Australian Basketball League (National Basketball League) History
League status
The National Basketball League (SEC) is the first-tier professional basketball league in Australia. NBL was established in 1965.
The NBL sits above the NBL One which effectively forms the second-tier of Australian basketball.
At the end of regular season, top 5 teams qualify to the play-offs.
Limits of non-Australian players per team: 2 import players (non-Europeans), 0 Bosman players (with European passport) . Total number of allowed imports and Bosmans is 3.
League name history
1965-1971: South Eastern Conference
1972-1978: Australian Club Championships
1979 until now: National Basketball League 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
League logos
 Until 1987 |  1988-1992 |  1993-1998 |  1998-2004 |  2004-2007 |  2007-2008 |  2008-2009 |  2009-2015 |  Since 2015 |
Title holders
- 1978-79:
St. Kilda Pumas - 1979-80: St. Kilda Pumas
- 1980-81:
Launceston Casino City - 1981-82:
West Adelaide Bearcats - 1982-83:
Canberra Cannons - 1983-84: Canberra Cannons
- 1984-85:
Brisbane Bullets - 1985-86:
Adelaide 36ers - 1986-87: Brisbane Bullets
- 1987-88: Canberra Cannons
- 1988-89:
North Melbourne Giants - 1989-90:
Perth Wildcats - 1990-91: Perth Wildcats
- 1991-92:
South East Melbourne Magic - 1992-93:
Melbourne Tigers - 1993-94: North Melbourne Giants
- 1994-95: Perth Wildcats
- 1995-96: South East Melbourne Magic
- 1996-97: Melbourne Tigers
- 1997-98:
Adelaide Eagle Super Sixers - 1998-99: Adelaide Eagle Super Sixers
- 1999-00: Perth Wildcats
- 2000-01:
Wollongong Hawks - 2001-02:
West Sydney Razorbacks - 2002-03:
Sydney Kings - 2003-04: Sydney Kings
- 2004-05: Wollongong Hawks
- 2005-06: Sydney Kings
- 2006-07:
Brisbane Bullets - 2007-08: Sydney Kings
- 2008-09:
Melbourne South Dragons - 2009-10: Perth Wildcats
- 2010-11:
New Zealand Breakers - 2011-12: Perth Wildcats
- 2012-13: New Zealand Breakers
- 2013-14: Perth Wildcats
- 2014-15: New Zealand Breakers
- 2015-16: Perth Wildcats
- 2016-17: Perth Wildcats
- 2017-18:
Adelaide 36ers - 2018-19: Perth Wildcats
- 2019-20: Sydney Kings
- 2020-21:
Melbourne United - 2021-22: Sydney Kings
- 2022-23: Sydney Kings
- 2023-24:
Tasmania JackJumpers - 2024-25:
Illawarra Hawks
- 1978-79: St. Kilda Pumas
- 1979-80: St. Kilda Pumas
- 1980-81: Launceston Casino City
- 1981-82: West Adelaide Bearcats
- 1982-83: Canberra Cannons
- 1983-84: Canberra Cannons
- 1984-85: Brisbane Bullets
- 1985-86: Adelaide 36ers
- 1986-87: Brisbane Bullets
- 1987-88: Canberra Cannons
- 1988-89: North Melbourne Giants
- 1989-90: Perth Wildcats
- 1990-91: Perth Wildcats
- 1991-92: South East Melbourne Magic
- 1992-93: Melbourne Tigers
- 1993-94: North Melbourne Giants
- 1994-95: Perth Wildcats
- 1995-96: South East Melbourne Magic
- 1996-97: Melbourne Tigers
- 1997-98: Adelaide Eagle Super Sixers
- 1998-99: Adelaide Eagle Super Sixers
- 1999-00: Perth Wildcats
- 2000-01: Wollongong Hawks
- 2001-02: West Sydney Razorbacks
- 2002-03: Sydney Kings
- 2003-04: Sydney Kings
- 2004-05: Wollongong Hawks
- 2005-06: Sydney Kings
- 2006-07: Brisbane Bullets
- 2007-08: Sydney Kings
- 2008-09: Melbourne South Dragons
- 2009-10: Perth Wildcats
- 2010-11: New Zealand Breakers
- 2011-12: Perth Wildcats
- 2012-13: New Zealand Breakers
- 2013-14: Perth Wildcats
- 2014-15: New Zealand Breakers
- 2015-16: Perth Wildcats
- 2016-17: Perth Wildcats
- 2017-18: Adelaide 36ers
- 2018-19: Perth Wildcats
- 2019-20: Sydney Kings
- 2020-21: Melbourne United
- 2021-22: Sydney Kings
- 2022-23: Sydney Kings
- 2023-24: Tasmania JackJumpers
- 2024-25: Illawarra Hawks
Championships by club
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Perth | 1989-90, 1990-91, 1994-95, 1999-00, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19 |
| 7 | Sydney | 2021-22, 2022-23, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2019-20 |
| 4 |  Adelaide | 1985-86, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2017-18 |
| 3 |  Melbourne Utd | 1992-93, 1996-97, 2020-21 |
| 3 |  Brisbane | 1984-85, 1986-87, 2006-07 |
| 3 | Canberra | 1982-83, 1983-84, 1987-88 |
| 3 |  Illawarra H. | 2024-25, 2000-01, 2004-05 |
| 3 | NZL Breakers | 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15 |
| 2 | S.Melbourne S. | 1978-79, 1979-80 |
| 2 |  Coburg | 1988-89, 1993-94 |
| 2 | SE Melbourne | 1991-92, 1995-96 |
| 1 |  Spirit | 2001-02 |
| 1 | W.Adelaide B. | 1981-82 |
| 1 | S.Dragons | 2008-09 |
| 1 | Tasmania JJ | 2023-24 |
| 1 | Launceston CC | 1980-81 |
Finals year-by-year
Finals participants
| Club | W | L | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| Melbourne Utd | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| Adelaide | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Sydney | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Brisbane | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| NZL Breakers | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Canberra | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Illawarra H. | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Coburg | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| SE Melbourne | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| W.Adelaide B. | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| S.Melbourne S. | 2 | 0 | 2 |
 Cairns | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Spirit | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Nunawading S. | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Victoria | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Tasmania JJ | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Geelong U. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Crocodiles | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| S.Dragons | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Launceston CC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Final Four participants
| Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 10 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Sydney | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Adelaide | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Melbourne Utd | 3 | 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Brisbane | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Illawarra H. | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Canberra | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| NZL Breakers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Coburg | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| SE Melbourne | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| S.Melbourne S. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| W.Adelaide B. | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Tasmania JJ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Spirit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Launceston CC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| S.Dragons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nunawading S. | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Cairns | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Victoria | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Crocodiles | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Geelong U. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
 SE Melbourne | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Blaze | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Newcastle F. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Players with the most appearances in the Australian Finals
| Player | Finals Appearances | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Smith | 9 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 |
| Jesse Wagstaff | 9 | 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| Damian Martin | 8 | 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| Larry Sengstock | 7 | 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1995 |
| Tony Ronaldson | 7 | 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 |
| Brett Wheeler | 7 | 1994, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| David Stiff | 7 | 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| C.J. Bruton | 7 | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Darryl McDonald | 6 | 1995, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Samuel Mackinnon | 6 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 |
Players with the most Australian titles
| Player | Count | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Damian Martin | 6 | 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| Jesse Wagstaff | 6 | 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| C.J. Bruton | 5 | 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013 |
| Shawn Redhage | 5 | 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Larry Sengstock | 4 | 1980, 1985, 1987, 1994 |
| Martin Cattalini | 4 | 1995, 1998, 1999, 2010 |
| Jason Smith | 4 | 1996, 2004, 2006, 2008 |
| BJ Carter | 4 | 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 |
| Mika Vukona | 4 | 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 |
| Jackson Hussey | 4 | 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
