The Sky Sport commentary team covering this year’s Sal’s NBL and GJ Gardner Homes Tauihi competitions are enjoying their last days of freedom ahead of a hectic four-month schedule that will feature 128 games of Kiwi hoops.
Fully broadcast on Sky in New Zealand, every Saturday nights (7:30pm) clash will also be shown on Prime TV, while the men’s competition will again be beamed into the United States and Puerto Rico via ESPN, marking a third successive season for the landmark international deal.
And in an exciting development in recent days, it has been confirmed that every NBL and Tauihi game will be available live across the world (outside of New Zealand, United States, Puerto Rico) on the FIBA YouTube channel.
Behind the microphones and cameras, this year’s Sky commentary team remains very familiar to viewers with most of the group returning for another season.
Andrew ‘Mulls’ Mulligan will lead the commentary team and regularly team-up with his hoops partner in crime, Casey Frank. The popular duo will no doubt bring their ‘A-Game’ each week with their entertaining calls.
Former Kiwi WNBA star Megan Compain will also be back behind the microphone, as will her former Tall Ferns teammate Donna Wilkins, the highly experienced pair bringing years of international playing experience to the screen.
The ‘Reefton Kid’ Phill Jones – another one of New Zealand’s greatest players – will be a regular voice, while in a coup for the team, viewers will also get to see and hear former Tall Black and 2021 Auckland Huskies star Brook Ruscoe as he starts his basketball commentary career.
Other regulars to return for 2022 include Andrew Dewhurst, Justin Nelson and Huw Beynon, along with some guest appearances expected from Miles Pierce, Guy Molloy, Casyn Buchman and Kirk Penney.
Mulligan, the team’s appointed captain, can’t wait for tip-off on April 28 and believes the 2022 commentary team is the best the New Zealand leagues have ever assembled.
“With crowds allowed into venues once again and the quality of squads assembled by the teams, we can't wait for the season to tip-off and deliver all the energy and excitement on Sky and Prime,” said Mulligan.
“We’ve assembled a great team once again and they are all raring to go. Bring it on!”
The 2022 Sal’s NBL season tips-off on Thursday April 28 when the Mike Pero Nelson Giants host the Night n’ Day Otago Nuggets, while the GJ Gardner Homes Tauihi competition starts on June 29.
Here’s a sneak peek at the opening week of action and the Sky commentary team rostered on:
Thu, April 28 @ 7:30pm – Giants vs Nuggets: Huw Beynon & Phill Jones
Fri, April 29 @ 7:30pm – Sharks vs Saints: Justin Nelson & Casey Frank
Sat, April 30 @ 5:30pm – Rams vs Nuggets: Justin Nelson & Brook Ruscoe
Sat, April 30 @ 7:30pm – Tuatara vs Airs: Andrew Mulligan & Casey Frank
Sun, May 1 @ 3:00pm – Hawks vs Bulls: Andrew Mulligan & Casey Frank
Sun, May 1 @ 5:00pm – Jets vs Airs: Huw Beynon & Miles Pierce
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You can find the full 2022 Sal's NBL schedule HERE.
