澳大利亚国家篮球联赛（NBL）因治理和财务问题爆发严重分裂。[1]东南墨尔本凤凰队、珀斯野猫队和伊拉瓦拉鹰队与联赛负责人Larry Kestelman及管理层产生重大分歧，三支反对球队对Kestelman提起法律诉讼，并成立独立球队业主协会。[1]与此同时，悉尼国王队、墨尔本联队、布里斯班子弹队、新西兰篘风队、阿德莱德36人队、凯恩斯泰坦队和塔斯马尼亚JackJumpers队共七支俱乐部发表联合声明，表达对Kestelman和联赛管理层的支持。[1]
联赛首席执行官Dave Stevenson对分裂局面做出回应，表示将继续与"目标一致"的俱乐部展开合作。[1]Kestelman自2015年收购该联赛以来，联赛业绩显著增长，过去三年广播增长近100%，每赛季观看人数超过100万。[1]墨尔本联队最近估值达到5000万美元，反映出联赛商业价值的上升。[1]
Australia's National Basketball League has split into opposing factions amid governance and financial tensions.[1] South East Melbourne Phoenix, Perth Wildcats, and Illawarra Hawks have initiated legal action against league chief Larry Kestelman and established an independent team owners association, positioning themselves against seven other clubs that have publicly backed Kestelman and the league's management.[1]
The league's Chief Executive Officer Dave Stevenson indicated that operations will continue in collaboration with clubs that share aligned objectives.[1] Kestelman acquired the NBL in 2015, and the league has since experienced significant growth, with broadcast viewership expanding by nearly 100 percent over the past three years and surpassing one million viewers per season.[1] Melbourne United, one of the supporting clubs, has been valued at 50 million dollars.[1] The seven clubs endorsing current management include Sydney Kings, Melbourne United, Brisbane Bullets, New Zealand Breakers, Adelaide 36ers, Cairns Taipans, and Tasmania JackJumpers.[1]