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With the rise of Australian talent in the college basketball system we’ve seen a significant rise in touring colleges over the past few years. In recent months St Mary’s (California), Loyola Marymount and Drexler universities have all faced off against aussie talent. The University of Hawaii team is another touring Australia, a team which…
Read MoreNBL basketball returned to Brisbane in 2015 with much fanfare as the league finally had a team in every capital city. But after two seasons at the bottom of the NBL ladder, Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis struggling to find success at national level, and former Chicago Bulls Forward Cam Bairstow still a long way from…
Read MoreIt’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…
Read More“With the first pick in the 2005 NBA draft the Milwaukee’s Bucks select Andrew Bogut from the University of Utah.” After completing a stellar College career (Naismith Player of the Year) was selected ahead of Chris Paul at number four and immediately hailed as the “Wonder from Down Under” for the ailing Bucks franchise. …
Read MoreMelbourne United’s training sessions continue to attract top talent. The gym is gaining a reputation as the place to train for the NBA players when they return to Australia. It’s fun and the competition (at the Melbourne United training) is definitely up there” – Jonah Bolden, Philadelphia 76ers Australia’s top talent have been…
Read MoreThere have been historic changes made to the NCAA rule book overnight, triggered by the FBI probe into college basketball last year. A commission, fronted by Condoleezza Rice (former US Secretary of State) has forced the organisation to amend the following; College players that receive invites to the NBA combine but go undrafted will…
Read MoreThe National Basketball League is the latest national sport to be lured to Bendigo. The league announced yesterday that reigning champions Melbourne United will face the revitalised Sydney Kings in a preseason matchup at the recently $23 million redeveloped Bendigo Stadium. It will be the first preseason hit-out for both sides, with the…
Read MoreEarlier this year the NBL announced the Next Star program on the heels of the success of Terrence Ferguson coming to Australia to play with the 36ers before commencing his NBA career. After playing a full professional season with the Adelaide 36ers, Terrence Ferguson was picked up in the first round at #21 in the…
Read MoreBehind the trophy and popped champagne bottles, there’s been a sense of the unknown with Melbourne United heading into the 2018/19 season. This time last year they assembled what many considered to be the most talented roster in the NBL’s 40-year history, combined with a known commodity and championship-winning coach Dean Vickerman, they finally lived…
Read MoreThe last time basketball was talked about this much in Tasmania was back when the Devils were still in the competition. In 1996, the last time a Tasmanian NBL side hit the hardwood, John Howard was sworn in as prime minister, France agreed to finally end nuclear testing, and Michael Jordan led the Chicago…
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Rolan Roberts on Kings Titles, Dunk Contest Injury and Playing for Brian Goorjian and Trevor Gleeson
Former Sydney Kings and Townsville Crocodiles big man Rolan Roberts joins the podcast to reflect on his time in Australia, including joining the Kings mid-season and helping them complete their historic 2005 NBL three-peat. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Roberts about playing under Brian Goorjian, becoming a key interior presence for Sydney, and being part of the Kings team that became the first in NBL history to win three straight championships. The episode also dives into…
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Boomers: we’re not taking Patty and Bryce
At some point over the next 12 months, the Boomers are going to have to make a decision that Australian basketball has managed to avoid for almost two decades. Who exactly is this team built around now? Since 2010, that answer was simple. It was Patty Mills’ team. Mills has been the primary scorer for the Boomers for nearly two decades and few Australian victories have been recorded without a major scoring performance from Patty. But as the Boomers move toward the 2027 FIBA World…
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NBL players who have played in the NBA
A player arriving in the NBL with NBA experience always creates interest. Fans get excited when their team signs a former NBA player, commentators mention it during broadcasts, and every article about that player usually links their NBL performance back to their NBA résumé. Sometimes, we see a big-time college prospect use the NBL as a springboard to the NBA and never return. Other times, established NBA veterans come to Australia looking for a fresh opportunity. And in many cases, local talent develops in the…
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Who are the greatest NBA Players to play in the NBL
Over the years, Aussie Hoopla has taken a deep dive into the full list of players who have competed in both the NBL and the NBA. You can see the full list of NBL players who have played in the NBA here: Names from every decade since the 1980s have featured, including NBL legends like Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Lanard Copeland and Rob Rose, alongside a long list of imports who used the NBL as a stepping stone to the world’s biggest stage. But with…
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Julius Hodge on Stepping on Brett Maher, NBL Pay Issues and NBA Stories
Former Adelaide 36ers star Julius Hodge joins the podcast to reflect on one of the most dominant short stints in NBL history, his journey from the NBA to Australia, and the impact he made during the 2007/08 season. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Hodge about his incredible all-around performances, triple-doubles, and what it was like adjusting to the Australian game mid-season. The episode also dives into his time playing in the NBA and overseas, his perspective…
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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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Mick Downer on NBL Talent in Japan, NBL vs B.League, and Offensive Rebounding
Current head coach of the Akita Northern Happinets, Mick Downer joins the podcast to discuss the differences between coaching in Japan and the NBL, his stints with Perth, Cairns, Brisbane and Adelaide over the past 25 years, and his time with the Australian Boomers program. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Downer about what he learnt stepping into the head coaching role in a non-English speaking country, as well as providing updates on NBL talent in Japan…
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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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