New Perth Wildcats owner Mark Arena joins the podcast to break down the intricate details behind purchasing an NBL team and his vision for the club's future. As a lifelong Wildcats fan and successful tech entrepreneur, Arena shares insights on the business side of sports ownership and how he plans to elevate the Wildcats’ brand, both locally and internationally.

In this episode, Mark discusses:

• What makes owning a sports team financially advantageous (2:30)
• The complex process of buying the Wildcats and how NBL approvals work (12:00)
• Why is his focus on winning championships and not purely on financial gain (19:00)
• Why expanding into Asia, including partnerships with Japan’s B.League, is a priority for the Wildcats (24:00)
• Views on NBLxNBA format and why he wants to hold an international preseason tournament every year instead (26:00)
• How does he see a potential second NBL team in Perth impacting the Wildcats (28:00)
• The plans to rebranding the Wildcats (39:00)
• The long-term vision for the Wildcats, including facility upgrades and community initiatives (42:00)
• What he's learnt from the first 90 days as owner of the Wildcats (44:00)

Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.

Head to Aussie Hoopla to check out previous podcasts featuring:

• Australian Basketball Legends: Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, Sam MacKinnon, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin, Brad Newley
• Current NBL Stars: Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Tyler Harvey, Dejan Vasiljevic, Flynn Cameron, Keli Leaupepe, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Anthony Drmic, Luke Travers, Sam Froling, Jesse Wagstaff, Tanner Krebs
• Our Finest Coaching Minds: Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer
• NBA Stars Past & Present: Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Jack White, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton
• The NBL's Greatest Imports: Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Dwayne McClain, Darnell Mee, Shawn Redhage, Al Green, Steve Woodberry, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch
• The Men In Control: Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chris Pongrass, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner, Danny Mills

Follow @AussieHoopla on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email us at info@aussiehoopla.com.

NBL legend Mark Dalton, who played 17 seasons across five NBL teams, joins the podcast to break down each NBL team's potential ceiling for this season and what could prevent them from achieving it. With a championship under his belt and a career spanning multiple teams including the Canberra Cannons, Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets, and Wollongong Hawks, Dalton provides his unique insight into what each team can accomplish this season.

Mark, nicknamed "Tang," made his NBL debut with the Canberra Cannons in 1984 at just 19 years old and was a key player in their title run. Over his career, he built a reputation as a versatile player, known for his contributions at both ends of the court and playing for the Australian Boomers in the 1984 Olympics.

In this episode, Mark discusses:

• Adelaide 36ers (2:00)
• Brisbane Bullets (15:00)
• Cairns Taipans (23:00)
• Illawarra Hawks (28:00)
• Melbourne United (35:00)
• New Zealand Breakers (43:00)
• Perth Wildcats (48:00)
• South East Melbourne Phoenix (54:00)
• Sydney Kings (101:00)
• Tasmania JackJumpers (1:06:00)

Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.

Head to Aussie Hoopla to check out previous podcasts featuring:

• Australian Basketball Legends: Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, Sam MacKinnon, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin, Brad Newley
• Current NBL Stars: Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Tyler Harvey, Dejan Vasiljevic, Flynn Cameron, Keli Leaupepe, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Anthony Drmic, Luke Travers, Sam Froling, Jesse Wagstaff, Tanner Krebs
• Our Finest Coaching Minds: Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer
• NBA Stars Past & Present: Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Jack White, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton
• The NBL's Greatest Imports: Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Dwayne McClain, Darnell Mee, Shawn Redhage, Al Green, Steve Woodberry, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch
• The Men In Control: Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chris Pongrass, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner, Danny Mills

And much more.

Follow @AussieHoopla on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email us at info@aussiehoopla.com

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian returns to the podcast to provide an inside look at how he prepared the Australian Boomers for the Paris Olympics.

Despite being in a tough group with Spain, Greece, and Canada, the Boomers managed to reach the quarter-finals. However, they were knocked out after a hard-fought crossover game against Serbia, a team widely regarded as one of the top contenders in the tournament.

Goorjian reflects on re-tooling the roster after the FIBA World Cup, the brutal decisions involved in player selection, and how the team is focused on building toward future Olympic success.

In this episode, Brian discusses:

• How he views the Boomers’ sixth-place finish at the Paris Olympics (2:00)
• Re-tooling the roster after the FIBA World Cup (5:00)
• Why this year’s training camp was the most grueling in Boomers history (11:00)
• Addressing the rumors about Matisse Thybulle being cut for Joe Ingles (18:00)
• Bringing in new faces Jack McVeigh and Will Magnay (25:00)
• Delly’s omission from the World Cup and how he earned his way back on the Boomers for Paris (33:00)
• Did playing against an undermanned Chinese team help or hurt us? (38:30)
• Stories from the Rookie Talent Show and Boomers Culture night held prior to the Olympics (43:00)
• The moment Dyson Daniels became a starter in Brian’s eyes (54:00)
• Were criticisms like “why take Joe Ingles,” “Duop should be playing more,” or “Nick Kay isn’t bringing anything to the team” fair? (57:00)
• The burden of expectations that comes with being the Boomers coach (1:15:00)
• Thoughts on a Boomers team without Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova, and Nick Kay (1:20:00)
• What Brian is most proud of about his second stint as Boomers coach (1:24:00)

Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.

Head to Aussie Hoopla to check out previous podcasts featuring:

• Australian Basketball Legends: Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, Sam MacKinnon, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin, Brad Newley
• Current NBL Stars: Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Tyler Harvey, Dejan Vasiljevic, Flynn Cameron, Keli Leaupepe, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Anthony Drmic, Luke Travers, Sam Froling, Jesse Wagstaff, Tanner Krebs
• Our Finest Coaching Minds: Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer
• NBA Stars Past & Present: Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Jack White, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton
• The NBL's Greatest Imports: Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Dwayne McClain, Darnell Mee, Shawn Redhage, Al Green, Steve Woodberry, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch
• The Men In Control: Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chris Pongrass, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner, Danny Mills

And much more.

Follow @AussieHoopla on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email us at info@aussiehoopla.com