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