New Zealand's National Basketball League tips off tonight amid the usual tumultuous backdrop.

Just last month NBL foundation club Auckland Stars were suspended from the league for a year because they were struggling to pay the bills.

Auckland owner Tab Baldwin proceeded to launch a scathing attack on NBL board chairman Sam Rossiter-Stead, who announced the Stars' suspension on the same day as a valuable three-year naming rights sponsorship deal with Bartercard, worth more than $500,000.

The league also received a boost with the news Sky Television will cover the playoffs of the now 10-team competition, which has lost representation in the north but gained it in the south.

Welcomed back to the league after a one-year absence are the Otago Nuggets, while Southland Sharks are brought into the fold.

For all this change, it promises to be the same old suspects bumping bodies in the playoffs.

Defending champions Waikato Pistons open up against Nelson Giants tonight in a replay of last year's finals series and both squads remain strong.

Waikato have lost the inspirational Pero Cameron and guards Michael Fitchett and Justin Bailey but have offset that with the addition of Tony Ronaldson, Hayden Allen and import Eric Devendorf.

Nelson have picked up Fitchett and his Tall Blacks team-mate Mika Vukona, a star of New Zealand's upset victory over Australia last year.

It will be intriguing to see how Cameron makes the adjustment to player-coach of the Wellington Saints, who have two new imports in Darryl Hudson and Erron Maxey.

Cameron views the Americans as role players, with responsibility thrust on talented Kiwi trio Lindsay Tait, Leon Henry and Nick Horvath.

Horvath returns after sitting out last year and at 2.08m is the Saints' only genuine big man.

The other two teams strong on paper are Harbour Heat and Hawke's Bay Hawks. Harbour have picked up veteran Breakers Dillon Boucher and Rick Rickert as well as American Kavossy Franklin.

Hawke's Bay have also spent well, adding former Nelson imports Josh Pace and Jamil Terrell, plus veteran point guard Paul Henare.

Pace is a former league MVP and makes the Shawn Dennis-coached Hawks the competition's dark horse.

AT A GLANCE

National Basketball League, round one

Tonight: Christchurch Cougars v Hawke's Bay Hawks, Waikato Pistons v Nelson Giants

Tomorrow: Taranaki MountainAirs v Nelson Saturday: Harbour Heat v Otago Nuggets, Southland Sharks v Hawke's Bay, Manawatu Jets v Wellington Saints Gains and losses

Christchurch Cougars
Gains: Aidan Daly, Jeremy Kench, Mark Morrison
Losses: Paul Henare, Gerard Bowden, Nat Connell, Dave Langrell

Bay Hawks
Gains: Josh Pace (import), Jamil Terrell (import), Henare, Connell, Langrell
Losses: Daly, Kench, Morrison

Waikato Pistons
Gains: Tony Ronaldson, Hayden Allen, Eric Devendorf (import), Bowden
Losses: Pero Cameron, Michael Fitchett, Justin Bailey

Nelson Giants
Gains: Mika Vukona, Fitchett, Michael Harrison (import)

Taranaki Mountain Airs
Gains: Jeremiah Trueman, Tyrone Davey

Harbour Heat
Gains: Dillon Boucher, Rick Rickert, Kavossy Franklin (import)

Otago Nuggets (rejoining league)
Key player: Antoine Tisby (import)

Southland Sharks (new to league)
Key players: Luke Martin, Martin Iti, Rene Rougeau (import)

Manawatu Jets
Gains: Richard Jeter (import), Calum McLeod, Matt Te Huna

Wellington Saints
Gains: Cameron, Nick Horvath, Darryl Hudson (import), Erron Maxey (import)
Losses: McLeod, Martin, Mike Efevberha, Damon Thornton