The Phoenix will be based at the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South but play their home games at Melbourne Arena. Once the show court at the State Basketball Centre is upgraded in the coming years then the team will look to move some games there. But the expectation is they will need the bigger capacity of Melbourne Arena. The Phoenix also want Australian NBA aspirant Mitch Creek as the face of their new franchise and the Victorian-raised star continues to be strongly linked with them although his form in the NBA G League with Long Island Nets could still see him promoted to the NBA. Australian Mitch Creek. Credit:AAP The new name and logo leaked out on Friday and was met but a negative reaction from keyboard warriors although as with all reactions, the angrier words stick while the positives fades.

For older fans, the name seems too close to the Melbourne Phoenix who played between 1997 and 2007 at the top level of Australian netball while soccer fans have seen the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League for several years now. But netball has long left the Phoenix name behind and Wellington hasn’t truly made it their own as the team still has very modest support in New Zealand and outside of it. The colours clash with the current NBL referees uniforms although those colours are tied to a sponsorship so could change for next season. The NBL franchise was well aware of both teams but felt the story they want to tell fits best with the rising of the Phoenix from the ashes of past NBL sides like the South East Melbourne Magic or South Dragons.

Those clubs represented the state most populated basketball region but were ultimately lost, the Phoenix want to be something that endures and eventually draws support from across the whole city. “We were definitely conscious of it [Melbourne Phoenix netball] but they haven’t been around for a decade or more - they have been and gone,” Greer said. “With every name there is always things like that you need to take into consideration but the thing about the Phoenix name is that it represents the rebirth of NBL basketball in the heartland of basketball.” The Phoenix have former Melbourne United assistant coach Simon Mitchell locked in as their coach and have Greer and respected administrator Rohan Short leading the way off court while owner Romie Chaudhari is due in Melbourne in December to look over their developments. Greer did little to dampen links between the Phoenix and Creek.

The team will struggle to make many signings until NBL free agency opens early next year but they can sign players based overseas so all signs point to the likelihood Creek signs on with the Phoenix in the near future while retaining an NBA out-clause. “I’m personal friends with Mitch and I hope he makes it because I know what he has put into it in the last three to four years,” Greer said. “I’m barracking for him to make the NBA and if he doesn’t I’ll be waiting there at his door.” With players, sponsors, staff and members to sign, the Phoenix have much to do before preseason training begins next winter. “Now the focus turns back on us and it’s about proving it to our community and the heartland of basketball that we are going to live our values,” Greer said.

“Getting a roster together and engaging with the community are our next steps.”