New Zealand Basketball Gets Major Boost
Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) is set to get major support from the High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) for 2014—a welcome development considering BBNZ did not receive funding from the government agency in 2013.
"Our investment will give them a leg up to see what they can do," HPSNZ chief executive Alex Baumann was quoted in an article from stuff.co.nz. "Basketball NZ presented us with a plan focused on international competition in the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup and we are investing in that campaign."
The monetary value is at $200,000 for the 2014 campaign including the FIBA Basketball World from August 30 to September 14.
In Spain, NZ basketball has a lofty goal of at least a top 16 finish and they can use the funding in getting the services of players who may need to have insurance to be released by their mother teams in the pro leagues. Primary example is center Steven Adams, who suits up for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. To be released to the national team, New Zealand will have to pay for the players insurance.
Over $33.7 million will be or have been invested in various sports according to the same report.