The 2025–26 NBL season was the 48th season of the National Basketball League since its establishment in 1979. A total of ten teams will contest the 2025–26 season.
As Australia and New Zealand will participate in 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification, the league will take a break during the FIBA international windows of 24 November to 2 December 2025 and 23 February to 3 March 2026.
Teams All ten teams from the 2024–25 NBL season will continue on in 2025–26.
Stadiums and locations
Team Location Stadium CapacityAdelaide 36ersAdelaideAdelaide Entertainment CentreBrisbane BulletsBrisbaneBrisbane Entertainment CentreCairns TaipansCairnsCairns Convention CentreIllawarra HawksWollongongWollongong Entertainment CentreMelbourne UnitedMelbourneJohn Cain ArenaNew Zealand BreakersAucklandSpark ArenaPerth WildcatsPerthPerth ArenaS.E. Melbourne PhoenixMelbourneJohn Cain ArenaState Basketball CentreSydney KingsSydneySydney SuperDomeTasmania JackJumpersHobartDerwent Entertainment CentreLauncestonSilverdome
Personnel and sponsorship Team Coach Captain Main sponsor Kit manufacturerAdelaide 36ers Mike Wells Bryce Cotton Isaac Humphries Dejan VasiljevicMega Rewards ChampionBrisbane Bullets Darryl McDonald Mitch NortonN/ACairns Taipans Adam Forde Sam WaardenburgKenfrost HomesIllawarra Hawks Justin Tatum Sam Froling Tyler HarveyMulti Civil and RailMelbourne United Dean Vickerman Chris GouldingEngieNew Zealand Breakers Petteri Koponen Parker Jackson-CartwrightBank of New ZealandPerth Wildcats John Rillie Jesse WagstaffMate Internet MobileS.E. Melbourne Phoenix Josh King Jordan Hunter Nathan SobeyMountain Goat BeerSydney Kings Brian Goorjian Matthew DellavedovaHarvey NormanTasmania JackJumpers Scott Roth Will MagnaySpirit of Tasmania
Player transactions Free agency began on 4 April 2025.
Coaching transactions + Head coaching transactions Team 2024–25 season 2025–26 seasonOff-season Brisbane Bullets Justin Schueller Stu Lash Cairns Taipans Adam Forde New Zealand Breakers Petteri KoponenIn-season Brisbane Bullets Stu Lash Darryl McDonald
Pre-season
The pre-season games began on 28 June to 5 October 2025.
The pre-season also features Melbourne United, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix to host games between NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, this will be the seventh NBLxNBA tour.
NBL Blitz The 2025 NBL Blitz will run from 27 to 31 August 2025 with games being played at the AIS Arena, Canberra.
Regular season The regular season will begin on 18 September 2025. It will consist of 165 games (33 games each) spread across 22 rounds, with the final game being played on 20 February 2026.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
Round 22
Ladder
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.
Ladder progression
NBL Ignite Cup
The NBL introduced the new NBL Ignite Cup tournament for the 2025–26 season, with all games except the championship final counting towards the regular-season standings.
Championship game
Finals
The 2026 NBL Finals will be played in March and April 2026, consisting of three play-in games, two best-of-three semifinal series and the best-of-five NBL Championship series. In the semifinals, the higher seed hosts the first and third games. In the Championship Series, the higher seed hosts the first, third and fifth games.
The top two seeds in the regular season will automatically qualify to the semifinals. Teams ranked three to six will compete in the play-in tournament. The third seed will play the fourth seed for third spot and the loser will play the winner of fifth or sixth for the fourth spot.
Playoff Bracket
Awards Pre-season Loggins-Bruton Cup: New Zealand Breakers Most Valuable Player (Ray Borner Medal): Izaiah Brockington (New Zealand Breakers)
Regular season Awards Night Most Valuable Player (Andrew Gaze Trophy): Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) Next Generation Award: Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers) Best Defensive Player (Damian Martin Trophy): John Brown (S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) Best Sixth Man: Angus Glover (S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) Most Improved Player: Flynn Cameron (Adelaide 36ers) Fans MVP: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) Coach of the Year (Lindsay Gaze Trophy): Brian Goorjian (Sydney Kings) Executive of the Year: Nic Barbato (Adelaide 36ers) Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen GameTime by Kmart: Malith Machar (Melbourne United) Three-Pointer of the Year: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) Dunk of the Year: Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers) All-NBL First Team: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) Nathan Sobey (S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats) John Brown (S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) All-NBL Second Team: Jack McVeigh (Cairns Taipans) Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers) Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings) Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania JackJumpers) Zylan Cheatham (Adelaide 36ers)
Postseason Championship Series MVP (Larry Sengstock Medal): Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) NBL Champions: Sydney Kings (6th title)
NBL clubs in international competitions Team Competition Progress Result Illawarra Hawks Intercontinental Cup Group stage Loss vs. Flamengo 1–2 Loss vs. NBA G League United Fifth place Win vs. Utsunomiya Brex
As reigning NBL champions, the Hawks will compete in the 2025 FIBA Intercontinental Cup, becoming the second team from Oceania to play in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
References
External links
Official NBL All-Time Stats at NBL Insider