Basketball: Home-grown players catch up to imports

By DAVID LEGGAT

How influential are the current crop of imports in the National Basketball League?

Not as much as they used to be, according to league old hand Ben Thompson.

When he came into the competition, with the Brisbane Bullets in 1997, the big overseas names were the dominant figures.

Although they are still essential to franchises' title ambitions, Thompson believes the quality of Australian players is significantly improved from when he first played in the league. That has led to less money being spent on high-calibre overseas players.

"When I first came in I played with some great players, guys I looked up to like [former Bullets hero and 10-time NBL All Star] Leroy Loggins, a lot of Olympians, guys who were absolute legends in this league," Thompson said.

"I guess because I was a bit younger I looked up to everyone a bit more. It seemed they had a bit of an aura about them."

Thompson reckons the standard of Australia's finest has meant franchises don't need to pay as much as they used to for overseas players. The improving home-grown talent has therefore meant money previously destined for, invariably, American pockets is now free to be spent in other areas.

"Generally, I wouldn't say the imports are as good as they were back then, but the local talent has caught up. It's as simple as that."