The 2018–19 NBL season was the 41st season of the
National Basketball League since its establishment in 1979. A total of eight teams have contested the league. The regular season had been played between October 2018 and February 2019, followed by a post-season featuring the top four in March 2019.
Australian broadcast rights to the season are held by
Fox Sports
Fox Sports is the brand name for a number of sports channels, broadcast divisions, programming, and other media around the world. The name originates from Fox Broadcasting Company in the United States, which in turn derives its name from Fox Fi ...
, in the fourth year of a five-year deal, with two game per week simulcast on the
Nine Network
Nine Network (stylised 9Network, and commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of the five main free-to-air television ...
. In New Zealand,
Sky Sport Sky Sport or Sky Sports may refer to:
*Sky Group
**Sky Sports, a group of sports television channels available in the UK and Ireland
** Sky Sport (Germany), a group of sports television channels available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, formerl ...
are the official league broadcaster.
As
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
and
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
are participating in
2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification
The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification was the first World Cup for which teams had to qualify for under the new qualification system. The process determined 31 out of the 32 teams that participated at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. ...
, the league will take a break during the FIBA international windows of 26 November to 4 December 2018 and 18–26 February 2019.
The
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, ...
won their ninth NBL championship after defeating
Melbourne United
Melbourne United is an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. United compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at John Cain Arena.
The team made their debut in the NBL in 1984 ...
in the Grand Final.
Pre-season
The pre-season featured games in China and Malaysia. As well, it featured the NBLxNBA 2018 Tour in which five NBL teams played a total of seven games. Five NBL teams played a total of seven games against NBA teams in the 2018 pre-season.
Regular season
The regular season started on 11 October 2018 and finished on 17 February 2019. Eight teams participated, with the top four advancing to the finals series.
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 between the teams will determine order of seeding.
''1Perth Wildcats won on overall points percentage. Melbourne United finished 2nd on overall points percentage. ''
''2Brisbane Bullets won on overall points percentage. ''
''3New Zealand Breakers won on overall points percentage. ''
Finals
The 2019 NBL Finals were played in February and March 2019, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final series and the best-of-five
Grand Final
Primarily in Australian sports, a grand final is a game that decides a sports league's premiership (or championship) winning team, i.e. the conclusive game of a finals (or play-off) series. Synonymous with a championship game in North Ameri ...
series. In the semi-finals, the higher seed hosts the first and third games. In the Grand Final, the higher seed hosts the first, third and fifth games.
After winning both of their semi-finals in straight games, the Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United progressed to the Grand Final where the Wildcats triumphed 3–1.
Playoff bracket
Awards
Pre-season
* Most Valuable Player (
Ray Borner Medal):
Bryce Cotton
Bryce Jiron Cotton (born August 11, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for Mets de Guaynabo (basketball), Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He is also contracted with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australi ...
(
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, ...
)
Season
* Most Valuable Player (
Andrew Gaze Trophy):
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut (born 28 November 1984) is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Bogut spent the majority of his career in t ...
(
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are an Australian men's professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL). The team is based in Sydney, New South Wales, and play their home games at Qudos Ba ...
)
* Rookie of the Year:
Harry Froling (
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 ...
)
* Best Defensive Player:
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut (born 28 November 1984) is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Bogut spent the majority of his career in t ...
(
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are an Australian men's professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL). The team is based in Sydney, New South Wales, and play their home games at Qudos Ba ...
)
* Best Sixth Man:
Reuben Te Rangi
Reuben Te Rangi (born 14 October 1994) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Gold Coast Rollers of the NBL1 North. He is also contracted with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He st ...
(
Brisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL) based in Brisbane, Queensland. They competed from 1979 to 2008, and returned to the league in 2016. Brisbane were one of ten NBL ...
)
* Most Improved Player:
Reuben Te Rangi
Reuben Te Rangi (born 14 October 1994) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Gold Coast Rollers of the NBL1 North. He is also contracted with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He st ...
(
Brisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL) based in Brisbane, Queensland. They competed from 1979 to 2008, and returned to the league in 2016. Brisbane were one of ten NBL ...
)
* Fans MVP:
Bryce Cotton
Bryce Jiron Cotton (born August 11, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for Mets de Guaynabo (basketball), Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He is also contracted with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australi ...
(
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, ...
)
* Coach of the Year (
Lindsay Gaze Trophy):
Dean Vickerman
Dean Vickerman (born 5 July 1971) is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Early life
Vickerman was born and raised in Warragul, Victor ...
(
Melbourne United
Melbourne United is an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. United compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at John Cain Arena.
The team made their debut in the NBL in 1984 ...
)
* Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen
* All-NBL First Team:
**
Casper Ware
Casper Ware Jr. (born January 17, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for CSKA Moscow of the VTB United League. He played college basketball for the Long Beach State 49ers.
College career
Prior to the start of his senior year, W ...
(
Melbourne United
Melbourne United is an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. United compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at John Cain Arena.
The team made their debut in the NBL in 1984 ...
)
**
Bryce Cotton
Bryce Jiron Cotton (born August 11, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for Mets de Guaynabo (basketball), Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He is also contracted with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australi ...
(
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, ...
)
**
Lamar Patterson
Lamar Patterson (born August 12, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Ipswich Force of the NBL1 North. He played college basketball for the Pittsburgh Panthers.
College career
Patterson, a 6'5" swingman from Lancaster, ...
(
Brisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL) based in Brisbane, Queensland. They competed from 1979 to 2008, and returned to the league in 2016. Brisbane were one of ten NBL ...
)
**
Nick Kay
Nicholas Colin Kay (born 3 August 1992) is an Australian professional basketball player for Shimane Susanoo Magic of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the Metro State Roadrunners before beginning his professional career ...
(
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, ...
)
**
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut (born 28 November 1984) is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Bogut spent the majority of his career in t ...
(
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are an Australian men's professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL). The team is based in Sydney, New South Wales, and play their home games at Qudos Ba ...
)
* All-NBL Second Team:
**
Jerome Randle
Jerome Jerry Randle (born May 21, 1987; ) is an American-Ukrainian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the California Golden Bears before playing professionally in several European countries. Randle has a Ukra ...
(
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are an Australian men's professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League (Australia), National Basketball League (NBL). The team is based in Sydney, New South Wales, and play their home games at Qudos Ba ...
)
**
Melo Trimble
Romelo Delante Trimble (born February 2, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for CSKA Moscow of the VTB United League. He played at Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia, where he was a McDonald's All-Amer ...
(
Cairns Taipans
The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team based in Cairns, Queensland. The Taipans compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Cairns Convention Centre, known colloquially as "The S ...
)
**
Nathan Sobey
Nathan Adam Sobey (born 14 July 1990) is an Australian professional basketball player for Santeros de Aguada of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. He is also contracted with the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League (N ...
(
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 ...
)
**
Daniel Johnson (
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 ...
)
**
Shawn Long
Shawn Long (born January 29, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Ulsan Mobis Phoebus of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). He played college basketball for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns and represented the United States at ...
(
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 ...
)
Finals
* Grand Final Series MVP (
Larry Sengstock Medal):
Terrico White (
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, ...
)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:NBL,2018
Australia,NBL
2018–19 in Australian basketball
2018 in New Zealand basketball