Indigenous Round launch: NBL And WNBL Join Forces In Highlighting First Nations People

This year's Indigenous Round, co-hosted by the National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League, assumes greater significance in the aftermath of the anxiety produced by the 'No' vote on the Voice to Parliament.

David Stevenson, the chief executive officer of the National Basketball League, stated that the league's Indigenous Round team up with the Women's National Basketball League is an opportunity to acknowledge and recommit to First Nations people. This statement was made in the midst of the anxiety and divisiveness caused by this month's 'no' referendum vote on a Voice to Parliament.

This round, the men's and women's leagues are working together, and all of the clubs will be wearing gorgeous themed jerseys. Additionally, players will be reaching out to Indigenous communities, schools, and cultural centers in an effort to establish links.

"It's been a challenging couple of weeks for everyone in our First Nations community and for lots of people across the country," said Stevenson. "It's been a challenging couple of weeks for everyone."

"However, we firmly feel that now is the appropriate moment to reaffirm our dedication to the completion of this vital task.

"The... Indigenous Round is something that we feel very strongly about," they said. "We believe that our commitment needs to become even stronger moving forward in order for us to be able to tell fantastic stories about players and officials and referees, and (it) gives us the opportunity to do so,"

The National Basketball League (NBL) offers a road to professional basketball for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players by exempting fully-rostered players from the salary cap and financing a percentage of developing player contracts.

The Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) will kick off the new season on Wednesday with Indigenous Round, which is being held in partnership with Treaty for Victoria.

"Treaty is about putting First Peoples in the driver's seat when it comes to decisions about our communities," said Ngarra Murray, Co-Chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Australia. "Treaty is also a great chance to make sure that our languages and cultures are respected and can be celebrated by everyone," Murray added. We are happy to be a part of it because we feel that it is a fantastic fit for the Indigenous Round of the WNBL.

There are a number of First Nations players competing in the top basketball competitions in Australia.

NBL: Keanu Pinder (Perth), Will McDowell-White (NZ), Will Hickey (Illawarra), Biwali Bayles (Illawarra), Kian Dennis (Cairns)

WNBL: Leilani Mitchell (Southside), Ally Wilson (Bendigo), Jess McDowell-White (Townsville), Shaneice Swain (Sydney), Neseya Parker Williams (Sydney), Indiah Bowyer (Townsville), Abby Cubillo (Adelaide)