At least two people entrenched in the local basketball community think the National Basketball League of Canada can succeed in Windsor.

Chris Oliver is the coach who turned around the Windsor Lancers men’s basketball program. Jimmy Parsons is a former all-Canadian at St. Clair College and played for the defunct Windsor Drive, the first team to try pro basketball in Windsor in 2004.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for our community. Basketball is very big in our community,” Oliver said. “The hope is we can work with the new organization to build basketball.”

Parsons played for the Drive after playing professionally in Europe for a year. The Canadian National Basketball League folded after two seasons.

“I don’t think the league worked out. But I think it did well in Windsor,” Parsons said. “I’m confident it will work in this area this time. From watching this league last year, it did pretty well.”

Oliver agreed this new league has a better chance than the old.

“There’s better infrastructure behind them and there’s more money behind them,” he said.

The National Basketball League of Canada announced Thursday that a franchise would be in Windsor and ready to play in the 2012-2013 season. The team has yet to be named and it hasn’t found a venue in which to play.

The National Basketball League of Canada was founded last year.

It says it's committed to developing the next generation of Canadian basketball players and raising awareness of basketball throughout the country.

The new Windsor team has ownership centred in the Detroit area, but there is Windsor investment, too.

Oliver thinks it will work, but not without its challenges.

“We’re close to the Pistons, Michigan, Michigan State and tons of good basketball in the area. I think that’s a positive but I think it’s a challenge as well,” Oliver said.

Mayor Eddie Francis said it's exciting for Windsor to get a franchise.

"We've been in discussions and several meetings with the ownership group and I'm very happy for them," he said. "They've put a lot of time and effort."