Basketball New Zealand is not in a position to rescue the cash-strapped Otago Nuggets, chief executive Dale Stephens says.
Basketball Otago announced it would not be entering a team in the 2009 NBL on Wednesday night but backed down after passionate pleas from a concerned basketball community.
The board resolved to look at alternative options and different models for the franchise.
But with just $100,000 set aside for the campaign in 2009, and time running out to get a playing roster together and raise additional funds, the Nuggets' immediate future looks bleak.
"It is a concern for Basketball New Zealand [BBNZ] because we want as much geographical spread as possible. However, teams enter the NBL under their own steam," Stephens said.
"They have to make commercial business decisions based on how they can run their team."
The Canterbury Rams are also struggling and are likely to spend 2009 on the sidelines.
That would leave one NBL franchise in the South Island which Stephens acknowledged was disastrous for the sport.
Unfortunately, Basketball New Zealand's hands were tied, he said.
"BBNZ are not in a position to fund professional teams. Our mandate is to provide pathways for all communities to be involved in basketball. The NBL is a professional league that runs with a business model."
Looking into the future, Stephens said the newly formed NBL board had a "business as usual model for 2009", but he expected there would be changes.
The current 10-team league appears unsustainable and 2010 would likely usher in a new model, which could mean dropping up to two teams.
Stephens said the malaise was a wider issue than just South Island basketball.
The global financial meltdown meant people had less discretionary spending and sport was one of the first luxuries they cut from their budget.
