NBL boss Larry Kestelman has revealed the league will expand in 2018, stating his desire for the addition of at least three teams, potentially one in China.

Calls for expansion have grown louder on the back of the closest competition in the league’s 37-year existence.

Kestelman agrees, saying he would like to see the eight-team competition strengthened with the addition of new franchises in the coming seasons.

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He nominated a second Melbourne team, a New Zealand-based franchise in Wellington and an Australian side playing out of China as potential candidates.

media_camera NBL owner Larry Kestelman. Picture: Luke Marsden

“I’m absolutely for expanding the number of teams playing in the competition and we are well on the way,” Kestelman told The Daily Telegraph.

“It’s not five years away, but I’d say it’s probably challenging for next year.

“But if you wanted my calculated guess, I think we will probably see more teams not next year but the year after.

“I would love to see another team in Melbourne under the right model.

“I also think there is room in other parts of Australia. We’ve also had approaches from Wellington in New Zealand and Asia.

media_camera Former NBA forward Josh Powell scores a basket for the Sydney Kings against Melbourne United at Qudos Bank Arena. Picture: Brett Costello

“I don’t hide the fact I’d love to see a team potentially based at another Australian location, but playing a lot of games out of China or the Philippines.

“It will still be an Australian NBL club, but it will build an audience and following in Asia.”

Kestelman regularly receives interest from cities and businessmen wanting to be involved in the NBL competition.

Despite the influx of attention, he refuses to rush the process. It’s why Kestelman has knocked back some bids as he methodically searches for the right franchises to suit the competition’s structure.

“The only proviso I put around that is that they need to be creditable business people and they need to have a proper business plan,” he said.

“They also need to be organisations that I believe can execute on that plan.

media_camera Perth guard Jarrod Kenny puts a shot up against Melbourne veteran David Barlow. Picture: Getty Images

“I don’t want to see either current or future owners not treating well what we think is an amazing sport and business venture.

“It’s a franchise like McDonalds. They are not going to put in stores that they don’t think will be successful.

“I’m the same. I won’t put in owners or teams that I don’t believe will be successful and don’t fit into the model.

“For us it’s very much about reviewing who the owners and business are that want to open a new franchise and if we believe they will make a success of it, we’ll 100 per cent back and support it.

“They need to bring a business case to us that we think stakes up.”

media_camera Sydney Kings guard Kevin Lisch shakes coach Andrew Gaze’s hand after a win over Cairns Taipans. Picture: Justin Brierty

Kestelman, meanwhile, praised Sydney for their surge from last to first this season.

He said a healthy Kings side was crucial to the overall success of the NBL.

“Sydney judges very harshly, so to have an organisation like AEG Ogden as the Kings’ owner is huge for us as a league,” he said.

“Harvey Lister in particular, who is the CEO, runs a very professional business and he is right behind this venture which is extraordinary for us.

media_camera Breakers veteran Kirk Penney high-fives with teammate David Stockton their recent win over the Brisbane Bullets. Picture: Getty Images

“The professionalism they’ve shown and to go from last to first, you do that by not only assembling a good roster but doing everything else right. But the success is not just about winning and losing. It’s what is your corporate product looks like, your image and attendance and game day.

“The Kings’ game day is now of NBA standard, which is great. It’s a huge priority for us as a league to have a successful Sydney franchise.”