The 2009–10 NBL season was the 32nd season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of eight teams contested the league. The 48-minute game switched to a 40-minute game.
Preseason
Pre-season training began for a majority of clubs during the last week of July.
A pre-season tourney, dubbed the NBL Top End Challenge, involving all eight sides was contested during August in
Darwin,
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
.
Wollongong Hawks exhibition games
Burger King Breakers Pre-season Tour
Melbourne Tigers exhibition games
Gold Coast Blaze exhibition games
2009 Crocs Pre-season Assault
2009 Coca-Cola Pre-season Championship
Cairns Taipans exhibition games
NBL Top End Challenge
Wollongong Hawks
The Illawarra Hawks (formerly the Wollongong Hawks and The Hawks) are an Australian professional basketball team based in Wollongong, New South Wales. The Illawarra Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketbal ...
win Top End Challenge.
Hood Sweeney Pre-season Challenge
Regular season
The 2009–10 regular season took place over 20 rounds between 24 September 2009 and 14 February 2010.
Round 1
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Round 2
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Round 3
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Round 4
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!width=260, Venue
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Round 5
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!width=260, Venue
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Round 6
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 7
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 8
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 9
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 10
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 11
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!width=180, Away
!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 12
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 13
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 14
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 15
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!width=180, Away
!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
!width=70, Boxscore
Round 16
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 17
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!width=260, Venue
!width=70, Crowd
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Round 18
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!width=260, Venue
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Round 19
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!width=260, Venue
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Round 20
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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 results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.
''13-way Head-to-Head between Wollongong Hawks (5-3), Townsville Crocodiles (4-4) and Gold Coast Blaze (3-5). ''
''1Cairns Taipans won Head-to-Head (3-1). ''
Finals
The 2009–10 National Basketball League Finals played between 18 February 2010 and 12 March 2010, consisting of two best-of-three semi-finals and final series in which the higher seed hosts the first and deciding third game.
Playoff Seedings
#
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. The Wildcats compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Perth Arena, ...
#
Wollongong Hawks
The Illawarra Hawks (formerly the Wollongong Hawks and The Hawks) are an Australian professional basketball team based in Wollongong, New South Wales. The Illawarra Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketbal ...
#
Townsville Crocodiles
The Townsville Crocodiles were an Australian professional men's basketball team based in the North Queensland city of Townsville. They competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) and played their home games at the Townsville Entertain ...
#
Gold Coast Blaze
The Gold Coast Blaze were an Australian men's professional basketball team which competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Blaze played five seasons in the NBL between 2007 and 2012, and played their home games at the Gold Coast C ...
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of a tie of three or more teams, winning percentage in games played only between those teams will determine order of finish.
Under that system, Wollongong (5–3) will finish second, Townsville (4–4) third and Gold Coast (3–5) fourth.
Playoff bracket
Semi-finals
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Grand Final
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Season awards
*Most Valuable Player:
Corey Williams,
Townsville Crocodiles
The Townsville Crocodiles were an Australian professional men's basketball team based in the North Queensland city of Townsville. They competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) and played their home games at the Townsville Entertain ...
*Rookie of the Year:
Jesse Wagstaff
Jesse Kendall James Wagstaff (born 30 April 1986) is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL). After playing college basketball for the M ...
,
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. The Wildcats compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Perth Arena, ...
*Best Defensive Player:
Dillon Boucher
Dillon Matthew Boucher (born 27 December 1975) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. His 13 combined career championships is the most in ANBL/NZNBL history.
Early life
Growing up in Bell Block, a small township just outside ...
,
New Zealand Breakers
The New Zealand Breakers (also known as the Bank of New Zealand, BNZ Breakers for sponsorship reasons) are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Auckland. The Breakers are the only non-Australian side currently competing in Austral ...
*Best Sixth Man:
Erron Maxey,
Gold Coast Blaze
The Gold Coast Blaze were an Australian men's professional basketball team which competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Blaze played five seasons in the NBL between 2007 and 2012, and played their home games at the Gold Coast C ...
*Most Improved Player:
Anthony Petrie,
Gold Coast Blaze
The Gold Coast Blaze were an Australian men's professional basketball team which competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Blaze played five seasons in the NBL between 2007 and 2012, and played their home games at the Gold Coast C ...
*Coach of the Year:
Gordie McLeod,
Wollongong Hawks
The Illawarra Hawks (formerly the Wollongong Hawks and The Hawks) are an Australian professional basketball team based in Wollongong, New South Wales. The Illawarra Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketbal ...
*Finals MVP:
Kevin Lisch
Kevin John Lisch (born May 16, 1986) is an American former professional basketball player and coach, most known for his time spent in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as a player. He also holds an Italian passport and is an Austr ...
,
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. The Wildcats compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Perth Arena, ...
*All-NBL First Team:
**
Corey Williams –
Townsville Crocodiles
The Townsville Crocodiles were an Australian professional men's basketball team based in the North Queensland city of Townsville. They competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) and played their home games at the Townsville Entertain ...
**
Kirk Penney
Kirk Samuel Penney (born 23 November 1980) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He is the all-time leading scorer for New Zealand's national team and he ranks 12th all-time in points scored at the FIBA World Cup. In 2024, he ...
–
New Zealand Breakers
The New Zealand Breakers (also known as the Bank of New Zealand, BNZ Breakers for sponsorship reasons) are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Auckland. The Breakers are the only non-Australian side currently competing in Austral ...
**
Tywain McKee –
Wollongong Hawks
The Illawarra Hawks (formerly the Wollongong Hawks and The Hawks) are an Australian professional basketball team based in Wollongong, New South Wales. The Illawarra Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketbal ...
**
Mark Worthington –
Melbourne Tigers
Melbourne United is an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. United compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Joh ...
**
Shawn Redhage
Shawn Michael Redhage (born 21 January 1981) is an American-Australian former professional basketball player who played 13 seasons in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL). He played four years of college b ...
–
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. The Wildcats compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Perth Arena, ...
*All-NBL Second Team:
**
Adam Ballinger –
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL). The 36ers are the only team in the league representing the state of South Australia and are based in the state's capital of Adela ...
**
C. J. Bruton –
New Zealand Breakers
The New Zealand Breakers (also known as the Bank of New Zealand, BNZ Breakers for sponsorship reasons) are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Auckland. The Breakers are the only non-Australian side currently competing in Austral ...
**
Anthony Petrie –
Gold Coast Blaze
The Gold Coast Blaze were an Australian men's professional basketball team which competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Blaze played five seasons in the NBL between 2007 and 2012, and played their home games at the Gold Coast C ...
**
Adam Gibson –
Gold Coast Blaze
The Gold Coast Blaze were an Australian men's professional basketball team which competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Blaze played five seasons in the NBL between 2007 and 2012, and played their home games at the Gold Coast C ...
**
Ayinde Ubaka
Ayinde X. Ubaka (born February 9, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the California Golden Bears and spent seven seasons playing professionally overseas.
High school career
Ubaka attended ...
–
Gold Coast Blaze
The Gold Coast Blaze were an Australian men's professional basketball team which competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). The Blaze played five seasons in the NBL between 2007 and 2012, and played their home games at the Gold Coast C ...
*All-NBL Third Team:
**
Julius Hodge –
Melbourne Tigers
Melbourne United is an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. United compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Joh ...
**
Glen Saville
Glen Saville (born 17 January 1976) is an Australian former professional basketball player who played the majority of his career for the Wollongong Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL).
NBL career
Born in Bendigo, Victoria, Saville m ...
–
Wollongong Hawks
The Illawarra Hawks (formerly the Wollongong Hawks and The Hawks) are an Australian professional basketball team based in Wollongong, New South Wales. The Illawarra Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketbal ...
**
John Gilchrist –
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL). The 36ers are the only team in the league representing the state of South Australia and are based in the state's capital of Adela ...
**
Cameron Tragardh –
Wollongong Hawks
The Illawarra Hawks (formerly the Wollongong Hawks and The Hawks) are an Australian professional basketball team based in Wollongong, New South Wales. The Illawarra Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketbal ...
**
Larry Davidson –
Wollongong Hawks
The Illawarra Hawks (formerly the Wollongong Hawks and The Hawks) are an Australian professional basketball team based in Wollongong, New South Wales. The Illawarra Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketbal ...
See also
*
2009–10 NBL squads
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:NBL, 2009
Australia,NBL
2009–10 in Australian basketball
2009 in New Zealand basketball
2010 in New Zealand basketball