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Aussies Abroad

Mark Worthington leads new team Radnicki Kragujevac to undefeated run

Mark Worthington may not have been lucky enough to make an AFL team list after his flirtation with the West Coast Eagles earlier in the year but he has made up for it by leading new team Radnicki Kragujevac to early success in Serbia. Radnicki Kragujevac became the winner of an international pre-season tournament…

Dan Boyce 0 September 18, 2012 australian boomers, gold coast blaze, mark worthington, Radnički Kragujevac, steven markovic, Vojvodina 2325 Views

Around the Globe, Hoops Analysis, NBL News

The Best NBL Performances of 2011-12

Eddie Gill’s 27 points in a half, head to head against NBA point guard Patty Mills, is a game which fans in Melbourne won’t soon forget. Thomas Abercrombie’s career high 33 points against the Tigers in a double-overtime thriller was one of the greatest games ever seen in the land of the long white cloud….

Dan Boyce 0 May 3, 2012 adelaide 36ers, adris deleon, chris warren, diamon simpson, eddie gill, game score, gary wilkinson, gold coast blaze, john hollinger, julian khazzouh, national basketball league, NBL, new zealand breakers, oscar forman, peter crawford, statistics, stats, thomas abercrombie 3741 Views

NBL News, Podcasts

Adris “2Hard2Guard” DeLeon (Gold Coast Blaze) Podcast #4

2Hard2Guard is a Streetball Legend in New York City. We spoke to him about how it was growing up in the Dominican Republic and New York City, How he got his nickname, and asked him about his Streetball rivalries with Brandon Jennings, Sebastian Telfair and Corey “Homicide” Williams. We ask him the question “How does…

Dan Boyce 0 April 20, 2012 2hard2guard, adris deleon, and1, australia, brandon jennings, corey, dan boyce, dominican republic, dyckman, eastern washington, gold coast blaze, homicide, hot sauce, marc goodwin, national basketball league, NBL, ney york, nyc, sebastian telfair, skip to my lou, streetball, williams 3841 Views

Player of the Week

International POTW: Matt Nielsen 16/4/12

Aussie Hoopla International Player of the Week Matt Nielsen Each week the AussieHoopla.com Player of the Week award goes to the Aussie who has had the greatest impact both on the stat sheet and their teams record. This weeks winner is…. Hometown: Penrith, NSW Current Team: Khimky (Russia – VTB United League/PBL) Former Teams: Sydney Kings…

Dan Boyce 0 April 18, 2012 ater majok, BK SPU Nitra, Connecticut, david andersen, eurocup, Euroleage, Extraliga, fiba, gold coast blaze, Khimky, LA, Lakers, Lietuvos Rytas, Los Angeles, matt, matthew nielsen, melbourne tigers, montepaschi siena, nba, nielsen, patty mills, perth wildcats, russia, San Antonio, Slovakia, Spurs, St Marys, sydney kings, Valencia 2536 Views

Around the Globe, Hoops Analysis, NBL News

Who is the best point guard in the NBL?

There is no doubt the 2011-2012 season has been the year of the point guard. We talk to some of the biggest names in the NBL to try and find out who is the best point guard in the NBL.

Dan Boyce 0 April 6, 2012 2hard2guard, adam gibson, adris deleon, andrew bogut, breakers, damian martin, dan boyce, daryl corletto, daryl mcdonald, dmac, glen saville, gold coast blaze, guard, NBL, new zealand, perth wildcats, point guard, wollongong hawks 5038 Views

Uncategorized

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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Uncategorized

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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NBL News

‘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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NBL News

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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Podcasts

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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Aussies Abroad

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 News

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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Around the Globe

Japan’s Emergence as a Major Destination for Australian Basketball Talent

Five to ten years ago, if an Australian headed to Japan, it was typically because of not making NBL roster spots. Players like Venky Jois, Daniel Dillon and Rhys Vague fit this profile. Now Australian basketballers looking to play overseas rarely viewed Japan as a serious career destination. The traditional pathways pointed elsewhere, but that perception has shifted rapidly. Today, Japan’s B.League has emerged as a legitimate and increasingly attractive option for Australian players seeking strong contracts, defined roles, and long-term professional stability.Today, that narrative…
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