It’s not just having games on television, it’s also because they are  played at times where many would rather sit at home on the couch.

The Hawks play their first home game at WIN Entertainment Centre on Wednesday.

It’s the first opportunity for fans to see the likes of Kevin Lisch (if he’s fit), Kirk Penney and AJ Ogilvy leading the Illawarra charge, which should be reason enough for the punters to attend. But across the country there could be short-term pain for long-term benefit, as the NBL tries to reignite interest from the wider community.

Television – because of the exposure of the brand and revenue it can create – is king. Live streaming is the future. It has also created a brutal travel schedule for teams at various stages of the season. 

With four days between fixtures in January, the Hawks travel from New Zealand to Perth and also fly from Townsville to Perth in the space of three days.