Aussies Abroad
The National Basketball League (NBL) may not be well-known to the masses just yet. However, as far as Australian basketball is concerned, this quest for expanded exposure and popularity isn’t all that far away. Or has it just begun? With the most Australians ever playing in the NBA right now, plus many more being invited to summer tryouts, the NBL and Australian basketball can hold their heads high in accomplishment. But…
Read MoreJoe Ingles transition from the final guy cut from the LA Clippers roster in 2014 to one of the league’s deadliest perimeter scorers in 2017-18 has been nothing short of extraordinary. When Utah lost it’s franchise player Gordon Hayward last season, many pencilled in a rebuilding phase for the Jazz. The emergence of “Jingling”…
Read MoreEntering his fifth season, Melbourne’s Dante Exum faces a critical juncture within his NBA career. Originally drafted fifth by the Utah Jazz in 2014, Exum’s NBA journey so far has been heavily interrupted to say the least. Now a year removed from overcoming multiple knee and shoulder injuries, 2018 provided us a glimpse of…
Read MoreI recently sat down with Steve Hoare, NBL Champion, sixth man of the year winner, and all around good guy. A veteran of 465 NBL games over 17 seasons. I asked “the Aura” about life after basketball, road trips, 90’s jams, the NBL today, the 2020 Boomers, tuxedo wearing penguins, Spice girls, and what…
Read MoreAfter a season which would likely be his worst at NBA level, the pressure is on Matthew Dellavedova to return to the form that first resulted in signing a $38 million, four-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Having seemed bulletproof previously, ‘Delly’ was hampered by troublesome injuries with both knee and ankles issues limiting…
Read MoreJosh Green, the latest exciting Australian basketball talent has committed to play with the University of Arizona. He will become a Wildcat next year and move to Tucson, about a two hour drive south of Phoenix where he lived with his family and attended high school at the IMG Academy in Florida. THE…
Read MoreHaving been a mainstay in the Boomers squad for a number of years, 28 year-old Ryan Broekhoff finally gets his first opportunity at NBA level. The six foot seven swing-man signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks back in August having spent his entire professional career plying his trade in Europe. Although going…
Read MoreEntering his first season in the NBA, many Australians will be keeping a keen focus on 22 year-old Jonah Bolden. Having been drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 36th pick in the 2017 draft, Bolden spent the entirety of last season playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Helping his team to a title in the…
Read MoreEighty-eight contracted players will suit up for NBL teams in the opening round of the 2017/18 season, but there is one player who stands out above the rest to be the most average guy in the league. Going by the numbers he is not taller, shorter, lighter, heavier, younger or older than the average…
Read MoreThe 6 foot 10 big man enjoyed a breakout campaign in the NBA last season, starting in 67 regular season games for coach Brad Stevens at the Boston Celtics. Baynes proved even more valuable during the playoffs as his minutes further improved from the regular season, starting 12 of a possible 19 games as the…
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Rolan Roberts on Kings Titles, Dunk Contest Injury and Playing for Brian Goorjian and Trevor Gleeson
Former Sydney Kings and Townsville Crocodiles big man Rolan Roberts joins the podcast to reflect on his time in Australia, including joining the Kings mid-season and helping them complete their historic 2005 NBL three-peat. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Roberts about playing under Brian Goorjian, becoming a key interior presence for Sydney, and being part of the Kings team that became the first in NBL history to win three straight championships. The episode also dives into…
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Boomers: we’re not taking Patty and Bryce
At some point over the next 12 months, the Boomers are going to have to make a decision that Australian basketball has managed to avoid for almost two decades. Who exactly is this team built around now? Since 2010, that answer was simple. It was Patty Mills’ team. Mills has been the primary scorer for the Boomers for nearly two decades and few Australian victories have been recorded without a major scoring performance from Patty. But as the Boomers move toward the 2027 FIBA World…
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NBL players who have played in the NBA
A player arriving in the NBL with NBA experience always creates interest. Fans get excited when their team signs a former NBA player, commentators mention it during broadcasts, and every article about that player usually links their NBL performance back to their NBA résumé. Sometimes, we see a big-time college prospect use the NBL as a springboard to the NBA and never return. Other times, established NBA veterans come to Australia looking for a fresh opportunity. And in many cases, local talent develops in the…
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Who are the greatest NBA Players to play in the NBL
Over the years, Aussie Hoopla has taken a deep dive into the full list of players who have competed in both the NBL and the NBA. You can see the full list of NBL players who have played in the NBA here: Names from every decade since the 1980s have featured, including NBL legends like Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Lanard Copeland and Rob Rose, alongside a long list of imports who used the NBL as a stepping stone to the world’s biggest stage. But with…
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Julius Hodge on Stepping on Brett Maher, NBL Pay Issues and NBA Stories
Former Adelaide 36ers star Julius Hodge joins the podcast to reflect on one of the most dominant short stints in NBL history, his journey from the NBA to Australia, and the impact he made during the 2007/08 season. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Hodge about his incredible all-around performances, triple-doubles, and what it was like adjusting to the Australian game mid-season. The episode also dives into his time playing in the NBA and overseas, his perspective…
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NBL Free Agent Tracker
Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…
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Mick Downer on NBL Talent in Japan, NBL vs B.League, and Offensive Rebounding
Current head coach of the Akita Northern Happinets, Mick Downer joins the podcast to discuss the differences between coaching in Japan and the NBL, his stints with Perth, Cairns, Brisbane and Adelaide over the past 25 years, and his time with the Australian Boomers program. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Downer about what he learnt stepping into the head coaching role in a non-English speaking country, as well as providing updates on NBL talent in Japan…
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Kings vs Hawks: Ep. 7 — The Hawks’ 2nd Title and The Rivalry Today
We wrap up our seven-part deep dive into one of Aussie hoops’ fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — as the modern era turns the heat all the way up and the Freeway Series swings wildly from season to season. Host Dan Boyce picks things up after the Hawks’ rebirth under new ownership and Brian Goorjian — a fresh start that quickly turns into a brutal reality check, including the worst season in franchise history (3–25) — before Illawarra pulls off one of the great…
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