NBL History

Australia’s Greatest Basketball Associations

Junior basketball development is where the Australian basketball journey begins. Before players represent Australia or reach the NBL, most first learn the game through their local basketball association. While hundreds of rookies have entered the NBL over the years, the same junior basketball programs regularly appear in their backgrounds. Some associations have developed significantly more…

Dan Boyce 11 July 29, 2026 9682 Views

NBL History

Beyond the Arc: The Greatest Shooters in NBL History

In 1984, the NBL introduced the three-point line, forever altering the geometry of Australian basketball. Since then, the league has seen traditional snipers, stretch bigs and volume scorers completely revolutionise how offenses operate and defenses scramble. But as the modern game places a premium on spacing and perimeter shooting, a critical question arises: Who are…

Thivyan Aravindan 0 June 22, 2026 2527 Views

NBL History

The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise

There have been championship runs in the NBL defined by dominance and the sheer weight of talent that could overwhelm opponents before the ball was tipped. The dynasties of Perth, the star-studded reign of Melbourne, and the rise of Sydney’s financial muscle all tell tales of powerhouses that knew how to stay at the top….

Jordan Janssen 0 March 15, 2025 2793 Views

NBL History

The NBL Triple-Double Club

A triple-double requires double figures in three statistical categories in a single game, a rare feat achieved by some of the NBL’s greatest players. The NBL has recorded 132 triple-doubles, including Daren Rowe’s historic quadruple-double in 1990. Latest triple-double: Zylan Cheatham Adelaide 36ers forward Zylan Cheatham became the latest member of the club on 7…

Dan Boyce 0 February 9, 2025 6760 Views

NBL History

The past, present, and future of Chinese Players in the NBL

Basketball in Asia is exploding with 300 million registered players in China, and recent FIBA World Cup games generated viewers between 50-70 million Chinese viewers for national team games. With China’s Zhou Qi and Liu Chuanxing both playing for their China in FIBA competition as well as their NBL teams in Australia, there have been more…

Star Xia 0 August 4, 2022 5029 Views

NBL History

The Greatest NBL Players at Every Age

Over the past few NBL seasons, we’ve witnessed young talents such as Josh Giddey, Rocco Zikarsky, and LaMelo Ball excel for their teams at the tender age of 17 or 18. On the other hand, veterans like Brad Newley, David Barlow, and Daniel Kickert have continued contributing well into their late thirties. Since 1979, the…

Dan Boyce 1 April 11, 2021 8774 Views

Aussies Abroad

10 AUSSIES IN COLLEGE NBL TEAMS SHOULD BE WATCHING

Which Aussies in college are most likely to become future NBL players? These ten stand out for their production, professional experience and the roles they could earn in the league. The focus is their prospects of securing an NBL contract after college or later in their careers. The full Australian men's Division I player list follows below. 1. Ben Henshall — Ole Miss Henshall brings three seasons of Perth Wildcats experience to Ole Miss, including a final NBL season in 2025–26 averaging 8.9 points, 3.5…
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NBL News

Gold Coast Blaze set to return to the NBL

Gold Coast councillors have backed further work on an NBL expansion proposal, raising the possibility of a new team entering the competition in 2027/28. The proposed Gold Coast franchise is expected to revive the Blaze name, with Mayor Tom Tate indicating its identity has already been decided. “They’ve already got a name but I can’t tell ya.”Tom Tate Tate has been a leading supporter of the expansion bid and was part of the original Blaze ownership group formed in 2006 alongside David Claxton and Owen…
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NBL News

If NBL Players Were Slipping at Any Other Workplace, Would We Still Be Waiting for a Solution?

Imagine working in a warehouse where employees repeatedly slip on the same section of flooring. Management knows about it, workers have complained, and someone has already suffered a serious injury. Under Australian workplace safety laws, employers are expected to investigate and manage foreseeable risks, not simply rely on an industry safety certificate. A business found to be in breach of safety obligations could face a WorkSafe improvement notice requiring the hazard to be fixed. A serious breach could lead to prosecution, with companies in Victoria…
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Podcasts

Harry Rouhliadeff on NCAA Money and the Rebuilding of the Brisbane Bullets Program

Brisbane Bullets forward Harry Rouhliadeff joins the Aussie Hoopla podcast to discuss his journey from growing up a Bullets fan to captaining the University of Hawai‘i at March Madness, before returning home to begin his professional basketball career. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Harry about his first NBL start, the faith new coach Will Weaver has shown in him, and the challenges facing the Brisbane Bullets as they look to turn their fortunes around. Having grown…
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Hoops Analysis

Which NBL Teams Spent the Most?

Over the past three NBL seasons, clubs have spent almost $97 million assembling their rosters, but how much of that money has translated into wins, and which teams have delivered the best value for money? These figures represent cash spend, not salary cap spend. Cash spending includes player salaries and additional costs such as agent fees, bonuses, import related expenses and luxury tax, rather than simply the amounts counted against the league's salary cap. How much have NBL teams spent over the past three seasons?…
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NBL News

ARE THE HAWKS “TIRED” OF TATUM’S VOICE?

Larry Bird believed players began tuning out coaches after three years. Pat Riley reportedly put the limit at five, while Steve Kerr admitted his Golden State players were tired of hearing him in his fourth season. Now Justin Tatum is in his fourth season with Illawarra, and the Hawks have gone from NBL champions to the bottom of the ladder. Could they be experiencing the same problem? Justin Tatum transformed Illawarra from one of the NBL's worst teams into champions. But ahead of today's clash…
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NBL News

COULD BRIAN GOORJIAN HAVE SAVED THE MELBOURNE TIGERS?

In 2002, the Melbourne Tigers were fighting for survival when they identified an opportunity to attract supporters from their biggest rivals. Their plan to honour Brian Goorjian was blocked by the Victoria Giants, potentially changing the course of Melbourne basketball history. In 2002, the Melbourne Tigers devised a plan that could have changed the future of their club. The Tigers were emerging from financial administration, crowds were falling and the club had been forced to abandon its home at Vodafone Arena, now known as John…
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NBL News

GOLD COAST NBL EXPANSION SET TO BECOME A REALITY?

A new funding proposal, a crucial November meeting and renewed interest from the NBL could finally provide a pathway for professional basketball to return to the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast's long-running push to return to the NBL has reached another critical stage, with Mayor Tom Tate preparing to meet Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie in November to discuss the future of the proposed $1 billion Gold Coast Arena. After years of negotiations, changing timelines and funding setbacks, the city's hopes of securing an NBL…
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NBL History

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