2025-26 NBL Season

[Gozu]

The 2025-26 NBL season starts this Thursday September 18 with Melbourne at Tasmania and every game will be live on ESPN via Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo and Fetch TV with two games simulcast on FTA on Sundays on 10 & 10 Drama. The 36ers play their opening game on Sunday September 28 against Brisbane at home.

The NBL season schedule:

https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64a4 ... hedule.pdf

Teams:

Adelaide 36ers

Coach: Mike Wells

Returning: Montrezl Harrell*, Dejan Vasiljevic, Isaac Humphries, Ben Griscti, Keanu Rasmussen

In: Zylan Cheatham*, Bryce Cotton (Wildcats), Flynn Cameron (United), Isaac White (Bullets), Matt Kenyon (Phoenix), Michael Harris (Wildcats), Blake Jones

Out: Kendric Davis* (Kings), Jarell Martin*, Sunday Dech (Wildcats), Lat Mayen (Wildcats), Nick Marshall (JackJumpers), Jason Cadee, Jacob Rigoni, Tom Kubank

Brisbane Bullets

Coach: Stu Lash

Returning: Casey Prather*, Tyrell Harrison, Mitch Norton, Sam McDaniel, Tohi Smith-Milner, Callum Dalton

In: Jaylen Adams* (Kings), Javon Freeman-Liberty*, Alex Ducas, Jacob Holt, Taine Murray, Jack Purchase, Lamar Patterson*

Out: Keandre Cook*, Josh Adams*, Rocco Zikarsky (NS), Josh Bannan (JackJumpers), Isaac White (36ers), Deng Adel, Emmett Naar, Jarred Bairstow

Cairns Taipans

Coach: Adam Forde

Returning: Sam Waardenburg, Kyrin Galloway, Kyle Adnam, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Kody Stattmann

In: Admiral Schofield*, Andrew Andrews*, Marcus Lee* (United), Jack McVeigh, Reyne Smith, Mawot Mag

Out: Rob Edwards*, Tanner Groves*, Pedro Bradshaw*, Taran Armstrong, Akoldah Gak, Jonah Antonio (Hawks), Jackson Makoi, Dillon Stith

Illawarra Hawks

Coach: Justin Tatum

Returning: Tyler Harvey*, Sam Froling, Will Hickey, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Todd Blanchfield, Mason Peatling, Dan Grida

In: JaVale McGee*, JaQuori McLaughlin*, Jonah Bolden (Breakers), Biwali Bayles, Harry Froling, Jonah Antonio (Taipans)

Out: Trey Kell*, Darius Days*, Lachlan Olbrich, Hyunjung Lee

Melbourne United

Coach: Dean Vickerman

Returning: Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Tanner Krebs, Kyle Bowen, Malith Machar

In: Milton Doyle* (JackJumpers), Tyson Walker*, Jesse Edwards*, Dash Daniels (NS), Finn Delany, Fabijan Krslovic (JackJumpers), Tom Wilson, Nicolas Tata

Out: Ian Clark*, Marcus Lee* (Taipans), Jack White, Matthew Dellavedova (Kings), Flynn Cameron (36ers), Rob Loe (Breakers), Akech Aliir (Phoenix)

New Zealand Breakers

Coach: Petteri Koponen

Returning: Parker Jackson-Cartwright*, Karim Lopez (NS), Sam Mennenga, Max Darling, Sean Bairstow, Carlin Davison

In: Izaiah Brockington*, Robert Baker*, Izayah Le'afa (Kings), Rob Loe (United), Reuben Te Rangi (JackJumpers), Taylor Britt

Out: Tacko Fall*, Matt Mooney*, Jonah Bolden (Hawks), Mojave King, Mitch McCarron, Grant Anticevich, Dane Pineau

Perth Wildcats

Coach: John Rillie

Returning: Kristian Doolittle*, Dylan Windler*, Ben Henshall, Elijah Pepper, Jesse Wagstaff, David Okwera, Dontae Russo-Nance

In: Mason Jones*, Noa Kouakou-Huegue (NS), Jo Lual-Acuil, Sunday Dech (36ers), Lat Mayen (36ers)

Out: Bryce Cotton* (36ers), Izan Almansa (NS), Keanu Pinder, Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris, Michael Harris (36ers)

South East Melbourne Phoenix

Coach: Josh King

Returning: Malique Lewis (NS), Nathan Sobey, Jordan Hunter, Angus Glover, Owen Foxwell

In: John Brown*, Hunter Maldonado*, DJ Mitchell, Gorjok Gak (JackJumpers), Akech Aliir (United), Daniel Foster

Out: Matt Hurt*, Derrick Walton*, Joe Wieskamp*, Ben Ayre (JackJumpers), Matt Kenyon (36ers), Tom Vodanovich, Majok Majok

Sydney Kings

Coach: Brian Goorjian

Returning: Xavier Cooks, Kouat Noi, Jaylin Galloway, Bul Kuol, Makuach Maluach, Shaun Bruce, Keli Leaupepe, Tyler Robertson

In: Kendric Davis* (36ers), Tim Soares*, Matthew Dellavedova (United), Hunter Goodrick

Out: Jaylen Adams* (Bullets), Cameron Oliver*, Alex Toohey (NS), Izayah Le'afa (Breakers)

Tasmania JackJumpers

Coach: Scott Roth

Returning: Will Magnay, Majok Deng, Sean Macdonald, Anthony Drmic, Nick Stoddart

In: David Johnson*, Bryce Hamilton*, Tyger Campbell*, Josh Bannan (Bullets), Ben Ayre (Phoenix), Nick Marshall (36ers), Kobe Williamson

Out: Milton Doyle* (United), Jordon Crawford*, Ian Hummer*, Fabijan Krslovic (United), Reuben Te Rangi (Breakers), Gorjok Gak (Phoenix), Clint Steindl, Lachlan Barker

*Import
(NS) Next Star

[Gozu]

Confirmation of the reports of the last couple of roster signings the Cairns Taipans have signed import Andrew Andrews to a one-year deal who replaces Ashton Hagans who never arrived due to visa issues. Andrews is a 6'2" PG who played in Lithuania last season.

https://nbl.com.au/news/taipans-complet ... amic-guard

Also the Illawarra Hawks have signed local player Biwali Bayles to a 2 year deal. The 6'1" PG returns to the Hawks after playing in Switzerland last season and played for the Knicks at NBA Summer League during the off-season.

https://nbl.com.au/news/returning-hawk-completes-roster

[Gozu]

The SE Melbourne Phoenix have released import Vrenz Bleijenbergh but will take their time looking for a replacement.

https://nbl.com.au/news/sem-phoenix-vre ... ush-import

Also the Illawarra Hawks have signed Jonah Antonio as a nominated replacement player who played for the Cairns Taipans last season.

https://nbl.com.au/news/nbl-champions-s ... eplacement

As well the Sydney Kings have signed Hunter Goodrick as a nominated replacement player. He's a 6'7" forward who plays in the NBL1 East.

https://nbl.com.au/news/kings-sign-sydn ... t-goodrick

Finally the NBL have confirmed the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament games starting alongside the NBL season tomorrow night will be broadcast on Fox Sports, Kayo & Disney+ including Sunday nights 36ers game against EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos.

https://nbl.com.au/news/nunn-praises-co ... ment-clash

Thursday, 18th September, 7.30pm AEST @ John Cain Arena:
Panathinaikos BC AKTOR vs KK Partizan

Sunday, 21st September @ Qudos Bank Arena:
KK Partizan vs Sydney Kings (4.30pm AEST)
Panathinaikos BC AKTOR vs Adelaide 36ers (7pm AEST)

[Gozu]

Melbourne win the season opener 88-84 in Tassie behind some clutch shots late by Milton Doyle against his old team. Also tonight Panathinaikos beat Partizan 91-82 in Melbourne.

As the reigning NBL champs the Illawarra Hawks have been invited to play in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore and play their first game tomorrow night against Flamengo from Brazil live on ESPN at 6:30pm.

The FIBA Intercontinental Cup games live on ESPN:

Fri 6:30pm Illawarra vs Flamengo
Sat 6:30pm Illawarra vs G-League United

Sun 2:30pm 5th Place Game
Sun 5:30pm 3rd Place Game
Sun 8:30pm Final

[mal]

Keep up the very good work Gozoguru


What's everyone's prediction for the Title this season ?

Without any great knowledge I'm tipping
Melbourne United to beat Adelaide Cottons in the Grand Final

[DOC]

Heart says Adelaide. Head says not sure but if I had to, Adelaide.

I too commend Gozu for his posting in here.

[Gozu]

Keep up the very good work Gozoguru


What's everyone's prediction for the Title this season ?

Without any great knowledge I'm tipping
Melbourne United to beat Adelaide Cottons in the Grand Final

Thanks mal, I think the Cottons might win it to beat Sydney in the GF.

[Gozu]

Heart says Adelaide. Head says not sure but if I had to, Adelaide.

I too commend Gozu for his posting in here.

Thank you too DOC, I too find it difficult squaring Adelaide could win it but realistically with Cotton & co they should. The biggest thing standing in their way though might be the coach. I wouldn't put Mike Wells anywhere near the level of Dean Vickerman or Scott Roth.

[Brodlach]

Bit concerned they are yet to play together because of injury

[DOC]

Coaches at this level are hard to judge at the best of times. Managing the players to form a cohesive unit is an art that not all of them have.

I think Cotton will have a lot of influence over this group in a much more positive fashion than Davis had last year.

Point guards are the coaches link to the team on the court. I would have Cotton over Davis in a heartbeat. That said I think there is little difference between the two on the court. It’s everything else you get. Cotton won’t get a three game suspension or be saying goodbye before the season ends.

[amber_fluid]

I think Humphries and DJ are just as important as Cotton and Harrell
If Humphries can get back to his best I think we can win the title this year

[Gozu]

Olgun Uluc
@OlgunUluc
Belgian wing Vrenz Bleijenbergh practiced with the Adelaide 36ers today, I’m told. The team is in the process of adding him to their roster for Sunday’s exhibition game vs Panathinaikos; the expectation, as of now, is that Montrezl Harrell won’t play in that game.

https://x.com/OlgunUluc/status/1968905774412759528

Interesting.

[Brodlach]

Harrell had an interesting tweet this morning saying it had been a shit morning. Hopefully nothing to do with Adelaide.


Third import replacing Griscti?

[Gozu]

Could be, good chance to get a look at him.

Brisbane beat the NZ Breakers tonight 104-95, Prather with a game-high 27. Also tonight at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup the Illawarra Hawks lost to Flamengo 84-82 in OT. Top scorers for the Hawks were Tyler Harvey with 24 points and Jonah Bolden had 12 points and for Flamengo Alexey Borges scored 22 points and Shaquille Johnson added 14 points.