Basketball On The Internet.

AN independent NBL, divorced of what was a marriage of convenience to BA which has run its course, has the potential to reach heights not seen since those halcyon 90s.

That's not my opinion - it's the view of a group of high-profile businessmen ready to take over the running of the league and the eight NBL clubs who wished it to be so.

If you haven't caught up with the latest, hit up the NewsLtd online sites or check these out before proceeding.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/more-sport/national-basketball-league-breaks-away-from-basketball-australia/story-fnduixme-1226633540797

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/more-sport/breaking-away-should-give-nbl-a-chance-to-get-things-right-on-and-off-the-court/story-fnduixme-1226633540889

If men such as Scott Stavretis, a prominent Melbourne businessman with no basketball background or, previously, much interest, are willing to step from the shadows where negotiations have been going on for a few months, you know they can see the league's commercial potential.

Otherwise, why bother?

Unquestionably the NBL needed BA to take over running the nation's elite men's basketball program when the merger occurred in 2008.

Years of financial irresponsibility in pursuit of the Dr John Raschke Trophy and mismanagement which had seen clubs disappearing and further destabilising the gains of the 90s, meant BA had to act or risk losing its No.1 professional competition.

But times change, resources run out and after a while, the people parting with the $$$ want to regain control over their investment.

"The decision to enter into de-merger talks was directly a result of the White Paper," BA chief executive officer Kristina Keneally said.

Accepting the NBL could not remain sustainable in its current form, the White Paper on future directions for the league offered several scenarios.

The NBL breaking away and determining its own future was an option.

"The clubs identified it as their preferred choice," Keneally said.

"In many ways you have to respect the people who financially support the league. They said: 'We want to be in the driver's seat'.

"I think all the clubs appreciate and recognise what BA did for the league in 2008."

Indeed. There were issues in Cairns and Wollongong, Sydney Kings went under (albeit not for too long), West Sydney signed its own death warrant by becoming Sydney Spirit, Singapore Slingers slunk away, South Dragons won the championship and said "enough". Melbourne Tigers wanted out.

There were bail-outs and hand-outs while basketball looked a bona fide basket case in the eyes of the public.

For a couple of years there, it seemed the NBL lurched from one horrible situation to another.

But the community-model of ownership rescued the Hawks, then Cairns showed it can be truly workable, even turning a modest profit these past two years.

That is why the Taipans were among the four NBL clubs asked to represent the league in talks with the outside business entity - an unfortunate name for them but it will do for the time being and until all is fully revealed - along with Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

In what was a show of an extremely rare ability to keep such a huge and positive step confidential, the NBL clubs made it to this week before news first filtered.

With May 15 pencilled in as the date to get the official heads of agreement in place, the time was now for BA to speak to what was happening.

In a BA statement released today, Keneally said: "Basketball Australia introduced the NBL White Paper earlier this year recognising that the status quo was not an option for the League; that further growth and change is required to achieve financial sustainability for the NBL.

"As we’ve previously indicated, it is our intention to support a viable NBL into the 2013-14 season, and we are working collaboratively with NBL clubs to that end.

"Quite simply, Basketball Australia sees a men’s national competition as integral to the game, and we want the NBL to succeed."

Keneally said while the arrangement was not yet formalised, it was important to declare the situation.

"The new entity has to be able to talk freely and openly to potential sponsors and partners," she said.

The NBL would determine its own governance model but an independent board comprising business leaders, with the support of the clubs, was the likely new direction.

Keneally said part of BA's responsibility was its commitment to high performance.

"The NBL, over time, has become less connected to the high performance program," she said.

"There were three NBL players in the London Olympic team and by 2016 we are unlikely to have any Boomers (playing NBL).

"The NBL increasingly is a commercial entity."

Entertainment is a very high priority for it, as it should be.

"It has been important for the health of basketball in Australia to have a viable league," Keneally said.

"It would be to the detriment of the sport if we didn't have one (an NBL).

"BA has put the NBL into a position to contemplate its future."

Actually, it has put the league into a position to determine and take responsibility for its future.

"It is fair to say BA would have liked to have seen a future where it was more directly involved in the NBL but the board recognises the clubs' desire to take on the decision-making for the league," Keneally said.

While BA definitely helped right the NBL's sinking ship - free-to-air TV coverage, nbl.tv, the Kings' return cannot be ignored - clearly they have grown apart to become uncomfortable bedfellows.

Now the course for the future is in the public domain, the excitement it generates can only be a positive.

Fingers crossed then that by May 15, the revival, reinvigoration and revitalisation of the NBL should be ready for confirmation.

Wiser heads than ours certainly think it is not only viable, but profitable.

Perth and New Zealand have shown the way, Cairns and Wollongong have found a way. It can be done. This is the best chance ever to get it right.