Message from the CEO

The events of the last few days in the NBA and WNBA once again see racism and inequality at the forefront of the basketball world. Yesterday the NBL announced a working group to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan, which is something as a club we not only support wholeheartedly but view as a great step forward for our league.

Many challenges come with building a club from nothing; finding the right players, creating the right values, staffing a front office, and creating a unique game-day experience to name just a few.

With challenge comes opportunity, an opportunity to set a culture. The importance of building an inclusive culture for players, staff, fans and the wider community, is paramount.

As a club we strive in all areas to do what we say. We endeavour to live our values, and while we can’t change the world alone, we can change the way we move through it and the mark we leave.

While continuing to evolve our community pillars, inclusion and equality remain a high priority in the programs we pursue.

Basketball can be the vehicle, but we still need to drive change. We stand in solidarity with the stance many sporting codes such as the WNBA and NBA are taking in condemning racial inequality and injustice both at home and overseas.

We are at the beginning of an organisation-wide process that will see us engage with staff, and experts in the field that we are confident will be very educational and help to inform action.

Tommy Greer

CEO

South East Melbourne Phoenix

(28/08/2020)