National Basketball League chief Larry Kestelman says key planks for re-launching the competition are close.

Kestelman, who took a controlling stake in the league in May, says he's expecting to land a television deal for the season, which begins in just six weeks.

"The TV deal is something that I believe we're close on," he said.

"We've got a number of wonderful announcements [to come] of corporate sponsors, naming rights - we're working very hard."

"I hope it looks as good from the outside as it is on the inside ... the feeling is great, we're going a million miles an hour until the start of the season."

"Hard Ball" will be the league's new slogan, with a new logo and fixtures for the eight-team league unveiled earlier in August.

While he's running out of time before the season tips off in Adelaide on October 7, Kestelman was able to call on a high-profile backer for Australian basketball on Wednesday.

As the winter football codes battle it out for television dollars, NBA and Boomers star Patty Mills was unveiled the first of several NBL "ambassadors" at a Melbourne primary school on Wednesday morning.

Mills, the San Antonio Spurs point guard, said he hoped to work on building stronger links between multicultural and indigenous communities and the sport.

"It's important to stay in touch with the growth of the sport here and try to help out in any way I can ... and teaming up with the NBL to do so is really important," he said.

Kestelman said he recognised it was important to grow the links between the NBA and the Australian league.

"The players are the role models, and the NBL in my mind is a stepping stone to the NBA," he said. "We want to be the best that we can be but the ultimate goal for everyone is to play in the NBA and celebrate their success and that's what we're here to do."

In recent years, the NBL has had restricted free-to-air exposure, with a delayed game on Friday night and live game on Sunday afternoon on the Ten Network.

A new television rights deal would be a huge boost for all NBL clubs, including the Illawarra Hawks.

The Hawks emerged from voluntary administration before owner James Spenceley and new coach Rob Beveridge embarked on a signing spree.

The Hawks have built a roster brimming with star power for the upcoming season, including former NBL MVPs Kevin Lisch and Kirk Penney.

Off-season recruit AJ Ogilvy signalled his arrival in Wollongong on Friday night at the Snakepit, pouring in a game-high 35 points in the Hawks' 110-99 overtime win against the touring University of California team.

The former Sydney Kings centre also ripped down 11 rebounds and blocked five shots in his first game in Illawarra colours.

The Hawks first game is against Cairns on October and Melbourne on October 11, before their first home game, taking on the NZ Breakers on October 14. - AAP