Tall Blacks star Corey Webster has lashed out at the revamped NZ National Basketball League, two days before an innovative 'draft' that attracted more than 450 applicants.
Scheduled to tip off on June 23, the competition has undergone dramatic changes to fit COVID-19 alert restrictions over recent months.
West Auckland's Trusts Stadium will host all 56 games over six weeks, with players distributed across seven teams via a draft scheduled for Thursday night.
But the list of hopefuls includes several with dubious top-flight basketball credentials, prompting Webster to question the league's credibility as a true national championship.
"To read that people like radio hosts (about 50 years old) and ice cream shop workers who have most like never ever played a real game of basketball are taking the piss and entering a so-called basketball draft in a so-called national basketball league doesn't sit right with me and the game I love in this country," Webster has posted on Facebook.
"I am all for innovation in this time and running a league, but how can you say you care about the NZBL, and the reputation or professionalism or anything to do with a real national basketball league if you are allowing this.
"And this is supposed to be a FIBA-sanctioned national league."
Among the draft hopefuls are at least three middle-aged sports radio hosts and ice cream parlour owner Giapo Grazioli, 41, along with hundreds of veteran and up-and-coming wannabes enticed from the woodwork by the novel promotion.
Many have doubtless entered for the thrill of simply seeing their names in the league's first-ever draft. From the original list, only 84 will be chosen this week, presumably weeding out the pretenders from the contenders.
Webster's father - NBL legend Tony Webster - will serve as assistant coach for the expansion Franklin Bulls club.
Three of the league's top franchises - defending champions Wellington Saints, 2019 runners-up Hawke's Bay Hawks and 2018 winners Southland Sharks - have elected not to contest the newlook format.
Webster has won three titles with the Saints (2011, 14, 17) and was named Most Valuable Player on the final two occasions.
He and his NZ Breakers teammates will bypass the competition, which offers an opportunity to push for Tall Blacks selection and Australian NBL contracts. Nineteen current or former Tall Blacks have declared, including Kiwi legend Mika Vukona and US college star Jack Salt.
"We're aware there is a group of people that has been vocally dismissive of the newly formatted 2020 season from the start and airing their frustrations on social media," says NBL general manager Justin Nelson.
"With change, there will always be people who knock it, but the NBL board and management are focused on the positives. The NBL has had nine of the 10 teams that have been very supportive and encouraging - a vast majority.
"Don't forget COVID-19 brought significant risk of a number of leagues not being held, and not meeting important broadcast and sponsorship deals that have been worked so hard for. It could have set the league back years, plus the teams' revenues have taken a substantial hit.
"Instead of rolling over, the NBL has stepped up, innovated, covered the bill and managed to bring seven great teams in for 2020. Now, 2021 season is far better placed to return with broadcast and sponsors intact.
"Best of all, the fans get to watch some awesome games with a display of emerging Tall Blacks talent, not to mention some of our Kiwi best, including Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny, Tohi Smith-Milner, Tom Vodanovich and Mika Vukona.
"Now's the time to enjoy some basketball after a long absence of live sport."
