NBL unveils Samuel as new Board Member

The NBL is excited to announce that Graeme Samuel has joined as one of its new board members.

Samuel is now one of four board members, joining Executive Director Larry Kestelmen, as well as Len Komoroski and Nikola Milivojevic, with Graeme Wade as the chair.

Upon his appointment, Samuel explained why he wanted to join the NBL, one of the country’s fastest-growing leagues.

“Basketball is truly a family game - the children simply revel in the spectacle,” Samuel said.

“As you walk into the arena, you are greeted by young children with their noise-making clappers.

“At courtside, they are encouraged to enthusiastically urge their heroes on the court.

“I see the NBL ultimately achieving in the Australian context, the heights of family sporting entertainment that the NBA has attained in the USA, indeed internationally.”

As well as being an NBL Board Member, Samuel is a Professor in Monash University’s Business School and Chair of its Business Advisory Board.

Prior to that, he has held a number of roles in public life, including the former Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Associate Member of the Australian Communications and Media Authority and President of the National Competition Council.

In 2010, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration through contributions in economic reform and competition law, and to the community through leadership roles with sporting and cultural organisations.

Along with that, he harbours a growing interest in basketball, which is one of the reasons that attracted Samuel to the NBL Board role.

“I strongly admire the extraordinary achievements of Larry in taking charge of an ailing competition and morphing it into a thriving spectacle where families can enjoy the competition, support their clubs and revel in the spectacle,” he said.

“I have 11 grandchildren, and each of them has and, in most cases, is continuing to play basketball.

“What a thrill to travel over the weekends through the season to watch them running up and down the court in a game that has little body contact but lots of tough competition.

“And when I asked them if they would like to come and watch a game at John Cain Arena, I was overwhelmed with 15 acceptances.

“Do I need any further reason to put my energies into working with Larry, David Stevenson and his team to take the NBL to even greater success.”

Samuel knows that with his experience, he will be an asset to the NBL.

“I have been involved with many organisations: sporting, cultural, regulatory, government, and corporate,” Samuel said.

“Integrity has been at the core of my involvement. It can take a lifetime to build a reputation for unblemished integrity and a single action to damage or even destroy that. Yet integrity is a priceless asset to be cherished and nurtured.

“The principles are the same as in any corporate organisation. Impeccable integrity (the morning newspaper test - would I be embarrassed to read about this in the morning newspaper), constantly challenging what is accepted as the norm, and courteous but firm relationships with the clubs.

“The clubs and their players are central to the success of the game, but central guidance and control are essential to ensure the excitement and attraction of the spectacle.

“Supporters are not interested in the machinations of club owners - indeed turn off support when they perceive self-interest overwhelming what really matters to them, players, the spectacle and their enjoyment of the game.

“The central body has the responsibility to ensure that players and clubs focus on what matters to their supporters - integrity on and off the court.”

Looking ahead, Samuel and his fellow Board Members are excited for the NBL’s future.

“Success breeds success. The past season, combined with the clear professionalism of the NBL developed by David and his team, augurs so well for the sport,” he said.

“Now is the challenge to bring all the clubs along the path to increasing success.

“In my involvement with NRL and AFL, we always had a small minority of clubs that simply focused on their own interests and had a short-sighted view on what was good for the competition as a whole.

“Strong leadership from the central body eventually overcame these obstacles, and the success of those competitions is testimony to the measures taken by the central body. A lesson to be learned by the clubs in the NBL.”