Penrith Panthers are ready for NBL1 2023

The Penrith Panthers are one of three teams who have entered the NBL1 East for next season, joining the Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Spiders and the Sydney Comets. 

Nathan Blatch, President of Penrith & Districts Basketball Association, joined NBL media to discuss what fans should expect from the Panthers in their first season. 

“We want to cement ourselves in the league and provide opportunities for our players at that level, and continue to build the program,” he said. 

“We’ve had a history of playing in elite competitions over the years. We're all about providing opportunities to the grassroots players to reach this level, so we obviously jumped at the opportunity to participate in the NBL1, and we're looking forward to it.”

Blatch attended the NBL1 East Finals and was impressed with the exceptional level of talent on display, and the atmosphere of the games. 

“We want to make game days exciting for the spectators and the people involved, and draw attention to the talent that's in the league.”

One of the issues for almost every club in NSW is court access. With the demand for basketball at an all-time high, clubs are looking at every opportunity to expand. Blatch explained that Western Sydney is the market that the Panthers aim to build and expand, saying the NBL1 is a tool for the club to grow even more.

“We are looking to use this as a catalyst to increase our courts and demonstrate what we need in the region and provide opportunities for the Greater West and Central West Communities.”

The Panthers program has provided a pathway for many professional players over the years including Sydney Kings legend Ben Knight as well as current professionals Tahlia Tupaea (UC Capitals), Akoldah Gak (Illawarra Hawks) and Angus Brandt (Japan).

Stay up to date with the Panthers and the NBL1 with the 2023 NBL1 Roster Tracker here.