Tasmania's NBL presence has been solidified further over the past four days after earning high praise from the multi-millionaire pulling the strings of his next entry.
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NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman bluntly declared this year's NBL Blitz in Tasmania the "biggest and best" of all past preseason series that initially date back all the way to 2011.
Crowd numbers swelled well above past averages to 8647 spectators across five locations, peaking at 3521 for Sunday's triple-header at Hobart's Derwent Entertainment Centre.
More than 1500 turned up on Saturday night at the Silverdome, Ulverstone had to put up the full sign with 1239 in attendance while a little more than 1000 watched the one game in Devonport.
"This has been the biggest and best NBL Blitz ever, with huge crowds and fantastic engagement right across Tasmania," Kestelman said.
"Tasmanians have shown they are hungry for NBL and I want to thank everyone who has come out and supported the NBL Blitz this week."
NBL players from all nine clubs visited 21 schools across the state, conducting clinics with students while in addition to a number of other public appearances.
Also an estimated 340,000 viewers around the world - a new NBL record - watched the live stream of 12 Blitz games on both Facebook and Twitch online platforms.
Numbers especially rose in the US that were also in line with an increase in the number of talent scouts from 27 of the 30 NBA clubs, further attracted to jettison into the state for 18-year-old American wonders LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton debuts.
Kestelman had no hesitation to attribute much of the success to Tasmania in the largest expansion of the Blitz that has bypassed playing games in regional areas this year to past seasons.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"The success of the Blitz has reinforced our view that Tasmania deserves to have its own NBL team that would put it on the national and international stage," he said.
"We now look forward to continuing our negotiations to secure the Derwent Entertainment Centre, so we can finally deliver Tasmania its own NBL team."
Optimistic plans are for a Tasmanian team to be endorsed by the end of this year to join the NBL in time for the 2020-21 season.
Brisbane Bullets were awarded the Loggins-Bruton Cup for taking out the Blitz.
The Bullets were one three teams - along with Cairns Taipans and South East Melbourne Phoenix that won both of their games - but won the award on the back of a 49-point win over the NBL1 All-Stars on Thursday.
The NBL newcomers also took the glory when Phoenix guard John Roberson claimed the Ray Borner Medal as the most outstanding player of the series.
The Phoenix won 102-95 over the winless NZ Breakers in the first game on Sunday after Tai Wesley scored a game-high 23 points but not before Hampton top-scored for the Kiwis off 20 points.
Sydney Kings blasted Perth Wildcats in an emphatic 103-71 win following 29 points from new forward signing Didi Louzada.
Melbourne United recorded their first win of the series 103-91 over Illawarra Hawks that did not play Ball.
Casey Prather (23 points), who replaced Josh Boone in the offseason, and David Barlow (20 points) were the standouts in United's victory.
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