NATIONAL Basketball League of Australia Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger is convinced the league is a good stepping stone for cagers who want to make it to the NBA, one of them Kai Sotto.
“I think we’ve demonstrated now it’s a genuine pathway both for next stars as well as those guys who perhaps went undrafted and then shot off to stardom in the NBA,” Loeliger was quoted as saying on ESPN’s Ball and the Real World.
“I have no qualms about our best players going to the NBA. That’s a fantastic story for us and it demonstrates that we’re the next best thing,” he added.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto was signed by Adelaide last April after a botched try to play for Ignite in the NBA G League.
The league is set to kick off its new season on Nov. 18 but faces a possible delay due to travel issues and vaccination woes in Australia.
Loeliger said the league recognized the potential of China and the Philippines as big markets.
“Those are the second and third biggest basketball economies in the world, they’re really significant signings for us. In terms of measuring, largely you look to earned media and how much coverage you’re getting in those markets,’ Loeliger said.
“Obviously, you’ve got the metrics around social media which give you instantaneous feedback. The popular social media platforms in China are still relatively new to us so we’re still finding our feet there. We’ve got some learning to do if we’re going to make the most of the opportunities.”
