NBL Owner Larry Kestelman Talks Heartland Success

In a wide-ranging conversation on Fireside Chats, presented by South East Melbourne Phoenix, NBL owner Larry Kestelman reflected on the teams’ first NBL season.

Kestelman spoke of his admiration for the job the Phoenix have done connecting with the passionate basketball fans in South East Melbourne.

“I’m not sure anyone around Australia could deny the fact that (South East Melbourne) is the Heartland of basketball. Just by the sheer number of people who play, the number of courts and the passion people have for the game of basketball in that region of Melbourne is second to nowhere else in Australia,” he said.

(The Heartland have fallen back in love with NBL hoops through the Phoenix)

Kestelman said if you were looking for a location for a new team in Australia, South East Melbourne would be the first choice.

“The opportunity for the club is huge. It has to be about the community and engaging with the fans, which I know Phoenix is doing,” he said.

“I think the future is extremely bright and I know the fans are buying into it. So now it’s about year after year doing the consistent things and getting out into the community to make sure South East Melbourne knows the team love them and I have no doubt they will love them back.”

The league’s owner also spoke about the nerves he felt watching Phoenix run out to take on Melbourne United in their first-ever game.

“You start with the very first game, the Throwdown game, I didn’t know what to expect, I knew (Phoenix Head Coach) Simon from his time as an assistant at United, so I knew the mongrel he has,” Kestelman said.

(Kestelman took over the NBL in 2015)

“I knew it was not going to be an easy game for United but at the same time, I was a little nervous, the first time they come out it could be anything they may win, or they could lose by 30, which would have been a bad result for the league.

“We wanted them to be competitive, so for them to win that first game was just incredible. The way they performed in the first half of the season I think surpassed my expectations, maybe not the teams, but I thought they did amazingly well and then got a little unlucky with some injuries.

“I thought they had an incredible season on and off the court and will no doubt build from that.”

Of the club’s inaugural season, Kestelman spoke of his pride at watching the Phoenix bring basketball back to the Heartland.

“Very proud of what they have done in the first year and the kind of club they are becoming is fantastic,” he said.

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Phoenix Media (24/11/2020)