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 Stories of NBL1: Khalu on growing the game in First Nations communities

Written by NBL1 Media | January 13, 2022

There’s not many people who have done more for the game of basketball than Joel Khalu.

His resume includes playing over 230 semi-professional games, founding and commissioning the Far North Queensland Super League, winning Sports Administrator of the Year at the Mackay Sports Star Awards and Basketball Queensland Annual Awards, winning a QBL Coach of the Year award and of course, claiming the inaugural NBL1 North championship with the Mackay Meteors.

But perhaps his biggest achievement has been playing a pivotal part in growing the game in Indigenous communities- the type of work that often doesn’t get recognised with a trophy or medal.

As a proud North Queenslander who grew up on Gimuy Walubara Yidinji country, Khalu has coached the Australian Indigenous Basketball Men’s National Team, worked as an Indigenous Development Officer, Participation & Indigenous Programs Manager and now as Basketball Queensland’s Indigenous Pathways Program Manager.

As a young Cairns kid who just wanted to ball out for his whole life, Khalu can’t quite believe how many experiences the sport has presented him with post-retirement.

"You don’t think a sport can take you to these places," he tells Rockingham star Greg Hire on Stories of NBL1.

"Everyone thinks it’s about playing and that’s it, but there’s so many avenues that can open up so many doors and pathways.

"I’ve been really lucky to experience playing, coaching, administration and management.

"It’s been really cool for my own professional development."

While Khalu is an incredible role model for the next generation of First Nations superstars, there is one player that they go crazy for.

"What Patty Mills has been able to do, not only through basketball, but on a social platform, is inspiring," Khalu says.

"He knows it’s bigger than him and the game, it’s about making a social impact on everyone in the game.

"He’s on this pedestal of who he is and what he’s done but when he’s out in the community, he’s just a general bloke.

"He represents First Nations people and Australians overall.

"I’m thinking there’s another Olympics in him and hopefully we’re in the Gold Medal game." 

Now with Australians seeing a clear picture of what Indigenous success in the sport looks like, Khalu believes the next step is to get more Patty Mills's out there on the court in a professional capacity. 

"We need more representation (in the sport)," Khalu said.

"I get that you don’t just get these opportunities, you’ve got to put in the work and be good enough but the pathways underneath are what I think we need to look at.

"Patty’s been the guy for so many years.

"The storytelling is big, it’s about celebrating the success of those players and administrators making the jump.

"If we want to inspire Indigenous kids to pick up a basketball instead of a football, we’ve got to be finding ways."

One player that found his way into the NBL was Mackay’s Emmanuel Malou.

It was a feel-good story on many fronts, as it highlighted the viable pathway that the NBL1 provides and the fact that age is in fact just a number.

During the podcast, Khalu highlights that once players turn 25, their NBL recruitment window starts to shut so Malou signing with the 36ers as a 27-year-old was a huge achievement.

"When ‘Manny’ signed with Adelaide, it was emotional," Khalu says.

"It was a lot of hard work for him and it was so great to see him get rewarded.

"Some coaches had bad wraps on him but I tried to block that all out and just look at the film.

"I thought we could really utilise his skillset and talent.

"He came in from day one, put in the work, was in the gym everyday and worked on his body.

"I was on the emails and calls with coaches (to get him in the NBL).

"I had a chat with Conner (Henry) who was coaching at the time and said that this guy would be good for you."

While Khalu is proud of Malou’s achievement, he knows that many other talented players in the league won’t get the opportunity to play in the NBL.

However, he shares some advice on what the up-and-comers need to do to take their game to the next level.

"Guys get caught up in averaging 25 and doing this and doing that," Khalu says.

"To an extent, you do have to go where the exposure is but at the same time, you’ve just gotta do what needs to be done- rebound, defend, run your lane and be a good teammate."

As far as winning championships goes, Khalu is no stranger to the odd trophy here and there. 

As a player, he was involved in two National Championships and six Queensland League championships.

As a coach, he led Papua New Guinea to a Gold Medal at the FIBA Melanesia Cup, the Australian Indigenous Men’s team to four consecutive Trans-Tasman Series titles and the Mackay Meteors to two championships.

One of those championships came last year, when he became the inaugural NBL1 North Men’s championship coach.

He says this title had a special feel to it, as he went against his junior team, Cairns in a best-of-three series that went down to the wire.

"It was emotional for me," Khalu reflects.

"When I look down at the bench, Kerry Williams and I, we go back a long time.

"Even Jimmy Mitchell, I coached him as a 14-year-old.

"It was pretty special and a great reward for our group.

"It’s always the first conversation we have at pre-season, that we’re here to win a championship."

Khalu will again be having that same conversation in 2022, signing on for another season at the helm of the Mackay Meteors. 

Will it result in the same ending?

History suggests he’s a chance to make it happen.