The NBL and NBA announced in June that five Australian teams will be heading to the USA to play in pre-season later this year. One of those games include the Melbourne United facing the Toronto Raptors which has Aussie Hoops fans giddy at the prospect of “our” NBL champions (who lost to the NBA’s Oklahoma…
Read MoreSydney Kings guard Jerome Randle was yesterday named to the TBT 2018 All-Tournament Team. Randle represented Eberlein Drive, which after a tremendous run to the final, lost to Overseas Elite 70-58. The Basketball Tournament, or more simply “TBT”, is basketball in its most democratic form. Teams are formed and gain entrance by garnering…
Read MoreThe Southland Sharks have beaten the Wellington Saints 98-96 in New Zealand’s National Basketball League final to claim their third title in club history. The game was full of NBL talent with Alex Pledger (Melbourne United), Reuben Te Rangi (Brisbane Bullets) and Jarrad Weeks (NZ Breakers) leading the Sharks to victory and Shea Illi,…
Read MoreThe SEABL Final Four has been decided after this weekend’s games with both the men and women moving into preliminary finals next week. Games will be played across two states in Nunawading (VIC), Kilsyth (VIC), Launceston (TAS) and Hobart (TAS). Men’s Semi Final 1: Ballarat Miners 65 – 90 Geelong Supercats …
Read MoreMelbourne United have tipped off their pre-season against Chinese Taipei behind closed doors once again this season. The final result was 136 – 85 to Melbourne United. Simon Mitchell took on head coaching responsibilities whilst Dean Vickerman watched from the sidelines. With the SEABL finals and NZNBL finals still ongoing the side was missing some…
Read MoreThe Brisbane Bullets have officially signed Makoto Hiejima making him the first ever Japanese international NBL player. During the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers, the 28-year-old shooting guard played an integral role in delivering the Boomers their first loss in over two years. Hiejima scored 6 points, shooting 37.5% as well as 8 rebounds and…
Read MoreBasketball in Australia is experiencing a significant resurgence in public interest. Everyday you can now run into a Simmon’s 76ers jersey. Cubicles now include just as much talk of NBA pre season outcomes and spirited debates about whether LeBron James had made the right choice in going to LA as they do about AFL results. Casual…
Read MoreTraining camp begins and the promise of a brave new world beacons for the Kings. But the elephant in the corner hasn’t been addressed and if this elephant topples off its precarious stool, the damage to basketball in Sydney could be extensive! The question still remains can Gaze coach? Now clearly the Gaze family…
Read MoreThe presence of Sydney’s new superstar signing Andrew Bogut is already starting to pay dividends on the first day of training camp yesterday at their Qudos Bank Arena home ground in Olympic Park. Bogut was vocal all morning and expects to lead a refurbished front line that also includes sweet-shooting forward Daniel Kickert, holdover…
Read More Head to iTunes to download this episode on your phone or iPod There’s been a lot of buzz since the consortium behind the Southern Huskies released marketing material for their proposed NBL team which featured team branding, uniforms and plans for the expansion and update of the Derwent Entertainment Center. The team…
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Perth Wildcats head coach John Rillie joins the podcast to discuss the pressure that comes with coaching one of the NBL’s most successful clubs, the challenge of moving forward after Bryce Cotton’s departure, and what Perth needs to build its next championship contender. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Rillie about taking over the Wildcats after the club missed the finals for the first time since 1986, the expectations of the Red Army, and how Perth’s three…
READ MOREFormer 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…
READ MOREAt 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…
READ MOREA 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…
READ MOREOver 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…
READ MOREFormer 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…
READ MOREBelow 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…
READ MORECurrent 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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