Indigenous Round: Pathway Opens for Top Talent

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players will receive greater opportunities in the Hungry Jack’s NBL under its new Indigenous Player Rule.

There are six Indigenous players in the NBL, including Biwali Bayles (Sydney Kings), William Hickey (Melbourne United), William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers), Keanu Pinder (Cairns Taipans), Nate Jawai (Cairns) and Tamuri Wigness (Brisbane Bullets). Taipans assistant coach, Kerry Williams, is also Indigenous.

One of the NBL’s most successful Indigenous players, Patty Mills, is now starring on the NBA stage with the Brooklyn Nets. Mills was one of the flag bearers for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics where he led the Boomers to a historic bronze medal.

The League will encourage clubs to recruit eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players* in a bid to increase representation of Indigenous peoples, retain talent and develop genuine pathways to the elite level.

Ahead of Indigenous Round, the League has announced the Indigenous Player Rule guidelines which include that:

The NBL will fund 50% of the minimum salary for all eligible* Development Players

If an eligible player* is fully contracted in his 1st, 2nd or 3rd year, they will be exempt from the calculation of that club’s aggregate salaries for the purposes of the salary cap

For those same players but in their 4th, 5th or 6th year, a 50% exemption will apply for the purposes of salary cap calculations
In order to qualify for these benefits, the contracting club must have adopted an organisational cultural safety program approved by the League

Sydney’s Biwali Bayles and Melbourne's William Hickey are signed under the rule.

“We endeavour to ensure that our work being done in the Indigenous space leads to meaningful, impactful, stable and tangible benefits for Indigenous basketballers all around the country,” NBL Commissioner, Jeremy Loeliger, said.

“As part of our RAP, we are committed to creating genuine pathways and opportunities for Indigenous players. The Indigenous Player Rule is the first step in that journey, and we have already seen talented youngsters like Biwali Bayles and William Hickey recruited to NBL clubs since putting these measures in place.

“We will continue to explore more ways to help strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander player recruitment, retention and professional development.

“Basketball has been blessed with numerous Indigenous icons and we celebrate them during Indigenous Round, while helping pave the way for the next wave of superstars.”

NBL Indigenous Round will be staged across Rounds 14-15 of the season and will celebrate, recognise and acknowledge Indigenous culture across Australia and New Zealand.

Indigenous Round will tip-off on Friday March 4 when the Adelaide 36ers host the South East Melbourne Phoenix at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Following the success of previous Indigenous Rounds, all clubs will wear uniforms designed by local artists. The jerseys are on sale now from nblstore.com.au.

NBL referees will wear special Indigenous uniforms, designed by Jacqui Dover, the League’s first ever female Indigenous referee.

A unique basketball will be used during Indigenous Round games, incorporating the painting done by artist Chern’ee Sutton during last year’s Indigenous Round.

Click here to view the painting and its meaning.

The Indigenous artwork will be displayed inside the Spalding and NBL logos of the basketball.

All games will commence with either a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country and other integrations and activities. Members of various Indigenous communities from around the country will be invited to games.

“Indigenous Round is an incredibly important occasion,” NBL First Nations and Multicultural Support Liaison, Janelle McQueen, said.

“It is a time to celebrate and recognise the indelible mark Indigenous people have left on the sport, but it is also a time to reflect on our past and identify ways we can be better in the future.

“The NBL is already doing an incredible job at opening new doors for Indigenous athletes but there is still plenty of work to be done in the future, work we are committed to doing.”

To view the NBL’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, click here.

*An eligible Indigenous player is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander who has never been fully contracted by an NBL club, is in the first six years of his professional career and has not played professionally anywhere else.