Team-by-team preview of the 2025-26 NBL season, which starts on Thursday (September 18).
ADELAIDE 36ERS
Championships: Four (1986, 1998, 1999, 2002)
Coach: Mike Wells
Key players: Bryce Cotton, Montrezl Harrell, DJ Vasiljevic
Last season: Sixth (13-16), lost play-in game to South East Melbourne
Summary: Cotton's signing instantly turns the Sixers into title contenders as the five-time NBL MVP spearheads a stacked starting five.
BRISBANE BULLETS
Championships: Three (1985, 1987, 2007)
Coach: Stu Lash
Key players: Jaylen Adams, Lamar Patterson, Javon Freeman-Liberty
Last season: Eighth (12-17), missed playoffs
Summary: American coach Lash takes over on a three-year deal as the Bullets chase their first finals appearance since 2019, powered by the addition of former league MVP Adams from Sydney.
CAIRNS TAIPANS
Championships: Nil
Coach: Adam Forde
Key players: Jack McVeigh, Admiral Schofield, Andrew Andrews
Last season: 10th (8-21), missed playoffs
Summary: Forde kept his job after a tough season and now leads a revamped line-up many see as the dark horse in the title race.
ILLAWARRA HAWKS
Championships: Two (2001, 2025)
Coach: Justin Tatum
Key players: Will Hickey, JaVale McGee, Tyler Harvey
Last season: First (20-9), won championship
Summary: Finals star Hickey takes over as starting point-guard as the last remaining NBL foundation club chases back-to-back titles for the first time.
MELBOURNE UNITED
Championships: Six (1993, 1997, 2006, 2008, 2018, 2021)
Coach: Dean Vickerman
Key players: Chris Goulding, Jesse Edwards, Milton Doyle
Last season: Second (19-10), lost championship series to Illawarra
Summary: Vickerman lost some key pieces but needed to revamp his team in order to get over that final hurdle after losing the past two championship series.
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
Championships: Four (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015)
Coach: Petteri Koponen
Key players: Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Izaiah Brockington, Karim Lopez
Last season: Ninth (10-19)
Summary: Pressure on second-year coach Koponen to turn the Breakers around after falling away badly last season.
PERTH WILDCATS
Championships: 10 (1990, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
Coach: John Rillie
Key players: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, Mason Jones, Kristian Doolittle
Last season: Third (18-11), lost semi-final series to Melbourne United
Summary: Cotton's messy departure left a huge hole, but a strong trio of imports and key signing Jo Lual-Acuil Jr should keep the Wildcats in playoff contention.
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
Championships: Nil
Coach: Josh King
Key players: John Brown III, Nathan Sobey, Hunter Maldonado
Last season: Fourth (16-13), lost semi-final series to Illawarra
Summary: American coach King worked wonders last season after taking over a team that started 0-5, and now has what is largely his own roster to play with as he targets South East Melbourne's maiden title.
SYDNEY KINGS
Championships: Five (2003, 2004, 2005, 2022, 2023)
Coach: Brian Goorjian
Key players: Xavier Cooks, Kendric Davis, Matthew Dellavedova
Last season: Fifth (16-13), lost play-in qualifier to Adelaide
Summary: Davis and Dellavedova join forces in an all-new back-court as master coach Goorjian seeks to add to his legacy by firing the Kings back to the top.
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
Championships: One (2024)
Coach: Scott Roth
Key players: Josh Bannan, Will Magnay, Bryce Hamilton
Last season: Seventh (13-16), missed playoffs
Summary: Sean Macdonald's knee injury will rule him out for the season as the JackJumpers look to local pair Magnay and Bannan to lead the charge in a powerful front-court combination.
