and that's not 164 00:10:50,547 --> 00:10:53,667 Speaker 3: the fault of the franchises. They can do as much 165 00:10:53,667 --> 00:10:56,507 Speaker 3: as they can. But like you know, and we already 166 00:10:56,547 --> 00:11:02,467 Speaker 3: know that the Otago owners, the Australian owners have pulled 167 00:11:02,467 --> 00:11:06,267 Speaker 3: out from the end of this year. I don't know 168 00:11:06,387 --> 00:11:09,747 Speaker 3: here the same thing. The Australian owners are thinking of 169 00:11:10,747 --> 00:11:15,627 Speaker 3: plotting plague on their commitment to Taranaki. So you know 170 00:11:15,707 --> 00:11:19,307 Speaker 3: that that's two franchises that everyone knows about that that 171 00:11:19,707 --> 00:11:25,387 Speaker 3: has been signaled. So, you know, can we get those 172 00:11:26,027 --> 00:11:30,187 Speaker 3: franchises up and running and have someone reinvest in them? 173 00:11:30,267 --> 00:11:35,987 Speaker 3: So and Otago has been a great example over the years. 174 00:11:35,587 --> 00:11:39,027 Speaker 3: In some years out the next and that sort of thing. 175 00:11:39,107 --> 00:11:42,867 Speaker 3: So they're in and out. So you know, and all 176 00:11:42,947 --> 00:11:47,187 Speaker 3: franchises struggle, like you know, even the most successful ones. 177 00:11:47,227 --> 00:11:50,907 Speaker 3: It's still it's still a grind. And the Saints is 178 00:11:51,507 --> 00:11:56,307 Speaker 3: one of our premiere franchises, you know, And I've known 179 00:11:56,947 --> 00:11:59,907 Speaker 3: Nick Mills for many many years of my days in 180 00:11:59,947 --> 00:12:04,667 Speaker 3: the Heart Valley, and you know, I know that everyone 181 00:12:04,707 --> 00:12:09,867 Speaker 3: struggles and it's a it's an everyday event. But you know, 182 00:12:10,107 --> 00:12:14,307 Speaker 3: it's not just to the teams that are successful. It's 183 00:12:14,347 --> 00:12:17,027 Speaker 3: also the bottom teams that find it really. 184 00:12:16,827 --> 00:12:20,027 Speaker 2: Hard interesting times, I mean, because the other things, it's 185 00:12:20,027 --> 00:12:22,947 Speaker 2: a good comp and it's introducing young players. You look 186 00:12:22,947 --> 00:12:25,187 Speaker 2: at a guy like Jackson Ball in Hawk's Bay. What 187 00:12:25,307 --> 00:12:27,707 Speaker 2: the kid's only sixteen, seventeen years old. He's getting minutes 188 00:12:28,187 --> 00:12:31,067 Speaker 2: and lighting it up. So it's actually for what it is, 189 00:12:31,107 --> 00:12:32,627 Speaker 2: still a pretty good league, isn't it. 190 00:12:33,307 --> 00:12:36,907 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, without doubt and like, you know, I remember 191 00:12:37,067 --> 00:12:40,907 Speaker 3: when they bought in the Rapid League. You know, I thought, 192 00:12:40,987 --> 00:12:44,107 Speaker 3: oh my gosh, this is one of those innovations that 193 00:12:45,107 --> 00:12:49,827 Speaker 3: I thought it was absolutely crazy and it added extra 194 00:12:51,187 --> 00:12:56,107 Speaker 3: financial weight on the franchises. But the concept has really 195 00:12:56,147 --> 00:12:58,827 Speaker 3: worked out and people like Jackson Ball would never have 196 00:12:58,907 --> 00:13:03,067 Speaker 3: got that opportunity to play in the Big League if 197 00:13:03,107 --> 00:13:07,467 Speaker 3: they didn't play Rapid League first and water talent, and 198 00:13:07,707 --> 00:13:11,347 Speaker 3: exactly right, Hayden Jones is another one from Nelson that 199 00:13:11,707 --> 00:13:15,107 Speaker 3: wouldn't have got those opportunities. But that two kids that 200 00:13:15,347 --> 00:13:20,627 Speaker 3: will be part of the Tour Blecks in years to 201 00:13:20,707 --> 00:13:23,467 Speaker 3: come for a long long time, and they got that 202 00:13:23,507 --> 00:13:25,787 Speaker 3: sort of stance through the Rapid League. So that through 203 00:13:25,827 --> 00:13:29,987 Speaker 3: that innovation, I think that innovation has been great. You know, 204 00:13:30,027 --> 00:13:33,907 Speaker 3: it could be tidied up, but you know, our league 205 00:13:34,147 --> 00:13:36,227 Speaker 3: is a good league for some of our keys in 206 00:13:36,387 --> 00:13:40,027 Speaker 3: like you look at all our Tour Blecks, they've all 207 00:13:40,067 --> 00:13:42,627 Speaker 3: played in the New zeal NBA at some stage in 208 00:13:42,667 --> 00:13:45,707 Speaker 3: their career and they've gone on and someone like Shay 209 00:13:45,747 --> 00:13:49,467 Speaker 3: Eely coming back from Melbourne, you know, he's been such 210 00:13:49,507 --> 00:13:53,227 Speaker 3: a start in the Australian League and you know, one 211 00:13:53,267 --> 00:13:55,707 Speaker 3: of the top point guards, one of the top defensive 212 00:13:55,707 --> 00:13:59,427 Speaker 3: guards in the in the Australian league, and he's now 213 00:13:59,467 --> 00:14:02,987 Speaker 3: back home playing in the Saints. So, like you know, 214 00:14:03,707 --> 00:14:06,227 Speaker 3: that's the sort of thing. So the league is very good. 215 00:14:06,427 --> 00:14:08,187 Speaker 3: The league is very good, without doubt. 216 00:14:08,867 --> 00:14:10,707 Speaker 2: Jeff. Great to get your insight. Thank you so much 217 00:14:10,707 --> 00:14:12,947 Speaker 2: for joining us today. I really appreciate it. And let's 218 00:14:12,987 --> 00:14:15,667 Speaker 2: hope that things go on and upward trajectory from. 219 00:14:15,507 --> 00:14:17,387 Speaker 3: Here not a prob anytime. 220 00:14:17,467 --> 00:14:19,187 Speaker 2: No, thanks for chatting to u, Jeff. Jeff Green. There 221 00:14:20,067 --> 00:14:26,547 Speaker 2: a highly experienced basketball personality in New Zealand around for 222 00:14:26,587 --> 00:14:30,067 Speaker 2: a while. He's seen it all. Some very sensible thoughts there, 223 00:14:30,427 --> 00:14:31,427 Speaker 2: I thought from Jeff Green. 224 00:14:32,027 --> 00:14:35,187 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 225 00:14:35,307 --> 00:14:38,587 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 226 00:14:38,627 --> 00:14:40,187 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.