Did you know that during the NBL’s 45 year history, 34 different teams have played official NBL games across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia?
Since the league officially launched its inaugural season back in 1979 and the official National Basketball League was born, a number of teams nationally and internationally have tried their hand at playing NBL. Infact, 34 different teams ranging from just about every state and major metropolitan area (excluding the Northern Territory) as well as New Zealand and Singapore have had a go.
Now this number does include some overlap, as various teams have evolved and merged into teams that play even today, for example 1979’s West Adelaide Bearcats eventually morphed into the Adelaide City Eagles which resulted in the all mighty Adelaide 36’ers. Similar to the current standings in which the NBL, which has ten official teams listee, the first version of this league also comprised ten teams from across mostly the east coast of Australia, of which only two officially still remain (Briabane and Illawarra).
As a number of teams come and go during these four and a half decades, we have listed each team below along with their club name and years spent in the NBL, with each representing a unique slice of Australia and New Zealand’s basketball culture.
The list of current NBL teams along with their year of inception (in alphabetical order):
1) Adelaide 36ers: 1983 – present (4 championships).
2) Brisbane Bullets: 1979 – present (3 championships).
3) Cairns Taipans: 1999 – present (0 championships).
4) Illawarra Hawks; 1979 – present (1 championships).
5) Melbourne Tigers / United: 1984 – 2013 and 2014 present (7 championships (2 to United and 5 to Tigers).
6) New Zealand Breakers – 2003 (4 championships).
7) Perth Wildcats: 1982 – present (10 championships).
8) South East Melbourne Phoenix: 2019 to present (0 championships).
9) Sydney Kings: 1988 – 2008 and 2010 – present (5 championships).
10) Tasmania JackJumpers: 2021 to present (1 championships).
After the recent success of the NBL’s newest team, the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers, there are talks of the NBL expanding the current number of teams to an 11 or even 12 team roster, with strong interest from areas such as Canberra, the Gold Coast and even regional teams in Victoria and NSW.
For what it’s worth, FCP would love to see the Canberra Cannons be given another shot, even if it’s under a different name. Our nation’s capital loves their basketball and they seriously deserve another shot.
As mentioned, there have been many more teams which have graced hardwood floors across Australia, some of which have been reborn under new names, taken on new cities as hosts or simply lapsed into the forgotten graveyard of defunct Australian basketball teams. One of the stranger clubs listed below includes the Launceston City Casino team which started in 1980, won a championship in their first season, hardly won a game after that, and the pulled up stumps, never to be seen again.
Here is the list of the defunct NBL teams that have come and gone over the last 45 years (in alphabetical order):
Bankstown Bruins/West Sydney Westars: 1979 – 1987
Canberra Cannons: 1979 – 2003
City of Sydney Astronauts / Sydney Supersonics: 1979 – 1987
Coburg Giants/North Melbourne Giants: 1980 – 1998
Devonport Warriors: 1983 – 1984
Franskston Bears: 1983 – 1984
Geelong Supercats: 1982 – 1996
Glenelg Tigers: 1979 (one season)
Gold Coast Blaze: 2007- 2012
Gold Coast Cougars / Rollers: 1990 – 1996
Hobart Devils: 1983 – 1996
Hunter Pirates: 2004 – 2006
Launceston Casino City: 1980 – 1982
Newcastle Falcons: 1979 – 1999
Nudawading / Eastside Spectres: 1979 – 1991
Singapore Slingers: 2006 – 2008
South Dragons: 2006 – 2009
South East Melbourne Magic: 1992 – 1998
St Kilda / Westside Saints: 1979 – 1991
Townsville Suns / Crocodiles: 1993 – 2016
Victoria Titans/Giants: 1998- 2004
West Adelaide Bearcats: 1979 – 1984
West Sydney Razorbacks/Sydney Spirit: 1998 – 2008
West Torrens / Forestville Eagles: 1980 – 1981
So, how many of these 24 defunct NBL teams do you remember or have supported over the years? Some of these teams have gone on to become affiliated with stronger and current day teams, for example the South East Melbourne Magic left in 1998 and emerged as the South East Melbourne Phoenix in 2019. However, unfortunately most of these teams have slipped into the ether, with no clear signs of ever re-forming, which highlights just how hard it is to run a successful basketball team in Australia’s highest league.
One positive thing to take away from this list is that in the modern day, the NBL has never been in a stronger financial position, enjoying more support and engagement nationally than ever before. Larry Kestlemen recently sold a stake in the South East Melbourne Phoenix for $4,000,000, valuing the once cash strapped club at over $40,000,000. Not a bad turnaround for a man that once purchased a majority stake in the NBL for only $7,000,000.
Our best guess is from here, the NBL will continue to expand and grow into a 12 or even 13 league team within the next decade. With strong interest from major cities and regions across Australia to form more teams, combined with a serious spike in basketball activity across the country, it only makes sense that the NBL will continue its growth trajectory and expand it’s footprint.