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No relegation; NBL set for January 18 tip-off
December 19, 2024
Teams participating in the National Basketball League (NBL) will play with the assurance that they will not face relegation in the upcoming season, which is set to tip off on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
This revelation comes from President of Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA), Paulton Gordon, as he shared on the second staging of the competition since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Ten teams will contest the next edition of the NBL. We have not reintroduced the relegation and promotion system as yet since this is the second full season since the COVID break," Gordon said.
The JABA president said for the season after next they are thinking about adjusting the number of participants for the NBL.
"Next year we are contemplating adding two teams to get the numbers back to 12. The details of this are still being worked out and we will make the necessary announcements at the appropriate time," Gordon revealed.
Continuing, he said: "We are quite excited and looking forward to seeing improvement with clubs expected to be vying for the top spot."
Last season saw a thrilling return to top flight local basketball as the pair of Upper Room Eagles and Urban Knights were engaged in a ding-dong battle for the title.
Urban Knights emerged champions with a 2-1 victory in the best-of-three finals series and their star player, Nicholai Brown, was named the Most Valuable Player.
Gordon says he wants greater corporate backing for the competition.
"The clubs are getting more organised, and, as such, we expect to see improved quality. JABA would certainly want to see more corporate support which will then allow for greater publicity and awareness around the league," he added.
As part of its plan to develop the game, Gordon revealed that participating teams are set to partner with schools.
"Essentially we are hoping to expand the social outreach side. We are asking the clubs to adopt a primary school and introduce the game at that level. The greater the pool at that level, the more elite talent will emerge," Gordon said.
