澳大利亚职业篮球联赛(NBL)的三支球队所有者近日成立独立俱乐部所有者协会，要求NBL公开由Basketball Australia进行的一份关于联赛治理和多数股东Larry Kestelman的秘密报告[1]。南东墨尔本凤凰队所有者Romie Chaudhari、珀斯野猫队所有者Mark Arena和伊拉瓦拉鹰队所有者Jared Novelly领导了这一行动[1]。
该独立调查由前律师长Justin Gleeson进行，调查结论称已清除了针对Kestelman的不当行为指控[1]。然而Basketball Australia以保密协议为由拒绝公开该报告[1]。
这三支球队与Kestelman在联赛治理和财务披露方面存在持续纠纷[1]，涉及多项争议，包括正在进行的新南威尔士州最高法院案件、150万美元旅行费用的独立调和，以及向国际篮联FIBA提起的上诉[1]。此外，这些球队还反对联赛的扩张计划，该计划考虑引入第11支球队进驻黄金海岸或堪培拉[1]。另一场纠纷涉及塔斯马尼亚JackJumpers的许可证协议[1]。
Kestelman自2015年起成为NBL多数股东[1]，其旗下的墨尔本联队最近估值达5000万美元[1]。
Three owners of Australian National Basketball League franchises have established an independent club owners association to demand the public release of a confidential report on league governance and majority shareholder Larry Kestelman [1]. The coalition comprises Romie Chaudhari of South East Melbourne Phoenix, Mark Arena of Perth Wildcats, and Jared Novelly of Illawarra Hawks [1].
The disputed report was conducted by former solicitor-general Justin Gleeson and, according to the NBL, cleared Kestelman of misconduct allegations [1]. However, Basketball Australia has refused to disclose the findings, citing confidentiality agreements [1]. The three franchises are engaged in multiple ongoing disputes with Kestelman, including litigation in the New South Wales Supreme Court, a separate $1.5 million settlement regarding travel costs, and an appeal to international basketball body FIBA [1]. The newly formed owners association also opposes proposed league expansion, which would introduce an eleventh team in either the Gold Coast or Canberra [1]. Kestelman acquired his majority stake in the NBL in 2015, with his Melbourne United team recently valued at $50 million [1].