That has been one of the major sentiments to come from the Tasmania JackJumpers' remarkable rise to the NBL grand final series.

The state's newest addition to the national sporting landscape has showcased that the idea that if you "build it, they will come" is one that very much does exist in reality.

What we have seen over the past few days in particular is what it looks like when a state truly embraces its own team.

While there would obviously be more challenges for football than basketball in this regard, considering the fact we have a population that already has a lot more of an emotional connection to the AFL than the NBL, this is the reality footy could also be living in Tasmania.

In many ways, the JackJumpers started as somewhat of a novelty, with more of a curiosity factor than anything attached to them, but they definitely now more of a main attraction.

The atmosphere created at MyState Bank Arena over the weekend during the team's semi-final clash with Melbourne United was simply powerful.

The simple fact the JackJumpers are now in existence has given the sport a boost, but now that has been coupled with on-court success, you would expect that to grow even further.

This is where the AFL looks to have missed a beat, with the likelihood now of youngsters picking up a basketball instead of a Sherrin growing tenfold.

For a sport that is already struggling to an extent in this state, surely that must ensure the alarm bells are ringing.

It could, however, all become a case of good timing though for those pushing for a place in the AFL, considering the more genuine threat that basketball now genuinely is, with that decision set to be made in August.

The JackJumpers' rise to the NBL's big dance though really has been the stuff of fairy tales.

It would be hard to find a better story in Australian sport right now than the rags to riches tale of a team in its first year at the top level, that no so-called experts gave a genuine chance, that is now only a few steps away from being crowned the best in the land.

Along the way it has managed to capture the imagination of the state more profoundly than anyone would have imagined.

Whatever the result of the grand final series against Sydney Kings, the JackJumpers have genuinely made Tasmania proud.