Basketball On The Internet.

WHAT a way to start this potentially most exciting of new NBL seasons tonight with Melbourne in Tasmania and taking "home" two of the JackJumpers' championship favourites in Milton Doyle and Fabijan Krslovic ... but in United colours. Hopefully, they will receive a warm welcome before hostilities begin. 

They certainly deserve that.

Of course, after tip-off, all bets are off as Ants fans embrace their new march madness imports Tyger Campbell, Bryce Hamilton and David Johnson. If preseason form is anything to go by - and sadly it often isn't - but this should be the best import trio in the JJ's brief but storied history.

Asia Cup Boomers captain and Paris Olympian Will Magnay is ready to have his most dominant season and starts off running into new United import big Jesse Edwards. That battle alone is worth admission.

But then add United playmaker Tyson Walker, another quality import who looked the goods in preseason.

Finn Delany is back playing under Dean Vickerman and his frontcourt collision with Josh Bannan, already thriving in the Jackies' system, also looms as largely impactful.

There's so much going for this game that it stands out as the likely "match of the round". Who wins? 

Maybe Tasmania has the slightest of edges due to the homecourt advantage.

Maybe.

Meanwhile Melbourne basketball fans craving live action should hasten to John Cain Arena to see Euroleague powerhouses Panathinaikos and Partizan go at it tonight as part of the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament.

Tip-off is 7:30pm.