It’s back! No league in Australia is growing quite like it and a new season is upon us. Here’s our NBL preview for 2023-24.
Records were shattered last NBL season and we’re just about ready to do it all again; excitement for the return of Australia’s top hoops league is starting to rise.
The NBL schedule for the 2023- 24 season has been released, with a mouthwatering 140 total games through the regular season.
Starting in late September, the NBL schedule is jam-packed with rivalries and games, including featured affairs and public holiday showdowns that everyone can enjoy.
With the Sydney Kings looking to secure the first NBL championship three-peat since the Breakers in 2013, the competing sides will be more determined than ever to not let that happen.
Included in the announcement of the NBL schedule for this coming season, Christmas Day games return — now a double-header to be played in Tasmania and Sydney.
An exciting season lays ahead, so here’s our NBL preview for the 2023-24 season.
NBL Preview 2023-24: What you need to know
When does the NBL season start?
September 28, 2023
The start of the NBL season is just around the corner, with the first tip-off of the season on Thursday, September 28. Roughly five months of regular season basketball will follow until the conclusion of it on February 18.
Although it’s yet to be confirmed, the NBL schedule could be extended with the Play-In Tournament, which was very successful in its first year last season.
They’re not the only basketball league in the world to adapt the in-season tournament to their schedule, with the NBA’s new In-Season Tournament beginning this November.
How to watch the upcoming NBL season
ESPN, Foxtel and Kayo
All 140 games of the regular season will be available to watch live on ESPN.
Most likely in Australia you can access it via Foxtel and can be watched on demand on Kayo – the ultimate sports streaming service.
There will also be a couple games shown each Sunday on free-to-air station Channel 10.
What are the key dates in the 2023/24 NBL schedule?
There’ll be no shortage of exciting NBL games this season with grand final rematches, Christmas Day games and New Year’s matches headlining the NBL schedule.
Adding to last season where the NBL became the first ever professional Australian sporting competition to host a game on Christmas Day, they have taken it to another level with two games to be played come December 25.
The Tassie JackJumpers will host the South East Melbourne Phoenix whilst the Sydney Kings welcome local rivals the Illawarra Hawks to Qudos Bank Arena.
Disappointingly, the league is holding not just one game, but two games on January 26 (Australia Day) this season. We’ve seen plenty of conversation around not playing sport on that day but the NBL has given the green light, for this season at least.
Key dates for 2023/24 season:
Opening Day | Melbourne United vs South East Melbourne Phoenix, September 28
Grand Final rematch | Sydney Kings vs NZ Breakers, November 5
Christmas Eve | Adelaide 36ers vs Brisbane Bullets, December 24
Christmas Day | Tassie JackJumpers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix, December 25
Christmas Day | Sydney Kings vs Illawarra Hawks, December 25
Boxing Day | Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats, December 26
New Year’s Eve | Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers, December 31
New Year’s Eve | Cairns Taipans vs Melbourne United, December 31
New Year’s Day | Tassie JackJumpers vs NZ Breakers, January 1
Australia Day | NZ Breakers vs Tassie JackJumpers, January 26
Australia Day | Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United, January 26
Final day | Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks, February 18
Final day | Adelaide 36ers vs NZ Breakers, February 18
Who won the NBL last season?
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings capped off a brilliant season with a 3-2 series win over the NZ Breakers in the NBL Finals back in March, 2023.
It was there second consecutive title after a 17-year championship drought. They now chase an historic 3-peat which would be the franchises second one all-time.
They will be without star player, Xavier Cooks, going forward after he signed a deal with the NBA’s Washington Wizards following winning the league MVP.
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