Broadcast Legend Predicts Glory-Days Revival

The 1990’s era of basketball may never be topped. Whether it was Michael Jordan in the NBA, Andrew Gaze in the NBL, or the likes of Arvydas Sabonis in Europe, many old enough to remember those heady days will contest that they will never be topped.

Australia was no different to any other league around the world in riding the wave of popularity around the world created by Jordan and his Chicago Bulls to usher in years of massive popularity.

Most highlights of Gaze, Derek Rucker, Brett Maher, Ricky Grace and company are often accompanied by the voice of Stephen Quartermain. The now legendary Australian commentator was the voice of the NBL through, what he describes as, it’s peak.

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He believes the competition is closing in on the heights it reached almost 30 years ago.

“Clearly back in the early-mid 90’s the NBL reached an extraordinary peak. I still don’t think we’re back to there, but [the NBL] is making great inroads to get back to greatness again,” Quartermain said.

“It was with great sadness I watched the demise of the NBL over pretty much a decade … it was quite gut-wrenching.

“Things are definitely going back on the right path. You can just tell, you can just feel the vibe.

“Whether it gets back to that greatness of the early 90’s I don’t know, [but] I suspect it will.

“The administration is fantastic, basketball is a great sport, there’s heaps of talent in the competition and the game is being covered on radio, TV, digital.

“I think the world again is their oyster.”

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With NBL games once again selling out across the country – most notably in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney – the interest in basketball is once again reaching fever-pitch.

Through the introduction of the Next Stars program and a high number of Australians plying their trade in the NBA, the visibility of the NBL on the world stage has never been higher.

Quartermain says the rise in sold-out stadiums reminds him of when it was near impossible to get a ticket to the NBL.

“Wherever we went there were sell-outs, particularly in Melbourne,” he said. “15,000 and you couldn’t get a ticket.

“There was one year in Victoria where basketball became bigger than VFL footy which is what it was at the time and football, I know, was genuinely concerned.

“The game was flying. There were sell-outs at Rod Laver Arena every Friday or Saturday night and it was peak basketball. It was just great.

“The NBL was so chock-full of personalities and great talent, and I think that’s what made it so good at the time.

“The wages were big, the ratings were big, the crowds were big, it was exciting times.”