It’s that wondrous time of year again, where the NBL releases the schedule for the upcoming season and people all over the country and making (and breaking) plans to see the best basketball in the land.
But why make one plan when you can make the ultimate plan! Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to watch every team on their home court in the shortest amount of time. Impossible?
Not for Aussie Hoopla, as we have created an itinerary that has you at eight different home courts in only twenty days. That’s right, eight games in six states and two countries in less than three weeks.
It’s not going to be comfortable, and it’s not going to be cheap, but if you want to be known as the hardest of hardcore NBL fans, here is a good blueprint.
Round Two
Sunday 21st October – Cairns Taipans vs Illawarra Hawks
Cairns, Queensland
The festivities kick off in the most northern town, as the Taipans take on the Hawks. Although these two teams aren’t in the discussion about title contenders, the Cairns stadium and crowd is like no other team. It’s hot and sweaty and will make you work for every ounce of enjoyment, in an entirely positive way.
Wherever you travel from, do yourself a favour and spend some time in this fantastic part of Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is nearby, and Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest is a car ride away to name two landmarks.
You’ll need time to relax.
Round Three
Thursday 25th October – Brisbane Bullets vs Perth Wildcats
Brisbane, Queensland
It takes nineteen hours to drive from Cairns to Brisbane and with a four-day break, it’s very doable. However, with four games in five days, flying is the recommended course of action.
The Bullets have some compelling storylines, with Cam Bairstow suiting up after a long absence and the Makoto Hiejima, the Japanese MVP for the best-named team in professional sports, SeaHorses Mikawa. The Wildcats won’t be a pushover, with reigning MVP Bryce Cotton leading a revamped Perth squad with Nick Kay and Mitch Norton being significant additions.
Don’t wait around for signatures, as there are only two days between this game and the next.
Round Three
Saturday 27th October – Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets
Wollongong, New South Wales
The Gong is an eleven-hour drive from BrisVegas, so the preferred method of travel is again flying. Get used to travelling by aeroplane this weekend, as this will not be the last time you see the tarmac.
Although you would have already seen these two teams play, observing them battle it out at Illawarra’s home court is a great experience.
The Hawks have cultivated a real community vibe, where you could have a friendly discussion with anyone you meet before the game before seeing that same person scream for blood once the game starts.
Enjoy the country lifestyle, as the next two games are in concrete jungles.
Round Three
Sunday 28th October – Sydney Kings vs Cairns Taipans
Sydney, New South Wales
The Kings have a massive buzz around them this season, with the additions of Australian legend Andrew Bogut and Next Star Brian Bowen Jr. Add in superstars like Jerome Randle and Kevin Lisch; this team is firmly entrenched in ‘contender’ territory.
In the past, crowds at the Kingdome have been more about ‘look at me’ than ‘look at the game’ but with three games already under their belt and if the Kings win all three, the only looking done will be at the decibel meter when the roof starts rocking.
Round Three
Monday 29th October – Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks
Melbourne, Victoria
You’ll be out of Sydney quicker than a downtown bar calls last drinks to be in Melbourne for the final leg of the round.
The reigning champions have had outstanding crowd numbers in recent years, and that trend won’t slow down any time soon. The face of the franchise Chris Goulding is still there, but with the future of Casper Ware and Josh Boone still uncertain, this team is hard to read.
A close game could be on the books which would make the crowd LOUD. Even better, if the front-running United rout the Hawks, then it should be even louder.
Take a break; you’ve earned it. You’ve travelled 2,000km, sat next to countless screaming babies on many plane rides and hopefully seen some quality basketball.
There’s a four-day break, so you could either spend time in Melbourne seeing the sights, travel to the next port of call, Perth, and take in the atmosphere of the West, or brave the 36-hour drive across the south of Australia. If you take that option after what you’ve been through then, you are either the brave person on the planet or the dumbest.
Round Four
Saturday 3rd November – Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers
Perth, Western Australia
Whichever way you decided to travel to Perth, you’ll be in for a treat. The Perth crowd is comfortably the best crowd in the NBL, with insanely loyal fans cheering on their team with ferocity.
To make matters better, the Wildcats are up against their biggest rivals in the Breakers. These two teams have won eight of the last nine NBL championships, and as neither competed for last season’s crown, both squads will be itching for a win.
Time for another plane ride.
Round Four
Sunday 4th November – Adelaide 36ers vs Brisbane Bullets
Adelaide, South Australia
To drive from Perth to Adelaide in time for the Sixers’ game against Brisbane would be impossible, so it’s time to hit the skies again. At this stage, you have probably chartered your own private aeroplane.
This game will be Adelaide’s seventh contest in four rounds, so the team might be tired. Especially since the Sixers were in Brisbane three nights before. The team is solid, with Daniel Johnson, Nathan Sobey and Ramone Moore still suiting up, but new imports Jacob Wiley and Adris “his nickname is too ridiculous to mention” Deleon need to fire for this team to get back to the big dance.
The Adelaide crowd has a very collegiate type atmosphere, with an ‘us against you’ mentality. Expect all mistakes by the Bullets to be mocked mercilessly, and that can be very infectious.
Congratulations, you’ve nearly made it. One game to go. Unfortunately, it means another plane ride, and you better have your passport.
Round Five
Friday 9th November – New Zealand Breakers vs Cairns Taipans
Auckland, New Zealand
Luckily a flight from Adelaide to Auckland only takes four hours, which is the same length it took you to fly from Melbourne to Perth.
With five days up your sleeve until the final game, please, please take in the sights of New Zealand. If you’ve never been there before, this will be amazing for you. New Zealand is spectacular. Our two countries may not see eye to eye on some things, but we both can agree that the sights in the Land of the Long White Cloud are some of the world’s best.
Anyway, back to basketball. The Breakers have retooled quickly and efficiently. They poached prodigal son Tai Wesley back and brought Majok Majok with him. Corey Webster is also back from exile after running foul of the Breakers in previous years, while their two current imports look the goods in Armani Moore and Patrick Richard.
If all else fails, at least the NZB have the best-named imports out of any team. Honestly, as if Armani wasn’t good enough, the team decided to sign a guy called Patrick Richard. Pat Dick. Too Easy.
Home Time
Congratulations are in order again, because if you have actually made this NBL pilgrimage, then no-one can ever call you a fair-weathered fan again. This trip took dedication, patience, stamina and more importantly, loads of money. So from everyone here at Aussie Hoopla, we tip our hats to you.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
