Basketball On The Internet.

THERE is no question 2024 was a big year for basketball, France proving at the Olympics it is now #2 in the world in both men and women behind USA, while at home, Tasmania celebrated the state's second NBL championship and continues to show this season it is a force, even with the "Jack" missing from JackJumpers. 

McVeigh was certainly the story of 2024 - MVP of the Championship Series, won one of the best-of-five Grand Finals with the greatest basket in NBL history, was selected for the Boomers and the Paris Olympics, then actually played at the Games and had a great role in the national team before winning a two-way gig with the NBA's Houston Rockets.

That's a year!

Southside coming back from a game down to win the WNBL best-of-three championship also was a feat and Alanna Smith - All Star Five at the Olympic Games with the bronze medal-winning Opals - then went on to play a key starter's role with Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Championship Series.

She won't soon forget 2024 either.

In the meantime, neither should we, so here is a late Christmas hamper full of things we liked and those we disliked. The DOs should continue and grow in 2025 while the DON'T section sadly won't happen. But in the paraphrased words of Star Trek captain Jean-Luc Picard, at least we can pray someone will "make it so".

DO

Have John Casey calling more NBL matches. When it comes to game calling, he is the best, the doyen, the master. The other night he even threw in a Clint Eastwood quote (from his 'Dirty' Harry Callahan character in Magnum Force) when Case said "man's got to know his limitations". Nearly fell off my chair! Love it. Do have more JC in 2025.

Take note of the New Zealand Breakers' coaching staff. Sharp blue suits, light pink shirt, sports shoes - this is the best-dressed crew in the NBL, making a mockery of the polo-shirted majority. Yeah, I know it's summer and polos are OK. But the Breaker Boys are just on a different level of sartorial splendour.

Have greater appreciation for the basketball being played by Illawarra Hawks and Tasmania JackJumpers. Clearly defined roles, team-first mentality, real defensive intensity, give up the good shot for the great - just great fun to watch and enjoy for basketball fans who like to see the game played as it should be and not as a "three-for-all".

Can referee James Grigoul beat his new record of 16 seconds into a game before having his call reversed after a successful Coach's Challenge? You can do it James.

Let's continue to accurately acknowledge the NBL's rich history and the stars who came before and set records instead of getting all tongue-tied with "modern era" bullcrap. The NBL has played 40 minute games, then 48, then back to 40. The only eras there are 40-minute and 48-minute. Hate having the absolute joy of watching Chris Goulding, James Batemon and Bryce Cotton go on scoring binges, interrupted with idiotic incorrect justifications by commentators ignoring truths. So glad that appears to have changed for the better. Bravo.

Fingers crossed Chris Goulding stays with his old personna now. That's the guy who plays hard-ass NBL basketball and scores at will at every level. When his notorious flopping drew far greater attention than ever before, something appeared to click and CG43 reappeared. That's the guy who went off for 46 against Perth, then had 9-of-14 threes for the Boomers in an Asia Cup qualifier before backing that with a 10-of-16 threes in a 31-point haul against Korea. That guy didn't flop, whine or carry-on. He just showed where his reputation was made. Do hope he stays that version of himself. 

Do have more games with TV commentators in the venue. Andrew Gaze was able to tell us a player came limping out of a collision because he was in Hobart to see it. Had he been in a studio watching a screen (like the rest of us) he wouldn't have seen that off-the-ball situation anymore than we did. Insight is what we crave.

Feel blessed we get the chance to watch every NBL and WNBL game. That's why we can truly appreciate Bryce Cotton's four 40-plus games in succession. Truth is, back when Andrew Gaze or Al Green were doing it, we were lucky if we saw even one of those games, such was the lack of TV coverage.

DON'T

It is about to roll over into 2025. It isn't 1990 anymore. Can our NBL and WNBL finally lose this outdated "Oh my God! There's a drop of blood on the court!" over-reaction. Venue personnel running with their spray bottles and mini towels, frantically hoping no-one contracts a "killer ailment such as HIV" from some airborne blood molecule. I mean, seriously now. It's 2025 (nearly). At least most staff are out of the hazmat suits! FFS, it's a drop of blood. Can we grow up?

Does every referee, and Vaughan Mayberry is the most animated and ludicrous with this, have to carry on waving their arm to indicate a defender should not "break the plane" of the sideline as an opponent prepares to pass the ball in? It has taken over from the charge call as the most over-the-top activity from refs along the sideline. Feel free to cast your mind back and ask yourself, when was the last time you saw a defender incur a tech foul for "breaking the plane" of an inbounder? Now the officials may happily counter and say "that's because we're doing such a fine job reminding them" or, and I'm just saying "or" and playing devil's advocate, could it be that professional players maybe just aren't that effing stupid?

The first time TV caller Joel Peterson said "so-and-so recycles the possession", I must admit I was impressed. It was a new and fresh take on securing an offensive rebound and if it is a JP original, then more power to him. Of course in the last game he called that I watched, he said "recycles the possession" at least three (yawn) times and it is now pretty much a staple of his every call. It is rapidly heading for "Ugh" territory. Come on Joel. Think of another good one.

Can WNBL game callers desist from telling us Player A is having "a great season" when her team is last or second-last and both the player and team is in Struggle Town? We can see what's really happening and eveything doesn't need to have a smiley face and pretty bow planted on it.

Can someone please suggest to Kings coach Brian Goorjian that he closes his mouth instead of having his tongue perennially stuck to his bottom lip as he considers the state of play on the sidelines? Not a great look for the NBL's coaching GOAT.

Can we never again have cameras focus on wannabe celebrity influencers, hone in on a player running down the floor OR go to a replay DURING LIVE ACTION? Lost count of how many steals and big plays we've missed at both WNBL and NBL games due to directors clearly having zero feel for our sport. 

One day, and who knows, maybe it will occur in 2025, can we have some measure of consistency when a player is reported for some indiscretion? But please, can ref boss Scott "Mr Personality" Butler occasionally agree with what we saw with our own eyes instead of feeling the need to bail out an official? Is it time for another TV panel show but featuring Scott and Vaughan?

No. That's a definite "Don't".