NICKNAME/S: Stiffy

BIO: David Stiff was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Knox basketball program.

NBL EXPERIENCE

David Stiff made his NBL debut with the Hobart Devils at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

After his 1992 stint with the Hobart Devils Stiff took up a scholarship in the United States with Boston College where he played for three years.

1995
Upon returning to Australia, he re-joined the Devils and played a further two seasons albeit by 1995, Hobart was struggling financially, and coach Bill Tomlinson would continually struggle to maintain a roster with his younger talent being snapped up by richer team’s while his veteran players were retiring.

Anthony Stewart (to Perth), Lamont Middleton (to Europe) and Calvin Talford (to Europe) exited Hobart after the 1994 season, while Wayne McDaniel (retired) and Keith Nelson (retired after a severe knee injury) were also gone from the previous year’s roster.

Veteran guard Darren Perry, who was still recovering from a ACL injury, was the only player to return. Coach Bill Tomlinson rebuilt the squad by adding Stiff, as well as Andre Moore (via Brisbane), import Jerome Scott and local talent Darren Smith, Mark Nash.

Stiff (15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks) delivered a breakout season, earning Rookie of the Year honours. He would produce his best game in loss to North Melbourne (86-102). Stiff (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks) dominated at both ends, but Chris Jent (34 points) and Pat Reidy (32 points) proved too strong, delivering the Giants the win.

Over the course of the season, Jerome Scott (23.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals) proved he wasn’t shy to launch a shot during his debut season in the NBL, finishing the year with 528 attempts, bettered only by Derek Rucker, Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland. Fellow import Moore (17.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists) gave Hobart a veteran presence inside and Perry (14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals) battled through his return from injury to form the key nucleus for the club.

Young talent Darren Smith (12 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Mark Nash (5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds) showed potential, but Hobart managed to win only four games this season, finishing the year with a loss to Townsville (127-107).

Some oldschool NBL Dunk Comp highlights #straightfromthetapes pic.twitter.com/8GqXQ3x4wm— RANDOM HOOPS (@HoopsRandom) May 23, 2024

1996
1996 saw Andre Moore, Darren Perry and Travis Rousell all exiting, leaving coach Bill Tomlinson to rebuild around Jerome Scott, David Stiff, Darren Smith, and Mark Nash.

While Tomlinson added import Jonathan Roberts to the squad, with Hobart under financial uncertainty, coach Bill Tomlinson was tasked with filling these roster gaps with low cost talent like Tim Brenton, Craig Adams and Mark Banovic.

The Devils opened the season with a home loss to Canberra (89-102), which kickstarted a six game losing streak to start the season.

Stiff (15.9 points, 9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks) built on his Rookie of the Year season, becoming Hobart’s leading rebounder and shot-blocker while carrying heavy minutes in a depleted frontcourt.

His best scoring game came when he finished with a season-high 30 points, while another strong game came against Melbourne on June 16, where Stiff (27 points) led Hobart in a 85-100 road loss to the eventual minor premiers, with Jonathan Roberts (23 points) also providing support.

Over the course of the season, Roberts (21.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals) became Hobart’s leading scorer, while Scott (17.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.4 steals) remained aggressive offensively and Tim Brenton (13.2 points), Nash (8.2 points and 6 rebounds) and Darren Smith (7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals) filled out the main rotation.

Hobart missed the playoffs, finishing 12th with a 8-18 record after closing the season with a 79-101 home loss to South East Melbourne, with Roberts (21 points), Darren Smith (15 points) and Stiff (14 points).

The loss also became the final game in Devils history, with the club folding after the 1996 season due to financial difficulties.

NORTH MELBOURNE GIANTS
1997
With Hobart folding before the 1997 season, North Melbourne added David Stiff (via Hobart) as Brett Brown tried to keep the Giants competitive despite growing financial pressure. Tonny Jensen (to Newcastle) and Paul Maley (back injury) exited, while Mike Mitchell (via Brisbane), Andrew Goodwin (via Brisbane), Matthew Reece (via Newcastle) and Cameron Jackson joined a roster that retained Darryl McDonald, Pat Reidy, Paul Rees, Rod Johnson, Matthew Shanahan, Stephen Hoare and John Stelzer. With Gold Coast and Hobart no longer in the league, the Giants were able to add new talent but still carried the league minimum of 11 players.

North Melbourne opened the season with a 85-81 win over Sydney, where the Giants’ new forward finished with 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 6 blocks, immediately solidifying the frontcourt alongside Reidy (24 points), Mitchell (23 points) and McDonald (14 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals), while Isaac Burton (19 points) and Bruce Bolden (14 points) were Sydney’s best.

Stiff (13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) helped North Melbourne start 4-0, backing up his debut with 10 points and 9 rebounds in a 97-83 road win over Canberra, 21 points in a 109-101 win over Newcastle and 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists as the Giants defeated Sydney 94-92.

The biggest setback came when Rees suffered a severe knee injury that kept him out for most of the regular season, only to return late and break his wrist against Brisbane in the second-last round. With Rees missing, Stiff stepped into a major role inside, while Goodwin added size and Mitchell gave North Melbourne another scoring option around McDonald and Reidy.

One of his best early-season games came in Adelaide on May 3, where he finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block as North Melbourne defeated the 36ers 99-92. Stiff’s best regular-season scoring game came on May 31 against Brisbane, where he made 8-of-9 shots and finished with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block, but the Bullets defeated North Melbourne 102-97. He also battled Perth on the glass in a 96-83 road loss on May 24, finishing with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks as David Van Dyke (12 points and 15 rebounds) and Todd Lichti (13 rebounds) helped the Wildcats control the boards.

Stiff later produced one of his best all-round games on August 23 against South East Melbourne, finishing with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks as North Melbourne defeated the Magic 94-83.

North Melbourne closed the regular season at home against Perth on September 24, where Stiff finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, but the Wildcats defeated the Giants 106-102. The Giants finished third with a 18-12 record despite playing one of the league’s smallest rotations.

Reidy (20.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals) led North Melbourne in scoring, while McDonald (17.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 3.3 steals) led the NBL in assists and steals, won the Good Hands Award, finished runner-up in MVP voting and earned All-NBL Second Team honours.

Mitchell (15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals) gave the Giants another reliable import option, while Johnson (10.8 points), Goodwin (10.5 points and 5.7 rebounds), Shanahan (7.7 points) and Rees (4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds) filled out the main rotation.

The elimination finals opened at the AIS Arena, where Canberra defeated North Melbourne 104-93 to take the early edge in the best-of-three series, despite Stiff finishing with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.

Game two moved to the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, where North Melbourne answered with a 108-98 win as Rees returned for the playoffs and gave the Giants a needed interior presence. Stiff added 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block as the Giants levelled the series.

Game three stayed in Melbourne, where North Melbourne closed the series with a 102-75 win behind Stiff (14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks), helping the Giants handily defeat Canberra and move into the semifinals.

The semifinals opened against Melbourne at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, where Bradtke (25 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks) played all 48 minutes for the Tigers, while Stiff delivered 24 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks before Melbourne took game one 107-99.

Game two moved to Melbourne Park, where Bradtke (26 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists) again played all 48 minutes as Melbourne completed the sweep on its way to the NBL championship. Stiff (6 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) played 31:21 minutes in the 112-105 loss.

1998
North Melbourne’s 1998 campaign became the final season for the Giants, with financial pressure continuing after the club’s 1997 semifinal exit against Melbourne. Mike Mitchell, Paul Rees (to Adelaide), Rod Johnson (to Canberra), Stephen Hoare (to West Sydney) and Matthew Reece all exited the team, while Brett Brown retained David Stiff, Darryl McDonald, Pat Reidy, Paul Maley, Andrew Goodwin and Matthew Shanahan. Ben Pepper (via Newcastle), David Close (via Canberra), rookie David Smith (via AIS) and new import Darnell Hoskins were added to round out the roster.

North Melbourne opened the season at Beaton Park on January 30 without McDonald, losing to Wollongong 109-96 as Stiff (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) started in the frontcourt, with Reidy (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Hoskins (15 points) leading the Giants in the loss.

With McDonald (12.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.3 steals) sidelined for the opening 13 games, Brown added Nate Driggers to cover the backcourt while Stiff (11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) settled into a bigger role beside Pepper. North Melbourne lost its first five games before defeating Melbourne 102-82 on February 27, with Stiff (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists), Reidy (22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Hoskins (29 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) helping the Giants claim their first win of the season.

Driggers (6 points and 3.3 rebounds) played seven games before being released after failing to provide the cover needed during McDonald’s absence. Hoskins (17 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals) briefly looked like he might settle the import spot when Hoskins (40 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Reidy (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) led North Melbourne to a 97-91 win over Sydney on March 14, but Hoskins played his final game on March 29 and was released as Brown continued reshaping the roster, with NBL legend Butch Hays (8.9 points and 3.4 assists) brought out of retirement on April 3 to steady the group before McDonald returned.

Stiff (16 points and 8 rebounds) gave North Melbourne strong minutes against Adelaide on April 4 as the Giants defeated the 36ers 115-99, with Reidy (20 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Maley (19 points and 4 rebounds) leading the way as North Melbourne collected only its fourth win of the season.

Stiff (19 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks) produced one of his best games at the Perth Entertainment Centre on April 26 as North Melbourne pushed the Wildcats to the final possession before falling 103-102, with Reidy (29 points and 6 rebounds) and McDonald (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 13 assists) also having big games in the loss.

Stiff (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) followed with another strong performance against Newcastle on May 3 as North Melbourne defeated the Falcons 119-112, with Pepper (32 points and 18 rebounds) and Reidy (22 points and 5 rebounds) helping the Giants claim one of their strongest home wins of the year.

Stiff (18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) helped North Melbourne defeat Perth 109-103 in its final home game on June 5, with Pepper (22 points and 7 rebounds) and McDonald (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists) leading the Giants to one of their best wins of the season.

Reidy (17.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) led North Melbourne in scoring, while Pepper (13.7 points and 8.2 rebounds) gave the Giants a new interior focal point after arriving from Newcastle. Maley (12.7 points and 4.9 rebounds) returned from injury and became one of the team’s steadier scorers, while Goodwin (10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds), Smith (7.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), Shanahan (6.4 points) and Close (6.1 points) filled out Brown’s rotation. Smith also earned Rookie of the Year, one of the few positives from a difficult season.

Stiff’s best game of the season came in North Melbourne’s final game at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where Stiff (24 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) played 42:47 minutes as the Giants fell 115-113 to Sydney. Pepper (18 points and 12 rebounds) and McDonald (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) provided support as North Melbourne finished 10th with a 9-21 record, including only one road win.

In an effort to boost sponsorship and membership numbers, South East Melbourne merged with North Melbourne at the end of the season, with the club re-launching as the Victoria Titans.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1998/99
Adelaide entered the NBL’s first summer season as defending champions, with John Rillie (to West Sydney) and Dean Brogan (to Newcastle) leaving the club, while Scott Ninnis retired from playing and joined Phil Smyth’s coaching staff. Captain Brett Maher, Kevin Brooks, Darnell Mee, Martin Cattalini, Mark Davis, Paul Rees, Rupert Sapwell, Paul Bauer and Jason Williams returned from the 1998 championship team.

Following North Melbourne’s final season before the Giants merged with South East Melbourne to form the Victoria Titans, David Stiff (via North Melbourne) joined Adelaide and was paired with Davis as the team’s two-headed centre combination. Mee signed a three-year deal to remain with the 36ers, while Smyth convinced Brooks to return on a one-year contract after he considered larger offers from Europe and South America.

The new centre made his Adelaide debut against Perth at the Perth Entertainment Centre on October 10, finishing with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal in a 106-96 loss. Brooks (22 points), Cattalini (20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) and Mee (18 points, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) led Adelaide, while Scott Fisher (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Andrew Vlahov (19 points) and Paul Rogers (16 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Perth.

Stiff (9.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 33 games) appeared in every regular-season and postseason game during his first year with Adelaide. The defending champions began the season with two wins from their opening six games, with Maher later explaining, “We lost John Rillie and Dean Brogan, but we brought in David Stiff and it took us a little while to adapt to that.”

One of his strongest early performances came against Sydney at Adelaide Arena on December 4, where he finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks as Adelaide defeated the Kings 101-90. Maher (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Brooks (16 points and 11 rebounds) and Sapwell (11 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) helped the 36ers square their record at 4-4, while Kelsey Weems (26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), Matthew Nielsen (22 points and 13 rebounds) and Acie Earl (20 points, 25 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) led Sydney.

Stiff’s best scoring game came against Canberra on January 16, where he made 13-of-15 field-goal attempts and finished with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks as Adelaide defeated the Cannons 105-87. Mee (17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks), Maher (15 points) and Davis (14 points and 5 rebounds) provided support, while Melvin Thomas (22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals), Mike McKay (21 points) and Jervaughn Scales (16 points and 8 rebounds) led Canberra.

Maher (19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals) led Adelaide in scoring, while Brooks (17.3 points and 6.1 rebounds), Cattalini (14.9 points and 7 rebounds) and Mee (14.8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1.2 blocks) provided the team’s other major offensive options. Davis (8.9 points and 4.2 rebounds), Sapwell (7.3 points and 3.6 rebounds) and Rees (6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds) completed Smyth’s main rotation, with Brooks selected to the All-NBL First Team, Mee earning All-NBL Second Team honours and the NBL Best Defensive Player award, and Maher named to the All-NBL Third Team.

Adelaide won nine of its final 10 regular-season games and entered the last round needing to defeat Brisbane and Townsville on the road, while also relying on Perth to defeat Melbourne, to claim first place.

The first game of the road double was played at the Brisbane Convention Centre on March 12, where Stiff finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks as Adelaide defeated the Bullets 98-83. Cattalini (17 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), Mee (17 points and 8 rebounds), Sapwell (17 points and 6 rebounds) and Brooks (16 points) led the 36ers, while Steve Woodberry (29 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) was Brisbane’s best.

Adelaide then defeated Townsville 107-92 the following night, with Stiff finishing with 6 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 steal. Brooks (27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Maher (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Mee (15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led the 36ers, while Robert Rose (25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) was Townsville’s best. Perth defeated Melbourne, allowing Adelaide to complete an 18-8 regular season and secure its first minor premiership since 1988.

Adelaide opened the qualifying finals against a Perth team which had defeated the 36ers in both regular-season games at the Perth Entertainment Centre, while Adelaide had won their only meeting at home.

Game one was played at Challenge Stadium, where Stiff (12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) made six of his seven field-goal attempts as Adelaide defeated Perth 99-87. Brooks (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals), Davis (18 points and 5 rebounds), Maher (14 points) and Mee (13 points, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) gave the 36ers six double-figure scorers, while Vlahov (26 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Fisher (20 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Anthony Stewart (18 points and 5 rebounds) led Perth.

Game two moved to Adelaide Arena, where Stiff (4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block) contributed as Adelaide defeated Perth 97-80 and completed the sweep. Mee (25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals), Maher (22 points), Cattalini (16 points and 8 rebounds) and Sapwell (10 points) led the 36ers, while Fisher (17 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists), Ricky Grace (16 points and 5 assists) and Vlahov (12 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks) were Perth’s best.

The semifinals matched Adelaide against Wollongong, which advanced as the highest-ranked losing qualifying finalist after being swept by Victoria. Adelaide had defeated the Hawks in two of their three regular-season meetings.

The series opened at the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Stiff (9 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block) helped Adelaide defeat Wollongong 93-81. Maher (25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Brooks (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Cattalini (14 points and 5 rebounds) led the 36ers, while Clayton Ritter (23 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals), Mat Campbell (15 points and 6 assists) and CJ Bruton (13 points and 5 assists) led Wollongong.

Game two moved to Adelaide Arena, where Wollongong built a 16-point lead late in the third quarter and remained ahead 88-85 with 9.9 seconds remaining. Sapwell missed a three-pointer, but Stiff retrieved the ball before it went out of bounds and passed it back to Sapwell, who made his second attempt to force overtime. Stiff (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks) made eight of his 10 field-goal attempts, while Maher (19 points), Brooks (16 points and 7 rebounds), Sapwell (11 points and 4 rebounds) and Mee (9 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) helped Adelaide complete a 99-98 overtime win and sweep the series. Bruton (27 points and 7 rebounds), Campbell (20 points) and Ritter (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Wollongong.

Adelaide entered the Grand Final undefeated during the postseason against the Victoria Titans, a new club formed from the merger of the South East Melbourne Magic and North Melbourne Giants. The 36ers had defeated Victoria in both regular-season meetings and held home-court advantage after finishing first.

The Grand Final opened at Melbourne Park, where Stiff (7 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) helped Adelaide defeat Victoria 104-94. Maher (31 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) made six three-pointers, while Mee (25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks), Brooks (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Sapwell (11 points) provided support. Darryl McDonald (23 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals), Tony Ronaldson (19 points) and Ben Pepper (18 points) led the Titans.

Game two moved to Adelaide Arena, where Stiff (8 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) contributed, but Victoria defeated the 36ers 88-82 and levelled the series. Maher (25 points), Brooks (12 points and 4 rebounds), Cattalini (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Rees (11 points) were Adelaide’s double-figure scorers, while Ronaldson (22 points), Brett Wheeler (18 points and 9 rebounds), Jason Smith (15 points and 6 rebounds) and McDonald (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) led Victoria.

The deciding game remained at Adelaide Arena, where the 36ers held Victoria to 32 first-half points and defeated the Titans 80-69 in front of more than 7,000 supporters. Cattalini (19 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Maher (15 points and 7 rebounds), Brooks (13 points and 6 rebounds) and Sapwell (13 points) led Adelaide, while Pepper (15 points) and Ronaldson (15 points) led Victoria as the 36ers became the first team to win consecutive NBL championships since Perth in 1990 and 1991, Maher was named Grand Final MVP and Stiff collected his first NBL championship with 6 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks.
1999/00
Coming off back-to-back championships after the NBL’s move to summer, Adelaide seemed primed for a NBL dynasty but suffered a major blow with the league reducing the salary cap which would see Kevin Brooks (to Sydney) lost with the team unable to re-sign him without breaching the salary cap.

Captain Brett Maher, Darnell Mee, Martin Cattalini, Mark Davis, David Stiff, Paul Rees, Rupert Sapwell, Paul Bauer and Jason Williams all returned, while coach Phil Smyth added replaced Brooks with Paul Maley (via Victoria), who in similiar fashion had been squeezed out of North Melbourne due to their merger with South East Melbourne.

Days later, high-scoring forward Martin Cattalini agreed to play in France, which would have been a double blow after losing Brooks, but prior to the season tipping off he backflipped and re-signed with Adelaide in the hopes that a big year would result in being selected for the 2000 Olympics to be held in Sydney.

The season kicked off with a 109-89 win over Perth at home, with the 36ers fielding a starting lineup of Cattalini, Maher, Mee, Rees and Maley. Coming off the bench, Stiff (13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.4 blocks) responded to a larger role in his second season in Adelaide, becoming one of the team’s strongest frontcourt pieces as Maley battled a recurring back injury.

As a result of winning the 1999 NBL championship, the 36ers were again invited to participate in the McDonald’s Cup, held at the 12,000 seat Fila Forum in Milan, Italy during the first month of the regular season.

After losing their first game 90-79 to Brazilian side CR Vasco da Gama, who went all the way to meet the San Antonio Spurs in the final, Adelaide won the 5-6 place playoff 91-84 over Lebanese team Hekmeh BC.

After returning to Australia, Adelaide never skipped a beat, winning three straight games before heading to Townsville, where Maher nailed five from five threes, scored 15 points in the first quarter, and finished with a career-high 40 points as Adelaide lost its first game of the season in overtime.

Maley then missed a number of games due to a recurring back injury which saw Stiff enter the starting lineup, where he responded with his best game of the season, scoring a career-high 35 points on 70% shooting in a 111-103 win over Wollongong.

On 6 February 2000, the 36ers participated in the league’s first open air game, where 10,318 fans gathered to see the Titans deliver Adelaide a rare loss, 83-75 at Melbourne Park, with Stiff (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks).

Over the course of the season, Cattalini (20.3 points and 7.5 rebounds) and Maher (20.2 points and 4.3 rebounds) led Adelaide in scoring, while Mee (13.6 points, 7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks) again filled almost every category on the stat sheet.

Maley (12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds), Davis (8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds), Rees (7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds) and Sapwell (7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds) rounded out the main rotation as Adelaide again finished first on the ladder with a 22-6 record.

Due to finishing in the top two, Adelaide and Townsville were given first-round byes, while Perth defeated West Sydney and Victoria knocked out Melbourne in the elimination finals, resulting in the 36ers facing off against a Brian Goorjian led team for the third year in a row.

The Titans, who had discarded Maley only to see him become a valuable contributor for Adelaide, entered the series as favourites and won game one 101-86 in Melbourne, with Ronaldson (26 points and 5 rebounds) and McDonald (24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) leading Victoria.

Game two moved to Adelaide, where the 36ers returned to their high-scoring offence behind Cattalini (24 points and 7 rebounds) and Mee (22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals), evening the series with a 95-72 win.

With many pencilling in another Titans elimination from the 36ers, Victoria rallied behind McDonald (24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals), while Mee (22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) was equally up to the task for Adelaide before the remaining 36ers struggled to score through the impenetrable Titans defence, with Victoria winning the decider 93-89.

2000/01
After falling short of a third straight championship, Adelaide lost Martin Cattalini (to Spain), while Brett Maher, Darnell Mee, David Stiff, Paul Maley, Paul Rees, Mark Davis, Rupert Sapwell and Jason Williams returned for coach Phil Smyth.

Smyth added Kevin Brooks (via Sydney), bringing back the championship-winning import after his one-year stint with the Kings, and Mark Nash (via Brisbane) to fill Cattalini’s spot on the wing.

Adelaide opened the season with a 92-84 road win over Perth, but Stiff aggravated a groin injury that was later diagnosed as osteitis pubis and missed more than half the regular season.

Stiff (7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 19 games) returned later in the season and his best game came in Adelaide’s 118-107 loss to Melbourne, where Stiff (12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks) gave the 36ers frontcourt production against the Tigers.

Adelaide finished the regular season in sixth place with a 16-12 record, ending the year on a four-game losing streak despite the production of Maher (20.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals), Brooks (19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists), Mee (18.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks), Nash (9.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists), Maley (9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds), Rees (6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds), Davis (6.2 points), Sapwell (6.0 points) and Jason Williams (4.7 points).

Mee was named to the All-NBL First Team and won his third straight NBL Best Defensive Player award, but Adelaide’s season had been hurt by Stiff’s injury, Maley’s recurring back problems and the loss of Cattalini from the championship core.

Adelaide opened the playoffs against first-placed Victoria and dropped game one 96-101, with Chris Anstey (27 points and 16 rebounds) leading the Titans before the 36ers responded behind Mee and Brooks.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Adelaide defeated Victoria 96-83 behind Brooks, Mee and Maher to force a deciding game.

Game three saw Adelaide complete the upset with a 115-103 win over Victoria, with Brooks (34 points) and Maher (24 points) leading the 36ers, while Tony Ronaldson (22 points) was best for the Titans.

Adelaide then opened the semifinals against Wollongong at home and lost 83-84 after late contact on Mee and Stiff went uncalled, with Melvin Thomas (18 points and 13 rebounds), Charles Thomas (17 points and 6 rebounds) and Glen Saville (13 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) leading Wollongong.

Game two moved to Wollongong, where Adelaide stayed alive with a 111-100 win behind Brooks (30 points) and Mee (24 points), while Axel Dench (26 points) and Saville (15 points and 10 rebounds) led the Hawks.

Game three became a NBL classic, with Brooks (26 points) leading Adelaide and Stiff (4 points and 12 rebounds) controlling the glass, while Melvin Thomas (28 points and 11 rebounds) and Mat Campbell (19 points) kept Wollongong close before Damon Lowery hit three free throws after the buzzer to give the Hawks a 109-108 win.

2001/02
Following a painful semi-final exit in 2001, Adelaide 36ers head coach Phil Smyth overhauled the roster, with Kevin Brooks (to Sweden), Darnell Mee (to Cairns), Paul Maley (retired) and Mark Davis (retired) all exiting the team. Brett Maher, David Stiff, Paul Rees, Rupert Sapwell, Mark Nash and Jason Williams returned, while Smyth added Willie Farley, Oscar Forman, Jacob Holmes and Matt Illman.

Stiff (12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals across 38 games) bounced back from an injury-hit 2000/01 season and returned to being one of Adelaide’s most important frontcourt players. His size, rebounding and passing helped balance a team now built around Maher and Farley on the perimeter.

The 36ers started the season 6-4, before financial difficulties forced Cairns to release Matt Garrison, who Smyth quickly signed for the remainder of the season. Garrison (10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) played the final 26 games and helped Adelaide finish third with a 17-13 record.

Farley (25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.2 steals) quickly became the team’s leading scorer and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Maher (21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals) was named to the All-NBL Third Team. Rees (10.2 points and 7.2 rebounds), Sapwell (8.6 points and 3.8 rebounds), Nash (7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds), Williams (6.9 points), Forman (2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds) and Holmes (2.5 points) rounded out the rotation.

Adelaide opened the playoffs in Wollongong, defeating the defending champion Hawks 107-90 behind Farley (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals), Sapwell (19 points and 11 rebounds) and Maher (16 points and 6 assists).

Game two moved to Adelaide, where Farley (33 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Maher (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the 36ers to a 101-95 win and a two-game sweep.

Adelaide opened the semifinals in Melbourne with a 99-92 upset of Victoria behind Farley (25 points and 4 rebounds) and Maher (23 points and 8 rebounds).

The Titans responded in Adelaide, winning game two 86-81 as Farley (24 points) and Maher (15 points) were held to their lowest combined total of the postseason.

Game three saw Adelaide bounce back with a 103-92 win behind Farley (33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Maher (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Rees (16 points and 9 rebounds), sending the 36ers into the Grand Final.

Adelaide opened the Grand Final series with a 106-97 win over West Sydney at Adelaide Arena, with Farley (34 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals) and Maher (25 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists) leading the 36ers.

Game two moved to Sydney, where Simon Dwight (20 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks) and John Rillie (28 points) led West Sydney to a 103-100 win, while Farley (24 points and 8 rebounds) and Maher (25 points and 7 assists) kept Adelaide close.

Game three saw Adelaide deliver one of the most dominant Grand Final performances in NBL history, hitting a Grand Final record 19-of-31 from three-point range and scoring a record 125 points. Maher (30 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists), Farley (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Stiff (19 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block), Sapwell (19 points and 8 rebounds) and Nash (18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the 36ers to a 125-107 win over West Sydney.

SYDNEY KINGS
2002/03
After missing the playoffs and finishing eighth the previous season, Sydney lost Frank Drmic (to Europe), Isaac Burton, Derek Moore, James Smith and Stephen Whitehead, while Shane Heal, Matthew Nielsen, Ben Melmeth, Travis Lane, Michael Kingma and BJ Carter returned.

The Kings entered the season after a turbulent period off the court, having spent time in administration less than 12 months earlier. Brett Brown had put together much of the roster before accepting an NBA role with the San Antonio Spurs a month before the season, handing the team over to Brian Goorjian, who arrived from Victoria and added David Stiff (via Adelaide), Brad Sheridan (via Victoria), rookie Gary Boodnikoff and import duo Chris Williams and Kavossy Franklin.

Stiff (5.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 26 games) moved into a bench frontcourt role after helping Adelaide win the 2002 championship, giving Sydney extra size and rebounding behind Nielsen and Melmeth. His arrival would prove significant, with Stiff becoming one of the rare players in league history to win back-to-back championships with different clubs.

Sydney quickly emerged as the competition’s benchmark, winning eight of their final nine regular-season games to finish first with a 22-8 record and secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Williams produced one of the great individual performances in club history on 18 January against West Sydney, recording a 34-point, 15-rebound and 11-assist triple-double.

Williams (23.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks) dominated in his first professional season at just 22 years of age, while Heal (20 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6 assists), Franklin (17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists), Nielsen (15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks), Melmeth (9 points and 5.5 rebounds) and Sheridan (7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals) rounded out one of the deepest rosters in the league.

Williams was named league MVP and Grand Final MVP, becoming the first player since Scott Fisher in 1989 to win both awards in the same season. Heal joined him on the All-NBL First Team, Nielsen was named to the All-NBL Second Team, Franklin made the All-NBL Third Team and Boodnikoff won Rookie of the Year.

Sydney opened the playoffs against Melbourne and won game one 101-89, with Stiff (18 points and 11 rebounds) providing a major lift off the bench alongside Williams (13 points) and Franklin (12 points), while Andrew Gaze (21 points) led the Tigers. The victory was hailed as further proof that the Kings were no longer the competition’s perennial underachievers.

Game two moved to Sydney, where Melbourne won 108-104 behind Gaze (25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), Lanard Copeland (22 points and 5 assists) and Mark Bradtke (21 points), while Williams (32 points), Nielsen (21 points) and Franklin (16 points) led Sydney.

With the series returning to Sydney, the Kings won game three 114-89 behind Williams (25 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks), while Stephen Hoare (15 points and 12 rebounds) was best for Melbourne.

Sydney then opened the semifinals against Townsville with a 124-107 win after trailing by three points at half-time, with Williams (26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block), Nielsen (25 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds), Franklin (25 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Heal (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals) leading the Kings, while Pat Reidy (29 points), Andrew Rice (20 points and 5 rebounds), Robert Rose (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Wayne Turner (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal) led the Crocodiles. Stiff (2 points) played limited minutes in the win.

Game two moved to Sydney, where Townsville kept the series alive with a 113-91 win behind Goodwin (22 points and 11 rebounds), Reidy (22 points and 7 rebounds), Turner (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Rice (16 points and 9 rebounds), while Nielsen (31 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal), Heal (13 points) and Williams (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Sydney. Stiff (2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal) played 15 minutes off the bench.

With the series returning to Sydney, the Kings won game three 114-99 behind Williams (31 points, 18 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, and 2 blocks), Heal (31 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals), Nielsen (13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks) and Franklin (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists), while Peter Crawford (25 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Wayne Turner (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Robert Rose (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Townsville. Stiff (3 points) played limited minutes as Sydney moved into the Grand Final.

The Grand Final opened in Sydney, where the Kings came back from 14 points down in the final six minutes to defeat Perth 98-94 in front of more than 10,000 fans, behind Williams (26 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 steals).

Game two moved to Perth, where Sydney led 22-15 after the opening quarter and blew the margin out to 28 points by half-time before defeating the Wildcats 117-101. Williams (24 points), Heal (23 points) and Nielsen (21 points) led the Kings as Sydney secured the club’s first NBL championship, the breakthrough title that launched the franchise’s eventual three-peat. Williams was named Grand Final MVP, while Stiff won his third straight NBL championship.

2003/04
After winning the club’s first NBL championship, Sydney lost Shane Heal (to San Antonio Spurs), Chris Williams (to Europe), Kavossy Franklin (to Europe), Ben Melmeth, Travis Lane and Michael Kingma, while Matthew Nielsen, David Stiff, Brad Sheridan, Gary Boodnikoff and BJ Carter returned for coach Brian Goorjian.

Goorjian added C.J. Bruton (via Canberra) as Heal’s replacement, import Ebi Ere, Jason Smith (via Europe), Brett Wheeler (via Perth), Luke Martin, Graeme Dann, Joe Brown, David Barlow and Adrian Bauk as the Kings looked to defend their title.

Rather than chase a second import, Sydney leaned further into its Australian core, with Stiff (8.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2 assists across 40 games) taking on a bigger frontcourt role than the previous season and giving Goorjian extra size, rebounding and passing alongside Nielsen, Smith and Wheeler.

The Kings opened the season with ten straight wins before losing Smith to a season-ending injury after 13 games. Goorjian replaced him with import Chris Carrawell, who played the final 11 regular-season games and helped Sydney finish first with a 26-7 record.

Nielsen (22.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks) delivered a breakout season and won league MVP, while Ere (19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) and Bruton (16.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals) gave Sydney three elite scoring options.

Carrawell (13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks), Smith (11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists), Wheeler (8.3 points and 7.9 rebounds), Sheridan (7.9 points), Stiff and Martin (5.3 points) rounded out the main rotation.

Nielsen was named to the All-NBL First Team and added Grand Final MVP honours, while Ere and Bruton gave Sydney the perimeter scoring needed to replace the production lost when Williams, Franklin and Heal exited.

Sydney opened the semifinals against Brisbane with a 104-100 win at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, taking game one of the series and moving within one win of another Grand Final berth.

Game two moved to Brisbane, where Sydney completed the sweep with a 101-96 win over the Bullets, advancing to the Grand Final for the second straight season.

The Grand Final became the first best-of-five series in NBL history, with Sydney facing crosstown rivals West Sydney. Game one opened at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where Bruton (35 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Kings to a 96-76 win, while Simon Dwight (23 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks) was best for the Razorbacks.

Game two moved to the State Sports Centre, where West Sydney responded with a 87-72 win behind John Rillie (18 points) and Aaron Trahair (17 points), evening the series at 1-1.

Game three returned to Sydney and went to overtime, with West Sydney taking a 82-80 win behind Rillie (18 points), Dwight (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks) and Sam MacKinnon (14 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists), putting the Razorbacks one win from the championship.

Game four moved back to the State Sports Centre, where Sydney kept the series alive with a 82-77 win despite Rillie (31 points) carrying West Sydney, forcing a winner-takes-all game five.

Game five was played in front of 9,609 fans at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, where Sydney’s defence held Rillie (12 points and 10 rebounds) in check, while Trahair (20 points) and Dwight (18 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists) led West Sydney. Ere (25 points), Wheeler (18 points and 11 rebounds) and Nielsen (14 points and 12 rebounds) led the Kings to a 90-79 win, with Nielsen named Grand Final MVP as Stiff won his fourth NBL championship and completed a personal three-peat.

MELBOURNE TIGERS
2004/05
After being eliminated by Brisbane in the 2003/04 playoffs, Melbourne entered 2004/05 with Thalo Green, David Smith and Luke McMillan exiting the team, while Andrew Gaze, Mark Bradtke, Lanard Copeland, Dave Thomas, Stephen Hoare, Darryl McDonald, Daryl Corletto, Neil Mottram and David Donaldson returned for coach Lindsay Gaze.

After completing a personal three-peat with Sydney, David Stiff (via Sydney) joined Melbourne, with Greg Blake, Glen Barlow and Gerard Leonard also added to the roster before Rashad Tucker later arrived mid-season after being released by Perth.

Melbourne opened the season with a 88-96 road loss to Wollongong before edging Cairns 99-96 at home, beginning an uneven year where the Tigers remained strong at the State Netball and Hockey Centre but struggled to win consistently away from home.

Stiff (6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds across 34 games) moved into Melbourne’s frontcourt rotation, giving the Tigers another veteran big body behind Bradtke, Hoare and Thomas as the club tried to make one final run with the Gaze, Bradtke and Copeland core.

Melbourne finished sixth with a 17-15 record, ending the regular season in a three-way tie with Brisbane and Perth before the final playoff spots were decided by head-to-head results.

Gaze (20.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) remained Melbourne’s leading scorer in what would become his final NBL season, while Bradtke (17.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) was named to the All-NBL First Team.

Thomas (16.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals), Copeland (13.1 points), Hoare (9.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists), McDonald (7.5 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals), Corletto (7 points), Stiff and Tucker (5.8 points) rounded out the Tigers’ main contributors.

Melbourne opened the elimination finals at the State Netball and Hockey Centre, defeating Perth 108-88 to keep the Tigers’ season alive and move into a second elimination final against Townsville.

The next game moved to Townsville, where Melbourne’s season ended with a 100-112 loss to the Crocodiles, marking the final game for Andrew Gaze and Lindsay Gaze after 22 seasons together with the Tigers.

2005/06
In 2005, the Tigers were forced into rebuilding mode as Mark Bradtke (to Brisbane), Lanard Copeland (to Brisbane), Andrew Gaze (retired) and head coach Lindsay Gaze (retired) all exited the team. Dave Thomas, Darryl McDonald, Rashad Tucker, David Stiff, Stephen Hoare, Daryl Corletto and Neil Mottram all returned as assistant Al Westover took over as head coach.

By a stroke of luck, Australian Boomers centre Chris Anstey (via UNICS Kazan) had decided he wanted to return to play in Australia after three seasons in Europe and began talking to the Tigers, who were now the only NBL team in Melbourne. With Anstey on board, the Tigers finalised their roster by adding Tom Greer, Braith Cox and Matt O’Hea to help usher in a new era of Tigers success.

The Tigers opened the season with a huge win over Wollongong at home (102–61), then reeled off wins against Perth (115-105), Brisbane (85-83) and Perth again (91-73) to start the season 4-0 before suffering their first loss to Sydney (88–95).

Stiff (7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds across 37 games) moved into a steady frontcourt role alongside Anstey, Hoare, Thomas and Tucker, giving Melbourne size, rebounding and passing as the Tigers moved away from the Gaze, Bradtke and Copeland era. Stiff also finished the season as the league leader in field-goal percentage at 57.3 percent.

Anstey (22.5 points, 10 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 blocks) led Melbourne in scoring, rebounds, blocks and minutes played, and was named the Philips Most Valuable Player of the 2005/06 Philips Championship season.

Thomas (16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals) and Tucker (15 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists) became the primary beneficiaries of the exits of Gaze and Copeland, with Tucker emerging as the team’s second option on offence after struggling in the rotation the previous season.

McDonald (13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2.2 steals), Corletto (11.2 points), Hoare (9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds), Mottram (8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds) and Stiff rounded out the Tigers’ main contributors.

McDonald led the NBL in assists and steals and was named All-Star Game MVP, while Thomas and McDonald were both named to the All-NBL Second Team. Westover was named Coach of the Year, Hoare won the NBL Best Sixth Man award and Anstey was later named Grand Final MVP.

The Tigers finished the regular season with the best record in franchise history (25-7), including a almost unbeatable home record (15-1), but still finished second behind Sydney (26-6).

With Melbourne and Sydney earning automatic entry to the semifinals, the Tigers awaited the winner of the play-in tournament and faced Perth after the Wildcats eliminated Brisbane and Wollongong.

Melbourne opened the semifinals at the State Netball and Hockey Centre with a 94-78 win over Perth, taking control of the series behind Anstey (28 points and 11 rebounds) and Tucker (10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals), while Redhage (17 points and 9 rebounds) was Perth’s best.

Game two moved to Challenge Stadium, where Melbourne defeated Perth 106-101 in overtime behind Anstey (29 points and 6 rebounds), Thomas (18 points) and Tucker (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists), while Bailey (30 points) and Burston (17 points) led Perth. Hoare also grabbed the rebound after Tucker’s missed free throws and put up a off-balance shot as time expired, forcing overtime before Melbourne swept the Wildcats and moved into the Grand Final.

The Grand Final series opened in Sydney, where Anstey (24 points and 12 rebounds) and Thomas (23 points) led Melbourne, while Smith (20 points) was strong for Sydney as the Tigers took game one 100-93.

Game two moved to Melbourne and proved even tighter, with Anstey (30 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Thomas (23 points and 13 rebounds) leading the Tigers, while Barlow (22 points) and Smith (16 points) kept Sydney close before Melbourne won 103-99 in overtime.

Game three saw Melbourne complete the sweep against the defending triple-champion Kings, with Anstey (16 points and 10 rebounds), Thomas (13 points) and McDonald (13 points) leading the Tigers, while Smith (20 points) and Bruton (15 points) were best for Sydney in a 88-83 win that delivered Melbourne its third championship and Stiff’s fifth NBL championship.

2006/07
After winning the 2006 NBL championship, Melbourne lost Neil Mottram (to Italy), Braith Cox and Gerard Leonard, while Chris Anstey, Dave Thomas, Rashad Tucker, Stephen Hoare, Darryl McDonald, Daryl Corletto, David Stiff and Tom Greer all returned for coach Al Westover.

The only roster changes saw Nathan Crosswell, Alex Dench and Liam Norton added to the team, with Dench returning to Australia after playing overseas in Portugal as the replacement for Mottram.

The Melbourne season began under mild controversy when the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority announced Tucker and Perth’s David Bailey had returned positive tests from in-competition samples. Both players were fined $5,000, with Perth cutting Bailey while the Tigers chose to stand by Tucker after Melbourne majority owner Seamus McPeake said, “We’ve given him a severe warning, and we have notified him of a breach of contract, but I think he’s had his punishment. A second offence is an automatic two-year suspension, so if he wants to continue his career, he can’t offend again”.

The Tigers opened the season with a 94-86 home win over Cairns and started the year strongly at 5-1, looking set to repeat as champions before Brisbane emerged as their biggest threat after adding CJ Bruton, Ebi Ere, Dusty Rychart and Dillon Boucher alongside Sam MacKinnon and Mark Bradtke.

Stiff (7.6 points and 3.8 rebounds across 30 games) continued in Melbourne’s frontcourt rotation, giving the Tigers another veteran big body alongside Anstey, Hoare, Thomas and Tucker as the club tried to win back-to-back championships.

Anstey (19.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks) again led Melbourne in scoring, rebounding and blocks, while Thomas (16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals), Tucker (14.2 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), Hoare (12.5 points and 6.7 rebounds), McDonald (10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.7 steals) and Corletto (10.4 points) all scored in double figures.

Crosswell (7.8 points), Dench (7.6 points and 3.7 rebounds) and Stiff rounded out the main rotation, giving Melbourne depth across a roster that again finished near the top of the league.

Anstey and Thomas were named to the All-NBL First Team, Tucker was named All-Star Game MVP after delivering 21 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists for the World All-Stars, and Hoare won the NBL Best Sixth Man award.

Brisbane and Melbourne were clear title favourites from start to finish, with the Bullets finishing first at 28-5 and the Tigers finishing second with a 25-8 record.

Melbourne opened the semifinals against Cairns with a 100-87 win, with Dench (18 points) leading the Tigers in scoring as Anstey (5 points) struggled to find the basket and stay out of foul trouble.

Game two moved to Cairns, where Melbourne completed the sweep with a 95-87 win behind a balanced attack from Anstey (16 points and 9 rebounds), Hoare (15 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Tucker (15 points and 12 rebounds), Corletto (15 points), McDonald (10 points) and Crosswell (10 points), while Darnell Mee (23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks) led the Taipans.

The Grand Final series opened in Brisbane, where Thomas (19 points) and Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds) finished with big numbers, but the Bullets proved too strong and won game one 98-95 behind Stephen Black (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), while MacKinnon (18 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists) narrowly missed a triple-double.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Anstey (31 points and 8 rebounds) led the Tigers to a 105-91 win and evened the series before it shifted back to Brisbane.

Game three saw Brisbane claim control of the series with a 113-93 win, behind Black (22 points), MacKinnon (19 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals) and Brisbane’s frontline keeping Anstey (9 points) quiet.

Game four became do or die for Melbourne and the Tigers held a slight 52-51 lead at half-time, before Brisbane reeled off a 27-15 third quarter and went on to defeat Melbourne 103-94. McDonald (17 points and 4 assists) and Tucker (17 points and 12 rebounds) were best for the Tigers, while CJ Bruton (22 points and 7 assists) and Dusty Rychart (21 points) came up big for Brisbane as MacKinnon was named Finals MVP.

2007/08
After losing the 2006/07 Grand Final to Brisbane, Melbourne entered 2007/08 with Rashad Tucker (to Cairns), Axel Dench, Liam Norton and Braith Cox exiting the team. Chris Anstey, Dave Thomas, Stephen Hoare, Darryl McDonald, Daryl Corletto, David Stiff, Nathan Crosswell and Tommy Greer all returned for coach Al Westover, while Westover added David Barlow (via Sydney), Martin Müürsepp (via Tartu Ülikool), Adrien Sturt, Matt O’Hea, Derrick McDonald and Boden Westover.

The Tigers opened the season with a 117-94 road win over Singapore and remained unbeaten through their first five games, quickly returning to the top end of the ladder behind Anstey, Barlow, Thomas, Hoare and the Tigers’ veteran core.

Stiff (4.6 points and 3 rebounds across 37 games) continued in Melbourne’s frontcourt rotation during what would become his 15th and final NBL season, playing behind Anstey, Hoare, Thomas and Barlow while giving the Tigers another veteran big body off the bench.

Müürsepp (9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 14 games) had arrived with a major international profile as a former NBA first-round draft pick, the first Estonian to play in the NBA and a former FIBA Europe League Finals MVP, but his Tigers stint never settled due to ankle trouble and poor form.

Melbourne released Müürsepp in December and replaced him with Sean Lampley (via Spain), a former NBA forward who quickly gave the Tigers another scoring option. Lampley (16 points and 6.5 rebounds across 23 games) debuted against the South Dragons after arriving only days earlier, then became a key part of Melbourne’s championship push.

Anstey (21.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 2 blocks) led Melbourne in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, winning the NBL Most Valuable Player award, Defensive Player of the Year, earning All-NBL First Team honours and later claiming Grand Final MVP.

Barlow (16.6 points and 4.9 rebounds), Lampley and Thomas (11 points and 5.8 rebounds) rounded out Melbourne’s primary scorers, while Hoare (10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds), Corletto (9 points), Crosswell (7.3 points and 4.4 assists), McDonald (7.3 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.7 steals) and Stiff gave the Tigers depth across the rotation.

The Tigers finished second with a 22-8 record, but Sydney’s dominant 27-3 season kept Melbourne from finishing on top of the ladder for a third straight year.

Melbourne opened the semifinals at the State Netball and Hockey Centre with a 116-98 win over Brisbane, with Lampley (17 points), Barlow (17 points), Anstey (14 points and 6 rebounds) and Thomas (14 points and 6 rebounds) leading the Tigers, while CJ Bruton (29 points) and Dusty Rychart (20 points and 11 rebounds) were best for the Bullets.

Game two moved to Brisbane, where Melbourne completed the sweep with a 115-112 overtime win behind Anstey (26 points and 13 rebounds), Thomas (26 points) and Lampley (23 points and 7 rebounds), while Bruton (19 points), Ebi Ere (19 points) and Craig Bradshaw (19 points) led Brisbane.

The Grand Final series opened in Sydney, where the Kings took game one 95-74 behind Mark Worthington (35 points), while Barlow (14 points) and Anstey (12 points) were Melbourne’s best.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where the Tigers answered with a 104-93 win behind Barlow (24 points), Lampley (21 points) and Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds), while Dontaye Draper (17 points), Isiah Victor (14 points) and Worthington (13 points) led Sydney.

Game three shifted back to Sydney, where Melbourne won 89-87 behind Anstey (27 points and 15 rebounds), Barlow (16 points) and Thomas (14 points), while Worthington (22 points), Ian Crosswhite (18 points) and Jason Smith (16 points) led the Kings. Melbourne watched a 78-66 three-quarter-time lead disappear before Lampley hit the late three-pointer that turned a 86-87 deficit into a 89-87 win with 12 seconds remaining.

Game four returned to Melbourne, where Sydney produced the biggest last-quarter comeback in NBL Grand Final history to win 90-87. Victor (23 points and 9 rebounds) and Draper, who scored 8 points in the fourth quarter, sparked the Kings, while Anstey (33 points and 8 rebounds) carried Melbourne in the loss.

Game five was played in Sydney in front of a sellout crowd of 10,244 and doubled as Darryl McDonald’s final NBL game, with Stiff playing more minutes than he had in any other game of the series and providing a calming frontcourt presence in the decider.

Anstey (21 points and 12 rebounds) and Thomas (21 points) led Melbourne, while Worthington (17 points) and Victor (16 points and 8 rebounds) were best for Sydney as the Tigers won 85-73 and Stiff won his sixth NBL championship.

Stiff sits equal first for most individual championships in league history (six) alongside CJ Bruton, Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff. David Stiff played sixteen seasons across five NBL teams. This included the Hobart Devils, North Melbourne Giants, Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 490 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 18th in total games played.
– 22nd in total rebounds
– 42nd in total steals
– 10th in total blocks

HIGHLIGHTS: