New NBL Commission members named

The National Basketball League has named three new members of the NBL Commission, including legendary Australian basketballer Andrew Gaze.

Gaze will join the Commission immediately, along with Perth Wildcats Managing Director Nick Marvin and Wollongong Hawks Chairperson Peter Bahlmann.

Gaze will temporarily take the place of out-going NBL Commission member Bruce Spangler as a Basketball Australia Board representative on the body until the appointment of a new BA Board member is finalised. Spangler's position as Chairman of the NBL Commission will be taken on by existing Commission and BA Board member Justin Milne.

Marvin and Bahlmann, who were nominated for Commission positions by the nine NBL clubs, will replace out-going team-appointed members Richard Clarke of the New Zealand Breakers and Wayne Morris of the Wollongong Hawks.

Andrew Gaze played 612 games during his remarkable NBL career, and remains the competition's all-time leader in points scored and assists. He won the NBL Most Valuable Player trophy a record seven times, and the award has since been named in his honour. He joined the Board of Basketball Australia in July 2008 and is also Chair of Basketball Australia's Competitions Commission.

Nick Marvin was appointed Chief Executive of the Perth Wildcats in February 2006 and was recently named as Managing Director for the team. He was previously the Managing Director at Perth IX and Managing Director and Founder at Friday Creative.

Peter Bahlmann is the owner of Wollongong-based Bahlmann Burke Lawyers and is a practicing solicitor and barrister. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Illawarra Basketball Association and a member of the association's Tribunal. He has been a Member of the New South Wales and Illawarra Basketball Associations since 1981.

In-coming NBL Commission Chair Justin Milne, who is a director of a number of public companies including Quickflix and Tabcorp, said the three new members of the Commission would be a huge asset to the League.

Milne explained that "Andrew Gaze, Nick Marvin and Peter Bahlmann bring a wealth of knowledge in a diverse range of business areas which will help strengthen the Commission. They also all have a great passion for our sport and our league and we can't wait to get down to work with them ahead of the 2011/12 iiNet NBL Championship season.

"If you look at where we were two years ago and where we are today - with a league which has seen significant growth in attendance, TV viewership, sponsorship dollars, licensing income and internet traffic - it is evident that basketball has really regained its momentum. Next season promises to be even better as we move to broadcasting three games weekly on the Ten Network."

The NBL Commission comprises seven members - two BA Board members and five other members. Four of the members are nominated by the NBL club owners. The BA Chief Executive is a full member of the Commission. The NBL Commission members are appointed by the BA Board and generally serve for two year terms. No appointed member can serve for more than two consecutive terms.

The 2011/12 iiNet NBL Championship tips-off on Friday 7th October.

NBL Commission Members
Justin Milne - Chair (Basketball Australia Board member)
Andrew Gaze (BA Board)
Larry Sengstock (BA Chief Executive)
Seamus McPeake
Nick Marvin
Donnie Harris
Peter Bahlmann

19th October 2010 - GAZE LAUNCHES VICTORIAN BASKETBALL ACADEMY