The 2024 Basketball NSW D-League brought two dynamic weekends of basketball action to Penrith, with the Under 16s and Under 18s competing together in September, followed by the Under 14s and Under 15s in October. The event highlighted the dedication and skill of young athletes, coaches, and referees across New South Wales, celebrating their hard work and commitment to the game.
In total, the tournament saw 480 athletes, 96 coaches, and 70 officials from both Metro and Country NSW come together to compete and demonstrate the future of NSW basketball.
The D-League is designed to identify and nurture talent from within the NSW Spalding Waratah Junior Leagues, providing an opportunity for players and coaches to develop their skills in a tournament-style environment that emphasises high-level competition and skill development. Through training sessions and games, the D- League enables these promising athletes and coaches to sharpen their abilities against one another, fostering growth and preparing them for the next stages of their basketball journeys.
This year, the D-League adapted to better accommodate families and reduce costs by condensing the event into one weekend per age group. Each group participated in an intensive weekend of games and training, streamlining the experience and maximising development opportunities while also easing travel and scheduling demands for families.
The 2024 D-League dates included:
- September 28-29 – Under 16s and Under 18s at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre
- October 26-27 – Under 14s and Under 15s at Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre
General Manager of Coaching and Development, Brett Coxsedge, shared his insights on the success of D-League, highlighting its role as a crucial stepping stone for young basketball players and coaches.
“ D-League is a fantastic opportunity for these young players and coaches to step into a high performance environment as it provides an opportunity for our Country and Metro athletes to play together, which assists us in instilling the values necessary for our ‘Building Blues’ culture for the future,” said Coxsedge.
“This year’s condensed format has not only strengthened the competition but also allowed us to be more mindful of the time and costs for families. The dedication of everyone involved from athletes and referees on court, coaches on the sideline and parents supporting the event has once again made D-League an outstanding success!”
Basketball NSW would also like to thank Nicola O’Leary for running workshops with parents around mental health, Tim Hill from All Aussie Travellers for presenting on “Players Pathways” and Momentum Physiotherapy and Health Services for assisting athletes with injury prevention and recovery, keeping them in peak condition for competition.
Basketball NSW would like to extend a special thank you to the referees whose hard work and professionalism were crucial in delivering a smooth and competitive tournament.
As athletes now prepare for their upcoming representative trials, Basketball NSW wishes them success and extends a big thank you to the referees, officials, coaches, and families whose hard work made this event a highlight on the basketball calendar.
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