NBL All-Star Game Set for Historic Return?

The NBL, as a product, is reaching levels that have never been seen before. So much so, that there are previously inconceivable – yet justified – arguments that the current standing of the competition has surpassed that of the golden 1990s.

That’s why incoming NBL CEO Dave Stevenson believes the return of the NBL All-Star Game is “definitely in the future”.

The most recent NBL All-Star game was held over a decade ago, when Chris Goulding lead Team South to a 134-114 victory over Team North.

Goulding started on the bench in a team that included modern NBL legends Cedric Jackson, Tom Abercrombie, Shawn Redhage, and Daniel Johnson, while the North team possessed the likes of Ben Madgen, Oscar Forman and Cam Tragardh.

Melbourne’s Bennie Lewis took out the slam dunk contest, and Adelaide’s Stephen Weigh won the three-point shootout.

“I think the All-Star game is one of the highlights of the NBA calendar,” Stevenson told Jack Heverin. “It creates great energy and momentum, and clearly the players love it.

“It’s a nice exclamation point as you head towards the playoffs.

“I think what’s happened in the NBL is there have been a few different iterations of it – some have worked, some probably haven’t worked as well.

“I think it’s definitely in the future, we just have to make sure we execute it to the level fans expect.”

While Stevenson’s desire to expand different aspects of the competition is both intriguing and exciting, he says if the NBL is going to return to the concept of an All-Star Game, it has to be done correctly.

“It has to be an experience the players want to be a part of, and the clubs want to support,” he continued.

“And, most importantly, the fans want to support – be it in venue or watching on broadcast.

“We’ve still got a little bit of work to do on that concept.”