2024-25 NBL Season + Off-season news

[Gozu]

The 2024-25 NBL season starts this Thursday night September 19 with every game of the season broadcast live on ESPN and Kayo with two games simulcast on Sunday afternoons on Channel 10 and 10 Bold Drama. Round 1 'HoopsFest' will be played entirely in Perth with the 36ers opening their season against the Sydney Kings on Sunday September 22 at RAC Arena.

The NBL season schedule:

https://cdn.nbl.com.au/s/dc32832c-5474- ... df0922.pdf

Teams:

Adelaide 36ers

Coach: Mike Wells

Returning: Dejan Vasiljevic, Isaac Humphries, Jason Cadee, Sunday Dech, Nick Marshall, Alex Starling, Jacob Rigoni

In: Montrezl Harrell*, Jarell Martin*, Kendric Davis*, Lat Mayen (Taipans), Ben Griscti, Tom Kubank

Out: Trey Kell* (Hawks), Jacob Wiley*, Trentyn Flowers (NS), Mitch McCarron (Breakers), Kyrin Galloway (Taipans), Tohi Smith-Milner (Bullets), Akech Aliir (United)

Brisbane Bullets

Coach: Justin Schueller

Returning: Casey Prather*, Rocco Zikarsky (NS), Tyrell Harrison, Josh Bannan, Mitch Norton, Sam McDaniel, Isaac White

In: James Batemon*, Keandre Cook*, Deng Adel, Tohi Smith-Milner (36ers), Jarred Bairstow (JackJumpers)

Out: Chris Smith*, Shannon Scott*, Nathan Sobey (Phoenix), Aron Baynes, DJ Mitchell, Gabe Hadley

Cairns Taipans

Coach: Adam Forde

Returning: Sam Waardenburg, Taran Armstrong, Akoldah Gak, Jonah Antonio

In: Rob Edwards*, Tanner Groves*, Pedro Bradshaw*, Kyrin Galloway (36ers), Kyle Adnam (Hawks), Jackson Makoi (Kings), Dillon Stith, Tad Dufelmeier

Out: Patrick Miller*, Tahjere McCall*, Josh Roberts*, Bobi Klintman (NS), Bul Kuol (Kings), Sam Mennenga (Breakers), Lat Mayen (36ers), Lachlan Anderson

Illawarra Hawks

Coach: Justin Tatum

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

In: Trey Kell* (36ers), Darius Days*

Out: Gary Clark*, Justin Robinson*, AJ Johnson (NS), Kyle Adnam (Taipans)

Melbourne United

Coach: Dean Vickerman

Returning: Ian Clark*, Chris Goulding, Matthew Dellavedova, Shea Ili, Tanner Krebs, Flynn Cameron, Kyle Bowen

In: Marcus Lee* (JackJumpers), Jack White, Rob Loe, Akech Aliir (36ers)

Out: Ariel Hukporti (NS), Jo Lual-Acuil, Luke Travers, Brad Newley

New Zealand Breakers

Coach: Petteri Koponen

Returning: Parker Jackson-Cartwright*, Dane Pineau, Max Darling

In: Matt Mooney*, Freddy Gillespie*, Karim Lopez (NS), Jonah Bolden (Kings), Mitch McCarron (36ers), Sam Mennenga (Taipans), Mojave King, Grant Anticevich, Sean Bairstow

Out: Anthony Lamb*, Zylan Cheatham*, Mantas Rubstavicius (NS), Will McDowell-White, Izayah Le'afa (Kings), Mangok Mathiang, Finn Delany, Tom Abercrombie, Cam Gliddon, Dan Fotu, Dom Kelman-Poto

Perth Wildcats

Coach: John Rillie

Returning: Bryce Cotton*, Kristian Doolittle*, Keanu Pinder, Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris, Ben Henshall, Jesse Wagstaff, David Okwera, Michael Harris

In: Dylan Windler*, Izan Almansa (NS), Elijah Pepper, Todd Withers*

Out: Jordan Usher*, Alexandre Sarr (NS), Corey Webster, Kyle Zunic

South East Melbourne Phoenix

Coach: Mike Kelly

Returning: Ben Ayre, Matt Kenyon, Owen Foxwell

In: Derrick Walton*, Joe Wieskamp*, Matt Hurt*, Malique Lewis (NS), Nathan Sobey (Bullets), Jordan Hunter (Kings), Angus Glover (Kings), Tom Vodanovich (JackJumpers), Majok Majok

Out: Alan Williams*, Abdel Nader*, Gary Browne*, Mitch Creek, Craig Moller, Gorjok Gak (JackJumpers), Reuben Te Rangi (JackJumpers), Rhys Vague

Sydney Kings

Coach: Brian Goorjian

Returning: Jaylen Adams*, Alex Toohey (NS), Jaylin Galloway, Kouat Noi, Shaun Bruce, Makuach Maluach

In: Cameron Oliver*, Xavier Cooks, Bul Kuol (Taipans), Izayah Le'afa (Breakers), Tyler Robertson, Keli Leaupepe

Out: DJ Hogg*, Denzel Valentine*, Jordan Hunter (Phoenix), Jonah Bolden (Breakers), Angus Glover (Phoenix), Jackson Makoi (Taipans), Sam Timmins

Tasmania JackJumpers

Coach: Scott Roth

Returning: Milton Doyle*, Jordon Crawford*, Will Magnay, Majok Deng, Anthony Drmic, Sean Macdonald, Fabijan Krslovic, Clint Steindl, Lachlan Barker

In; Craig Sword*, Gorjok Gak (Phoenix), Reuben Te Rangi (Phoenix)

Out: Marcus Lee* (United), Jack McVeigh, Tom Vodanovich (Phoenix), Jarred Bairstow (Bullets)

*Import
(NS) Next Star

[mighty_tiger_79]

How do you rank the sides after the pre-season?

[Gozu]

How do you rank the sides after the pre-season?

Tough to rank as the better sides don't tend to show their hands. But season predictions I would probably go:

1. Sydney
2. Perth
3. Illawarra
4. Melbourne
5. Tasmania
6. Adelaide

7. SE Melbourne
8. Brisbane
9. NZ Breakers
10. Cairns

[Gozu]

Montrezl Harrell's 36ers introductory press conference:

https://nbl.com.au/news/harrell-whatever-it-takes

Also the Perth Wildcats have announced they've signed coach John Rillie to a 3 year extension putting him under contract until 2028.

https://nbl.com.au/news/wildcats-lock-down-rillie

[Gozu]

The Tasmania JackJumpers have announced they've re-signed guard Lachlan Barker as a nominated replacement player to cover for Sean Macdonald who is expected to be out for up to 3 months with an ankle injury he suffered at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

https://www.jackjumpers.com.au/news/tas ... ent-player

[Gozu]

NBL season preview by ESPN's Olgun Uluc:

https://www.espn.com.au/nbl/story/_/id/ ... on-preview

[LaughingKookaburra]

After seeing Mike Wells ripping into the team today in Perth I’m sold this bloke is the right man for the job. We’ve been shithouse for way too long and this guy doesn’t hold back and demands the best. Singling out the best in the team shows he’s no boys club coach.

[DOC]

Surprised they are in Perth already. Don’t play till Sunday.

Edit. They have community commitments. Fair enough.

Will have to watch it

[DOC]

Watched the first half of Melbourne v Tasmania played in Perth.

Zero crowd involvement does nothing for the game. Good sized crowd.

Melbourne have been slightly the better side.

[DOC]

Melbourne win by 9.

Rate Doyle’s game for Tassie.

[amber_fluid]

Has anything more been published around Ninnis and his payout he has asked for?

[Gozu]

Has anything more been published around Ninnis and his payout he has asked for?

Not that I know of, last I heard was he engaged lawyers. Might be hard pressed to get a pay out if the club is willing to keep paying his contract for a different position some sort of clinics/community engagement role.

In terms of acts of bastardry I remember when the NZ Breakers fired Kevin Braswell as their coach and to get around from paying his contract out they made the position of 'Head Coach' redundant and then hired Dan Shamir as Director of Basketball Operations or something and even though he was the coach he had to be officially referred to by that title for that season. The following season his title was HC as Braswell's contract had ended by then.

[mal]

PW 106
SM 98

The Pinderman on fire !
Cotton fine performance , what's new !

Gozu
Would Cotton be the best 3 point converter in the NBL ?

[Gozu]

Gozu
Would Cotton be the best 3 point converter in the NBL ?

I still can't go past Andrew Gaze. Played 22 seasons and NBL's all-time leader in 3 pointers made with 1,826. Cotton's great but this is only his 9th season.

[amber_fluid]

Gozu
Would Cotton be the best 3 point converter in the NBL ?

I still can't go past Andrew Gaze. Played 22 seasons and NBL's all-time leader in 3 pointers made with 1,826. Cotton's great but this is only his 9th season.

Comparing anyone with Andrew Gaze is unfair.
Cotton would have to be up there with Shane Heal and Brett Maher.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Whilst we lost to Sydney, the brand the Sixers played was very good - An arm flex each way and tonight we were on the losing side. Let’s hope it translates to wins in coming weeks. Trez looks gooood!

[Gozu]

Round 1 results:

Melbourne 88 (Dellavedova 21, Ili 14, White 14) def Tasmania 79 (Doyle 23, Drmic 14, Magnay 14, Crawford 10)

Perth 106 (Pinder 29, Cotton 26, Almansa 10, Henshall 10) def SE Melbourne 98 (Hunter 19, Hurt 16, Sobey 13, Walton 13, Wieskamp 12, Foxwell 10)

NZ Breakers 91 (Mennenga 22, Jackson-Cartwright 20, King 12, Mooney 10) def Brisbane 87 (Cook 25, Prather 11, Smith-Milner 10)

Illawarra 102 (Days 20, Froling 19, Harvey 14, Lee 12, Olbrich 12) def Cairns 75 (Groves 19, Edwards 17, Waardenburg 13)

Sydney 102 (Adams 25, Cooks 19, Oliver 19, Toohey 15) def Adelaide 94 (Mayen 23, Vasiljevic 23, Harrell 13, Davis 11, Marshall 10)

[mal]

Gozu
Would Cotton be the best 3 point converter in the NBL ?

I still can't go past Andrew Gaze. Played 22 seasons and NBL's all-time leader in 3 pointers made with 1,826. Cotton's great but this is only his 9th season.

I will re phrase the question
Is Cotton the best 3 point converter at present in the NBL ?

[DOC]

For me I think Chris Goulding has him covered at the three point line but Cotton is the Finest player in the league.

He also has a. Bold Personality.

[Gozu]

I will re phrase the question
Is Cotton the best 3 point converter at present in the NBL ?

I agree with DOC I would say Goulding as the best 3pt shooter and either Cotton or Xavier Cooks as best player.