Southern Huskies have been given a big tick from the New Zealand NBL boss on a visit to Launceston for its first home game at the weekend.
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The newest club in the nine-team competition has found the going tough in the early stages that included a 104-97 defeat to Southland Sharks at the Silverdome in front of nearly 700 spectators, according to club officials.
But operationally general manager Justin Nelson said the Tasmanians have set a distinct benchmark for all NZNBL clubs to follow.
"I think the crew behind the Southern Huskies are just doing a wonderful job in the community and engaging with the fans," Nelson said
"They're in it for the long haul and they're a part of a really good competition - it's a tough competition.
"They're finding their feet, but they're representing Tasmania with great pride. Every time they step on the floor, they do it for their state."
After something of a nightmarish travel schedule to start a triple-header road trip that included half the team being forced to board another flight to New Zealand, Anthony Stewart's men have fallen to a 2-4 season record.
The comeback one-point win in its opener has been long forgotten amid back-to-back home losses dating back to last week in Hobart.
Nelson believes that is more of a testament to the standard of the league that includes a myriad of NBL players and Australian and New Zealand Olympians.
"I actually think that as the Southern Huskies settle into this competition, I think they're going to be a really good side," Nelson said.
"I think they're going to find their feet and off they go.
"They have been right in the games. They're learning every single week. Their players will start to gel when they spend more time together.
"But it's a tough competition. Make no mistake, every single team has elite players.
"You're playing some of the best going around."
The Huskies signed up to join the competition on a five-year commitment with a view to enter Australia's NBL.
The club that evolved from the defunct Hobart Chargers wanted to lift to another level above the former SEABL.
Australian-born Nelson, who was in charge of WNBL club Melbourne Boomers, believed the Huskies could not be better placed.
"What everyone is discovering is the NZNBL in the winter months is one of the very best men's basketball leagues in the whole southern hemisphere," he said.
"The quality of the game is right where it needs to be for the winter months.
"While I can't talk much about their future aspirations with the NBL, but what I do know is they're really enjoying their time in the NZNBL. They're getting a lot out of it.
"So make no mistake: like any Australian team in any competition, they're going to want to win. They'll want to build from here and be better. I don't know what the future holds for the Huskies, but right now they're proudly part of our family."