Larry Kestelman faces split among NBL clubs over governance dispute

The National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia and New Zealand has fractured into two opposing groups. The South East Melbourne Phoenix, Perth Wildcats and Illawarra Hawks have taken legal action against league owner Larry Kestelman, questioned governance and financial arrangements, and formed an independent Professional Basketball Club Owners Association. They are demanding the release of a confidential Basketball Australia investigation report that the league says cleared Kestelman of wrongdoing.

Seven other franchises – the Sydney Kings (co‑owned by former NBA players Luc Longley and Andrew Bogut), Melbourne United, Brisbane Bullets, New Zealand Breakers, Adelaide 36ers, Cairns Taipans and the Tasmania JackJumpers (where Kestelman remains a minority owner until 2027) – have issued a united statement backing Kestelman and asserting that the owners association does not represent the majority of clubs. Mediation over travel costs and other issues remains unresolved.