With no less than 19 current and former Tall Blacks on the final registration list for Thursday's Sal's NBL Draft, all seven teams now have a lot of work ahead of them as they contemplate who they will pre-select, how many live draft picks they will hold and what their final roster might look like?
It's been a huge two weeks for the League with a groundbreaking format attracting well over 450 registrations, unprecedented media coverage and record fan engagement numbers across social media.
The 11-day draft registration window not only attracted massive numbers, it has also featured the announcement of partnership deals with ATEED and SkyCity as presenting partners of the event, the naming of Trusts Arena in Auckland as the venue, and the release of a pay-per-view platform off-shore.
In recent days D3 Tape and R-Line Electrolytes have also joined the League as official partners. Further partnership opportunities are available and being negotiated on a daily basis.
The League also continues to work on broadcast opportunities in other parts of the world in the hope of attracting a global audience, while in New Zealand broadcast partner Sky Sport has announced all 56 games will be available live across a mix of Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport 9, Sky Sport Next, Sky Sport Now, Stuff and the Tribe Sports App.
It is a level of coverage never seen before across nearly four decades of the competition.
"Amazing! No other way to describe it," said General Manager, Justin Nelson.
"I keep saying it - basketball is huge in New Zealand and the interest this whole concept has created once again emphasises that the sleeping giant of sport is coming to life.
"I hoped people would be interested in the whole draft concept, but it's ten times bigger that I could ever have imagined."
Thursday night's draft will also be broadcasted live by Sky Sport with full details set to be announced in the coming days, while all teams look like they will be holding draft parties to help celebrate the unique event.
"I feel like I'm dealing with NBA GMs right now, the teams are strategising, working the phones and looking at every scenario that could unfold on draft night. Above all, I think everyone is having fun and that's how it should be," Nelson added.
Want to know how the Pre-Selection Rules work? Click HERE.
Want to check out the 56-game schedule starting on June 23? Click HERE.
