NBL Finals
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 NBL Finals
Logo of the finals sponsored by Hungry Jack's
SportBasketball
Founded1979
No. of teams6
Most recent
champion(s)
Sydney Kings
(5th title)
Most titlesPerth Wildcats
(10 titles)
TV partner(s)Australia: New Zealand: Online:
Official websiteNBL.com.au

The National Basketball League (NBL) Finals is a tournament held at the end of each NBL season to determine the league champions.

The top six teams qualify for the finals based on the regular season results. The current finals format consists of four rounds: two sudden-death play-in games then the best-of-three Semifinals and best-of-five Grand Final series.[1]

Format

1980–1983

Semifinals Grand Final
      
1  
4  
   
   
2  
3  

1984

Preliminary / Elimination finalsQualifying finalsSemifinalsGrand final
1
4
5
8
6
7
2
3

1985

Elimination Finals Semifinals Grand Final
1  
4    
5      
   
2  
3    
6  

1986

Elimination Finals Semifinals Grand Final
1  
4    
5      
   
2  
3    
6  

1987–1988

Elimination Finals Semifinals Grand Final
1  
4    
5    
 
2  
3    
6  

1989–1991

Elimination Finals Semifinals Grand Final
1  
4    
5    
 
2  
3    
6  

1992–1996

Quarterfinals Semifinals Grand Final
               
1  
8  
 
 
4  
5  
 
 
3  
6  
 
 
2  
7  

1997–1998

Elimination Finals Semifinals Grand Final
1  
4    
5    
 
2  
3    
6  

1999

Qualifying Finals Semifinals Grand Final
               
1  
 
1  
6  
 
 
2  
5  
 
 
3  
6  

The top six teams at the end of the regular season advance to the finals under this playoff system:

  • The first round of the postseason sees the team that finishes in first place at the end of the regular season against the team that finishes sixth; second plays fifth, and third plays fourth.
  • The three teams that win their respective best-of-three first-round series advances, and is joined in the semifinals by the highest-placed losing team from the first round.
  • Teams are then seeded again for the best-of-three semifinal series. The three winning teams from the first round are seeded in order of their regular-season finishing positions, and the first-round loser automatically becomes the No. 4 seed.
  • The two winning teams from the semifinals meet in a best-of-three Grand Final series to determine the champion.

2000

Elimination Finals Semifinals Grand Final
1  
4    
5    
 
2  
3    
6  

2001–2003

Qualifying Finals Semifinals Grand Final
               
1  
 
1  
6  
 
 
2  
5  
 
 
3  
6  

The top six teams at the end of the regular season advance to the finals under this playoff system:

  • The first round of the postseason sees the team that finishes in first place at the end of the regular season against the team that finishes sixth; second plays fifth, and third plays fourth.
  • The three teams that win their respective best-of-three first-round series advances, and is joined in the semifinals by the highest-placed losing team from the first round.
  • Teams are then seeded again for the best-of-three semifinal series. The three winning teams from the first round are seeded in order of their regular-season finishing positions, and the first-round loser automatically becomes the No. 4 seed.
  • The two winning teams from the semifinals meet in a best-of-three Grand Final series to determine the champion.

2004–2008

Elimination FinalsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
8
2
3
6
7

2009

Elimination Finals Semifinals Grand Final
1  
4    
5    
 
2  
3    
6  

2010–2016

Semifinals Grand Final
          
1  
4  
   
   
2  
3  

2017–2022

Semifinals Grand Final
            
1  
4  
   
   
2  
3  

The top four teams at the end of the regular season advance to the finals under this playoff system:

  • The semifinals of the postseason sees the team that finishes in first place at the end of the regular season against the team that finishes fourth; and second plays third. All four teams play a best-of-three semifinal series.
  • The two winning teams from the semifinals meet in a best-of-five Grand Final series to determine the champion.[2]

2023–present

Play-in / Seeding qualifierPlay-in gameSemifinalsGrand Final
51
6
32
4

List of finals

This is a complete listing of National Basketball League (NBL) Finals series, grouped by franchise. Series featuring relocated and/or renamed teams are kept with their ultimate relocation franchises. Bolded years indicate wins. Years in italics indicate series in progress. Tables are sorted first by the number of series, then the number of wins, and then by year of first occurrence.[3][4]

Adelaide 36ers

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Perth Wildcats 10 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2014, 2018 25 4–6 .400
Illawarra Hawks 5 1986, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2017 11 3–2 .600
Melbourne United 5 1991, 1994, 2004, 2014, 2018 11 3–2 .600
Victoria Titans 4 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 11 3–1 .750
Brisbane Bullets 4 1985, 1986, 1994, 2005 8 2–2 .500
South East Melbourne Magic 3 1993, 1996, 1998 6 1–2 .333
Newcastle Falcons 2 1985, 1995 4 2–0 1.000
New Zealand Breakers 2 2009, 2015 3 0–2 .000
Canberra Cannons 1 2002 3 1–0 1.000
Canberra Cannons 1 1988 2 0–1 .000
North Melbourne Giants 1 1994 2 0–1 .000
Cairns Taipans 1 2006 1 0–1 .000
Nunawading Spectres 1 1984 1 0–1 .000
Totals 40 91 19–21 .475

Brisbane Bullets

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Perth Wildcats 7 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2006, 2019 14 1–6 .143
Melbourne United 6 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008 14 3–3 .500
Sydney Kings 5 1990, 1992, 2004, 2005, 2007 11 2–3 .400
Adelaide 36ers 4 1985, 1986, 1994, 2005 8 2–2 .500
Canberra Cannons 3 1984, 1985, 1986 3 2–1 .667
North Melbourne Giants 2 1984, 1995 3 1–1 .500
Illawarra Hawks 1 1987 3 1–0 1.000
Newcastle Falcons 1 1993 2 1–0 1.000
Nunawading Spectres 1 1990 2 1–0 1.000
Geelong Supercats 1 1984 1 1–0 1.000
Hunter Pirates 1 2005 1 1–0 1.000
New Zealand Breakers 1 2008 1 1–0 1.000
Sydney Supersonics 1 1986 1 1–0 1.000
South East Melbourne Magic 1 1998 2 0–1 .000
Launceston Casino City 1 1981 1 0–1 .000
West Adelaide Bearcats 1 1980 1 0–1 .000
Totals 37 68 18–19 .486

Cairns Taipans

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Perth Wildcats 5 2004, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023 10 4–2 .667
New Zealand Breakers 3 2008, 2011, 2015 6 0–3 .000
Sydney Kings 2 2006, 2023 5 0–2 .000
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2011 3 1–0 1.000
Adelaide 36ers 1 2006 1 1–0 1.000
Hunter Pirates 1 2006 1 1–0 1.000
South Dragons 1 2007 1 1–0 1.000
Melbourne United 1 2007 2 0–1 .000
West Sydney Razorbacks 1 2004 1 0–1 .000
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2023 1 0–1 .000
Totals 18 31 8–10 .444

Illawarra Hawks

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Perth Wildcats 10 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021 24 1–9 .100
Adelaide 36ers 5 1986, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2017 11 3–2 .600
Townsville Crocodiles 4 2001, 2003, 2005 2010 10 3–1 .750
North Melbourne Giants 2 1987, 1992 3 1–1 .500
Sydney Kings 2 2005, 2022 6 0–2 .000
Melbourne United 2 1993, 1994 4 0–2 .000
West Sydney Westars 1 1986 1 1–0 1.000
Brisbane Bullets 1 1987 3 0–1 .000
South East Melbourne Magic 1 1995 3 0–1 .000
Victoria Titans 1 1999 2 0–1 .000
West Sydney Razorbacks 1 2004 2 0–1 .000
Newcastle Falcons 1 1984 1 0–1 .000
Totals 32 72 9–23 .281

Melbourne United

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Perth Wildcats 8 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2019, 2021 21 5–3 .571
Sydney Kings 7 1989, 1992, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, 2020 22 4–3 .571
Brisbane Bullets 6 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008 14 3–3 .500
Adelaide 36ers 5 1991, 1994, 2004, 2014, 2018 13 2–3 .400
South East Melbourne Magic 4 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 11 3–1 .667
New Zealand Breakers 3 2009, 2016, 2018 6 2–1 .667
Victoria Titans 3 1999, 2000, 2002 8 1–2 .333
Illawarra Hawks 2 1993, 1994 4 2–0 1.000
Canberra Cannons 1 1996 3 1–0 1.000
South East Melbourne Phoenix 1 2021 3 1–0 1.000
Cairns Taipans 1 2007 2 1–0 1.000
North Melbourne Giants 1 1997 2 1–0 1.000
South Dragons 1 2009 5 0–1 1.000
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2022 3 0–1 1.000
West Sydney Razorbacks 1 2002 3 0–1 1.000
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2005 1 0–1 1.000
Totals 46 122 25–21 .543

New Zealand Breakers

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Perth Wildcats 4 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 12 3–1 .750
Cairns Taipans 3 2008, 2011, 2015 6 3–0 1.000
Melbourne United 3 2009, 2016, 2018 6 1–2 .333
Sydney Kings 2 2013, 2023 7 1–1 .500
Adelaide 36ers 2 2008, 2015 3 2–0 1.000
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2023 3 1–0 1.000
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2012 3 1–0 1.000
Brisbane Bullets 1 2008 1 0–1 .000
Totals 17 41 12–5 .706

Perth Wildcats

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Illawarra Hawks 10 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021 21 9–1 .900
Adelaide 36ers 10 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2014, 2018 25 6–4 .600
Brisbane Bullets 7 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2006, 2019 14 6–1 .857
Melbourne United 7 1990, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2019, 2021 17 3–4 .429
North Melbourne Giants 5 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 15 3–2 .600
Cairns Taipans 6 2004, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023 10 2–4 .333
New Zealand Breakers 4 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 11 1–3 .250
Townsville Crocodiles 3 2000, 2008, 2009 5 2–1 .667
Sydney Kings 3 2003, 2008, 2020 8 1–2 .333
Gold Coast Blaze 2 2010, 2012 5 2–0 1.000
West Sydney Razorbacks 2 2000, 2002 5 1–1 .500
South East Melbourne Magic 2 1994, 1997 4 0–2 .000
Nunawading Spectres 1 1991 3 1–0 1.000
Victoria Titans 1 2000 2 1–0 1.000
Canberra Cannons 1 1987 1 1–0 1.000
South East Melbourne Phoenix 1 2023 1 1–0 1.000
Totals 65 147 40–28 .588

South East Melbourne Phoenix

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Melbourne United 1 2021 3 0–1 .000
Perth Wildcats 1 2023 1 0–1 .000
Totals 2 4 0–2 .000

Sydney Kings

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Melbourne United 7 1989, 1992, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, 2020 22 3–4 .429
Brisbane Bullets 5 1990, 1992, 2004, 2005, 2007 11 3–2 .600
Perth Wildcats 3 2003, 2008, 2020 8 2–1 .667
Townsville Crocodiles 3 2001, 2003, 2007 7 2–1 .667
Cairns Taipans 2 2006, 2023 5 2–0 1.000
Illawarra Hawks 2 2005, 2022 5 2–0 1.000
New Zealand Breakers 2 2013, 2023 7 1–1 .500
Canberra Cannons 2 1989, 1996 6 0–2 .000
West Sydney Razorbacks 1 2005 5 1–0 1.000
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2022 3 1–0 1.000
North Melbourne Giants 1 1994 3 0–1 .000
Totals 27 82 17–12 .586

Tasmania JackJumpers

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Melbourne United 1 2022 3 1–0 1.000
New Zealand Breakers 1 2023 3 0–1 .000
Sydney Kings 1 2022 3 0–1 .000
Cairns Taipans 1 2023 1 1–0 1.000
Totals 4 10 2–2 .500

Defunct and Former Teams

Bankstown Bruins / West Sydney Westars

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Illawarra Hawks 1 1986 1 0–1 .000
Totals 1 1 0–1 .000

Canberra Cannons / Hunter Pirates / Singapore Slingers

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
North Melbourne Giants 6 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1997 11 5–1 .833
Brisbane Bullets 4 1984, 1985, 1986, 2005 4 1–3 .250
Sydney Kings 2 1989, 1996 6 2–0 1.000
Adelaide 36ers 1 1988 2 1–0 1.000
Geelong Supercats 1 1984 2 1–0 1.000
Newcastle Falcons 1 1988 1 1–0 1.000
West Adelaide Bearcats 1 1983 1 1–0 1.000
Melbourne United 1 1996 3 0–1 .000
St. Kilda Saints 1 1979 2 0–1 .000
South East Melbourne Magic 1 1992 2 0–1 .000
Cairns Taipans 1 2006 1 0–1 .000
Perth Wildcats 1 1987 1 0–1 .000
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2007 1 0–1 .000
Nunawading Spectres 0 1 0–0 .000
Totals 23 37 12–11 .522

Coburg Giants / North Melbourne Giants

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Canberra Cannons 6 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1997 11 2–4 .333
Perth Wildcats 5 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 15 2–3 .400
South East Melbourne Magic 4 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 10 2–2 .500
Brisbane Bullets 2 1984, 1995 3 2–0 1.000
Illawarra Hawks 2 1987, 1992 3 1–1 .500
Geelong Supercats 1 1991 3 1–0 1.000
Sydney Kings 1 1994 3 1–0 1.000
Adelaide 36ers 1 1994 2 1–0 1.000
Newcastle Falcons 1 1984 2 1–0 1.000
Melbourne United 1 1997 2 0–1 .000
Nunawading Spectres 1 1991 2 0–1 .000
West Adelaide Bearcats 1 1982 2 0–1 .000
Sydney Supersonics 0 1983 1 0–0 .000
Totals 26 58 13–13 .500

Geelong Supercats

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Nunawading Spectres 2 1982, 1984 2 2–0 1.000
Canberra Cannons 1 1984 2 1–0 1.000
North Melbourne Giants 1 1991 3 0–1 .000
West Adelaide Bearcats 1 1982 2 0–1 .000
Brisbane Bullets 1 1984 1 0–1 .000
St. Kilda Saints 0 1 0–0 .000
Totals 6 11 3–3 .500

Gold Coast Blaze

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Perth Wildcats 2 2010, 2012 5 0–2 .000
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2008 1 0–1 .000
Totals 3 6 0–3 .000

Launceston Casino City

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Brisbane Bullets 1 1981 1 1–0 1.000
Nunawading Spectres 1 1981 1 1–0 1.000
Totals 2 2 2–0 1.000

Newcastle Falcons

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 2 1985, 1993 4 0–2 .000
Illawarra Hawks 1 1984 1 1–0 1.000
Nunawading Spectres 1 1985 1 1–0 1.000
Brisbane Bullets 1 1993 2 0–1 .000
North Melbourne Giants 1 1984 2 0–1 .000
Canberra Cannons 1 1988 1 0–1 .000
Sydney Supersonics 0 1 0–0 .000
West Adelaide Bearcats 0 1 0–0 .000
Totals 7 14 2–5 .285

Nunawading Spectres

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
West Adelaide Bearcats 2 1981, 1983 2 1–1 .500
Geelong Supercats 2 1982, 1984 3 0–2 .000
North Melbourne Giants 1 1991 2 1–0 1.000
Adelaide 36ers 1 1984 1 1–0 1.000
Perth Wildcats 1 1991 3 0–1 .000
Brisbane Bullets 1 1990 2 0–1 .000
St. Kilda Saints 1 1980 2 0–1 .000
Launceston Casino City 1 1981 1 0–1 .000
Newcastle Falcons 1 1985 1 0–1 .000
Canberra Cannons 0 1 0–0 .000
Totals 11 18 3–8 .273

St. Kilda Saints

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Canberra Cannons 1 1979 2 1–0 1.000
Nunawading Spectres 1 1980 2 1–0 1.000
West Adelaide Bearcats 1 1980 1 1–0 1.000
Geelong Supercats 0 1 0–0 .000
Totals 3 6 3–0 1.000

South Dragons

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Melbourne United 1 2009 5 1–0 1.000
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2009 3 1–0 1.000
Cairns Taipans 1 2007 1 0–1 .000
Totals 3 9 2–1 .667

South East Melbourne Magic

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
North Melbourne Giants 4 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 9 2–2 .500
Adelaide 36ers 3 1993, 1996, 1998 6 2–1 .333
Melbourne United 3 1992, 1993, 1997 8 1–2 .333
Perth Wildcats 2 1994, 1997 4 2–0 1.000
Illawarra Hawks 1 1995 3 1–0 1.000
Brisbane Bullets 1 1998 2 1–0 1.000
Canberra Cannons 1 1992 2 1–0 1.000
Totals 16 37 11–5 .686

Sydney Supersonics

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Brisbane Bullets 1 1986 1 0–1 .000
Newcastle Falcons 0 1 0–0 .000
North Melbourne Giants 0 1 0–0 .000
West Adelaide Bearcats 0 1 0–0 .000
Totals 1 4 0–1 .000

Townsville Crocodiles

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Illawarra Hawks 4 2001, 2003, 2005, 2010 10 1–3 .250
Sydney Kings 3 2001, 2003, 2007 7 1–2 .333
Perth Wildcats 3 2000, 2008, 2009 5 1–2 .333
Victoria Titans 1 2001 3 1–0 1.000
Gold Coast Blaze 1 2008 1 1–0 1.000
Melbourne United 1 2005 1 1–0 1.000
Singapore Slingers 1 2007 1 1–0 1.000
Cairns Taipans 1 2011 3 0–1 .000
New Zealand Breakers 1 2012 3 0–1 .000
South Dragons 1 2009 3 0–1 .000
Totals 17 37 7–10 .438

Victoria Titans

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 4 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 12 1–3 .250
Melbourne United 3 1999, 2000, 2002 8 2–1 .667
Illawarra Hawks 1 1999 2 1–0 1.000
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2001 3 0–1 .000
Perth Wildcats 1 2000 2 0–1 .000
Totals 10 27 4–6 .400

West Adelaide Bearcats

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Nunawading Spectres 2 1981, 1983 2 1–1 .500
North Melbourne Giants 1 1982 2 1–0 .000
Brisbane Bullets 1 1980 1 1–0 .000
Geelong Supercats 1 1982 1 1–0 .000
Canberra Cannons 1 1983 1 0–1 .000
St. Kilda Saints 1 1980 1 0–1 .000
Newcastle Falcons 1 1 0–0 .000
Sydney Supersonics 1 1 0–0 .000
Totals 7 10 4–3 .571

West Sydney Razorbacks

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Perth Wildcats 2 2000, 2002 5 1–1 .500
Melbourne United 1 2002 3 1–0 1.000
Illawarra Hawks 1 2004 2 1–0 1.000
Cairns Taipans 1 2004 1 1–0 1.000
Sydney Kings 1 2004 3 0–1 .000
Adelaide 36ers 1 2002 3 0–1 .000
Totals 7 19 4–3 .571

Finals appearances

Team Appearances Notes
Perth Wildcats 36 35 straight Finals appearances from 1987 to 2021.
Melbourne United 27 Rebranded as Melbourne United in 2014, and represents the whole of Melbourne.
Adelaide 36ers 25 Formerly the Adelaide City Eagles (1982 only).
Brisbane Bullets 22 Foundation club since 1979.
Illawarra Hawks 22 Only team to play all seasons since 1979.
Sydney Kings 17 Formerly the Sydney Supersonics and the West Sydney Westars.
North Melbourne Giants 15 Last season in 1998. Formed the Victoria Titans in 1998.
Canberra Cannons 11 Last season in 2003. Became the Hunter Pirates in 2003.
Townsville Crocodiles 10 Competed in the league for 24 seasons. Last season in 2016.
Cairns Taipans 9 Joined the NBL in 1999.
New Zealand Breakers 9 Joined the NBL in 2003. First club outside of Australia.
Eastside Spectres 8 Last season in 1991. Formed the South East Melbourne Magic in 1992.
South East Melbourne Magic 7 Last season in 1998. Formed the Victoria Titans in 1998.
Newcastle Falcons 6 Competed in the league for 21 seasons. Last season in 1999.
Geelong Supercats 4 Last season in 1996. Now in NBL1 South.
Victoria Titans 4 Became the Victoria Giants in 2002.
West Adelaide Bearcats 4 Last season in 1984. Now in NBL1 Central.
Gold Coast Blaze 3 Last season in 2012.
St. Kilda Saints 3 Last season in 1991. Formed the South East Melbourne Magic in 1992.
West Sydney Razorbacks 3 Became Sydney Spirit in 2008.
Hunter Pirates 2 Last season in 2006. Became the Singapore Slingers in 2006.
South Dragons 2 Left the NBL in 2009.
South East Melbourne Phoenix 2 Joined the NBL in 2019.
Sydney Supersonics 2 Formed the Sydney Kings in 1988.
Tasmania JackJumpers 2 Joined the NBL in 2021.
Launceston Casino City 1 Last season in 1982.
Singapore Slingers 1 Left the NBL in 2008. Joined the ABL in 2009.
West Sydney Westars 1 Formed the Sydney Kings in 1988.

See also

References

  1. "New Finals Shake Up". NBL.com.au. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  2. "Finals". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  3. "Finals". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  4. "Finals - the Official Website of the National Basketball League - NBL.com.au". www.nbl.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.