Author: Dan Boyce
Behind a rookie season which was so impressive that not only did Ben Simmons emerge as rookie of the year, he has now become a player many include in their list of the NBA’s top five players. At just 22 years of age, and with the recent blessing of Andrew Bogut, Ben Simmons has…
Read MoreThe 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 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 MoreThe Apunipima Australian Indigenous Basketball All Stars have won their fourth consecutive Trans-Tasman campaign, defeating the New Zealand Maori National Team two games-to-one, in the best-of-three annual series played across Aotearoa’s North Island. A last-second lay-up by big-man Chris Patton secured a thrilling 82-81 victory in the opening game played in Te Awamutu. The…
Read MoreDownload this episode on iTunes With 11 days left before the 2018-19 NBL season tips off, we take a look at each teams off-season moves, form during the NBL Blitz and preview their rosters for the coming season. Joining the show to provide insights and expertise is 1992 NBL Champion Bruce Bolden….
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…
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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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Why Newcastle’s NBL Return Is Closer Than You Think
The conversation around NBL expansion has intensified in recent years, with the league publicly confirming discussions with potential markets such as Canberra, the Gold Coast, and Darwin. However, one city that continues to quietly build momentum as a realistic candidate for a future franchise is Newcastle. While it may not always dominate the expansion headlines, the pieces required for an NBL return are slowly aligning, and according to former owner of the Illawarra Hawks, Dorry Kordahi, the push for a Newcastle team is very real.…
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Why Luke Paul Said No to a $3 Million College Bag to Get “Beaten Up” in the NBL
Most 16-year-olds would take the bag. Luke Paul wants to take a beating. In an era where high school recruits are chasing six-figure Instagram followings and seven-figure NIL deals, Luke Paul just did the unthinkable. The 16-year-old Australian talent is a 6'6" point guard widely tipped as a future NBA lottery pick who reportedly turned down US college offers worth up to $3 million to stay home. He didn't do it for comfort. He didn't do it for safety. According to Paul, he did it…
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‘We need to play good basketball’ – South East Melbourne eye fine-tuning ahead of finals
With one game remaining in the regular season and finals seeding on the line, South East Melbourne moved a step closer to the top two with a 120–104 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers at John Cain Arena. The Phoenix overcame a career-high 36-point outing from Majok Deng, with Angus Glover leading the way with 21 points and seven three-pointers as the home side’s firepower proved too much. Despite the result, coach Josh King said his group still needs to produce a complete four-quarter performance, particularly…
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Inclusion Needs Outcomes, Not Pride Rounds
In recent weeks, NBL Pride Round has been accompanied by a wave of opinion pieces — including Michael Randall’s “Pride Round: Why the NBL should be proud it won’t ever ‘shut up and dribble’” — praising the initiative while dismissing its critics. This has been something I’ve been thinking about and discussing with people since Indigenous Round.I think we all need a little perspective sometimes. https://t.co/2D65bvtS5K — Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) February 3, 2026 But the argument that any criticism of the National Basketball League’s social-issue…
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Kings vs Hawks: Ep. 6 — LaMelo Ball, Spy-Gate and ‘The Hawks’ lose their Illawarra name
We continue diving deeper into one of Aussie hoops’ fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — picking things up as LaMelo Ball and his Rookie of the Year season in 2019 propelled the Hawks into the global spotlight, setting NBL viewership and attendance records, while the Kings reloaded under Will Weaver and pushed for a championship in a season that ended in chaos. Host Dan Boyce breaks down LaMelo’s viral debut, his back-to-back triple-doubles, and the impact of Aaron Brooks’ season-ending injury on Illawarra’s playoff…
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Keanu Pinder’s Japanese Stint Could Result In Boomers Selection
Keanu Pinder has hit a new gear in Japan. As Akita’s starting big, he is producing like a franchise option, and that level of form is putting him back in the Boomers conversation. Pinder is in the midst of a prime career stretch that has seen him exceed the 2 time NBL "Most Improved Player" form that first made him a star in Cairns.The primary storyline defining Pinder’s 2025-26 campaign is a shift in usage. In Perth, Pinder was often a secondary option behind heavy…
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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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