NBL Indigenous Round Artwork Explained

The NBL has designed a new logo to celebrate Indigenous Round in partnership with Indigenous artist Chern’ee Sutton who was commissioned by the League to paint a new work to mark the occasion. 

The work includes key elements of the NBL's history with key milestones from the League's inception in 1979 integrated.

Below, Sutton describes the piece and how elements have been integrated..

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I&#39;m so honored to have recently been commission by The <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> to create an art piece for their Indigenous round which was launched today at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nissanarena?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nissanarena</a> and will be during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalReconciliationWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalReconciliationWeek</a>. <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#basketball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paintinglaunch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paintinglaunch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indigenousround?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indigenousround</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/commission?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#commission</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reconciliation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#reconciliation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/art?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#art</a> <a href="https://t.co/BbHYC5UTQg">pic.twitter.com/BbHYC5UTQg</a></p>&mdash; Chernee Sutton (@CherneeSutton) <a href="https://twitter.com/CherneeSutton/status/1394563747532853256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


My name is Chern’ee Sutton and I am a contemporary Indigenous artist from the Kalkadoon people. This painting represents the National Basketball League, the teams, the players and the many supporters who make the game so great.

In my painting the large community symbol in the top left corner represents the NBL and the game of basketball, which is painted in their corporate colours. The hoop around it represents the NBL’s Reconciliation Action Plan and how due to their hard work and dedication, they are scoring points towards reconciliation and uniting Australia’s varied and vast basketball communities by acting as leaders in reconciliation and social equality.

The four orange dotted circles within the hoop represent the four pillars of the Reconciliation Action Plan: Respect, Opportunities, Relationships and Governance. The net (travelling lines) which leads down from the hoop, represents the RAP framework cascading down to influence the policies and procedures of each of the Leagues constituent Clubs within Australia. The large yellow, orange and red U symbol above the NBL community Symbol represents Dr John Raschke, the founder of the NBL and the Championship trophy which is named after him.

The coloured community symbols throughout the painting connected by the travelling lines and with the orange dots around the outside, represent each of the NBL’s nine teams and these community symbols are painted in their colours.

The Australia in the top right corner represent the NBL’s Aspirations which is to be a global Identity that is uniquely Australian, with the ambition of telling our Indigenous Stories around the world. The orange circles within the Australia and green U symbols represent where each team is located and some of the many places that the NBL has played; from Darwin to Perth, Tasmania to Cairns and everywhere in between.

The white spirit trails show how they are all connected to one another and lead out of Australia and even overseas, representing places like New Zealand. The blue community symbols and travelling lines which encircle Australia and the world, symbolise the international players from communities around the world including America, Asia and Europe.

The snake and coloured dots represent the rainbow serpent and Aboriginal Culture and history, with the turtle, shells and waterholes representing Torres Strait Islander culture and history, both of which have been connected to our lands for at least the last 65,000 years.

The boomerang in the bottom right corner symbolises the NBL’s first season in 1979. Since then players, teams and supporters continuously return to watch and be a part of this fierce game. The coloured basketballs represent the NBL’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Players and contributors who have proudly represented and inspired Indigenous people from around the nation.

The white and red dotted community symbols surrounded by orange or yellow dots in the background represents the league’s champions. The three large yellow and orange stars represent the NBL’s values of inclusion, diversity and excellence, all of which shine brightly as the League continuously upholds these important values.

The Kangaroo and Emu footprints represent the NBL’s Reconciliation Action Plan Committee, which is helping the League and each individual team to always move forwards and never backwards towards reconciliation, just like the Kangaroo and Emu. The handprints around the outside of the painting represents the community work and support which the NBL gives back to their fans and players and the footprints which travel throughout the painting represents the NBL’s journey, from the past to the present and into the future.