2025–26 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix season

2025–26 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix season
Head coach Josh King
Co-captains Jordan Hunter
Nathan Sobey
ArenaJohn Cain Arena
NBL results
Record22–11 (66.7%)
Ladder3rd
Finals finishSemifinalist
(lost to 36ers 1–2)
Stats at NBL.com.au
Ignite Cup results
Record2–2 (50%)
Ladder6th
Ignite Cup finishDid not qualify
All statistics correct as of 17 March 2026.

The 2025–26 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix season was the 7th season of the franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL), and their second under the leadership of head coach Josh King.

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

S.E. Melbourne Phoenix roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
F 0 Brown, John (I) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 98 kg (216 lb)
C 1 Hunter, Jordan (C) 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 109 kg (240 lb)
G 2 Ryan, Pat (DP) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
F 4 Biggar, Ellis 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
G 5 Glover, Angus 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
F 7 Aliir, Akech 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
F 8 Mitchell, D. J. 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 106 kg (234 lb)
G 11 Foster, Daniel 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 98 kg (216 lb)
G 15 Foxwell, Austin (DP)
G 20 Sobey, Nathan (C) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 82 kg (181 lb)
G 21 Clark, Ian (I) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 79 kg (174 lb)
G/F 25 Iwundu, Wes (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 88 kg (194 lb)
G 30 Foxwell, Owen 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 81 kg (179 lb)
F 33 Lewis, Malique (NS) 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 88 kg (194 lb)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  • (SRP) Special restricted player
  • (NS) Next Star player
  • Injured
Updated: 29 December 2025

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Development
PG Owen Foxwell Ian Clark (I) Austin Foxwell (DP)
SG Nathan Sobey Angus Glover Pat Ryan (DP)
SF Wes Iwundu (I) Malique Lewis (NS) Daniel Foster
PF John Brown (I) D. J. Mitchell Ellis Biggar (DP)
C Jordan Hunter Akech Aliir

Standings

Ladder

Pos 2025–26 NBL season
Team Pld W L PCT Last 5 Streak Home Away PF PA PP
1 Sydney Kings 33 24 9 72.73% 5–0 W11 13–4 11–5 3276 2879 113.79%
2 Adelaide 36ers 33 23 10 69.70% 2–3 L1 12–5 11–5 3042 2890 105.26%
3 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 33 22 11 66.67% 3–2 L1 11–5 11–6 3324 3061 108.59%
4 Perth Wildcats 33 21 12 63.64% 4–1 W1 10–7 11–5 2996 2840 105.49%
5 Melbourne United 33 20 13 60.61% 2–3 W1 11–6 9–7 3041 2905 104.68%
6 Tasmania JackJumpers 33 14 19 42.42% 2–3 L2 6–10 8–9 2873 2884 99.62%
7 New Zealand Breakers 33 13 20 39.39% 2–3 W1 7–9 6–11 3022 3058 98.82%
8 Illawarra Hawks 33 13 20 39.39% 3–2 W2 7–9 6–11 3074 3205 95.91%
9 Cairns Taipans 33 9 24 27.27% 1–4 L2 4–13 5–11 2754 3194 86.22%
10 Brisbane Bullets 33 6 27 18.18% 0–5 L13 2–14 4–13 2710 3196 84.79%

Updated to match(es) played on 20 February 2026. Source: NBL.com.au

The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.

Ladder progression

Leader and qualification to semifinals
Qualification to semifinals
Qualification to play-in
Last place
2025–26 NBL season
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Adelaide 36ers—212233322111111111122
Brisbane Bullets37897777889999910101010101010
Cairns Taipans7477810910101010101010109999999
Illawarra Hawks—99810810879888878878888
Melbourne United2121111111223234444555
New Zealand Breakers6101010998997677787787777
Perth Wildcats5643655554455555555444
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix1564322233332422223333
Sydney Kings—856564445544343332211
Tasmania JackJumpers4335446666766666666666
Updated to match(es) played on 20 February 2026. Source: NBL.com.au

Game log

Pre-season

Main article: 2025 NBL pre-season

The 2025 NBL Blitz will run from 27 to 31 August 2025 with games being played at the AIS Arena, Canberra.[1][2]

2025 NBL Blitz game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–0)
August: 1–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 29 August New Zealand L 101–109 Jordan Hunter (21) Lewis, Sobey (6) Foxwell, Sobey (5) AIS Arena
n/a 		0–1
2 31 August @ Sydney W 81–102 Angus Glover (20) Nathan Sobey (9) Owen Foxwell (9) AIS Arena
n/a 		1–1

NBLxNBA games

Main article: NBLxNBA
2025 pre-season game log
Total: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
October: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 5 October @ New Orleans L 92–127 Jordan Hunter (17) John Brown (7) Nathan Sobey (5) Rod Laver Arena
15,164 		0–1

Regular season

Main article: 2025–26 NBL regular season

The regular season will begin on 18 September 2025.[3] It will consist of 165 games (33 games each) spread across 22 rounds, with the final game being played on 20 February 2026.[4]

2025–26 game log
Total: 22–11 (Home: 11–5; Road: 11–6)
September: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 20 September Cairns W 114–77 Angus Glover (18) Hunter, Lewis (8) Nathan Sobey (8) John Cain Arena
5,371 		1–0
2 25 September @ Melbourne L 103–83 Nathan Sobey (26) Glover, Gak (6) Hunter Maldonado (7) John Cain Arena
10,035 		1–1
October: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 12 October @ New Zealand W 81–87 Owen Foxwell (19) Jordan Hunter (7) Foxwell, Sobey (7) Spark Arena
4,520 		2–1
4 16 October @ Adelaide L 88–71 Jordan Hunter (16) Hunter, Sobey (7) Hunter Maldonado (7) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
9,802 		2–2
5 18 October Illawarra W 116–76 Angus Glover (26) Jordan Hunter (9) Hunter Maldonado (9) John Cain Arena
5,615 		3–2
6 23 October Sydney W 112–95 Nathan Sobey (33) Owen Foxwell (6) Owen Foxwell (8) John Cain Arena
3,786 		4–2
7 25 October @ Brisbane W 86–109 Nathan Sobey (29) Malique Lewis (8) Hunter Maldonado (7) Brisbane Entertainment Centre
5,244 		5–2
November: 4–2 (Home: 1–2; Road: 3–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
8 2 November Perth W 94–89 Nathan Sobey (22) Malique Lewis (11) Malique Lewis (6) John Cain Arena
9,386 		6–2
9 6 November @ Tasmania W 102–103 Nathan Sobey (28) John Brown (14) three players (4) Silverdome
3,255 		7–2
10 8 November Melbourne L 81–92 Nathan Sobey (15) John Brown (8) Foster, Foxwell (7) John Cain Arena
8,806 		7–3
11 14 November @ Cairns W 90–101 Angus Glover (24) John Brown (6) Owen Foxwell (7) Cairns Convention Centre
3,567 		8–3
12 20 November @ Brisbane W 76–103 Jordan Hunter (24) Jordan Hunter (9) Nathan Sobey (6) Brisbane Entertainment Centre
3,429 		9–3
13 22 November Adelaide L 81–94 Nathan Sobey (26) Jordan Hunter (12) Wes Iwundu (6) John Cain Arena
5,906 		9–4
December: 5–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
14 4 December @ Illawarra L 113–109 (OT) Wes Iwundu (22) John Brown (10) Hunter Maldonado (7) Wollongong Entertainment Centre
3,432 		9–5
15 7 December Melbourne W 111–86 Nathan Sobey (25) Akech Aliir (8) John Brown (5) John Cain Arena
10,175 		10–5
16 10 December Tasmania L 81–89 Wes Iwundu (17) Hunter, Iwundu (8) Wes Iwundu (4) Gippsland Indoor Stadium
1,953 		10–6
17 13 December New Zealand W 92–80 Nathan Sobey (36) Jordan Hunter (9) Brown, Sobey (5) Gippsland Indoor Stadium
2,581 		11–6
18 18 December @ Perth W 76–77 Jordan Hunter (18) Jordan Hunter (8) Nathan Sobey (5) Perth Arena
10,802 		12–6
19 20 December Brisbane W 107–78 Nathan Sobey (20) Hunter Maldonado (5) Nathan Sobey (8) John Cain Arena
10,175 		13–6
20 29 December @ Tasmania L 87–84 Nathan Sobey (27) John Brown (10) Nathan Sobey (5) Derwent Entertainment Centre
4,340 		13–7
21 31 December @ Cairns W 96–111 Nathan Sobey (31) three players (5) Nathan Sobey (10) Cairns Convention Centre
4,870 		14–7
January: 6–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
22 5 January @ Sydney W 117–124 Nathan Sobey (26) John Brown (8) Nathan Sobey (5) Sydney SuperDome
10,825 		15–7
23 8 January Illawarra W 124–113 (OT) Nathan Sobey (37) Foxwell, Iwundu (7) Owen Foxwell (6) State Basketball Centre
3,422 		16–7
24 10 January Perth L 97–107 Wes Iwundu (27) Angus Glover (7) Nathan Sobey (8) State Basketball Centre
3,422 		16–8
25 18 January @ Adelaide W 89–108 Ian Clark (27) Jordan Hunter (9) Owen Foxwell (12) Perth Arena
6,953 		17–8
26 21 January New Zealand W 123–116 Ian Clark (24) John Brown (9) Nathan Sobey (7) State Basketball Centre
3,422 		18–8
27 24 January Cairns W 118–91 Angus Glover (22) John Brown (8) Nathan Sobey (9) State Basketball Centre
3,422 		19–8
28 28 January @ Perth L 101–93 Nathan Sobey (28) John Brown (14) Wes Iwundu (4) Perth Arena
6,245 		19–9
29 31 January @ Adelaide W 77–97 Nathan Sobey (19) John Brown (13) Brown, Foxwell (5) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
10,047 		20–9
February: 2–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
30 5 February @ New Zealand W 83–114 Ian Clark (23) Hunter, Lewis (10) Malique Lewis (6) Eventfinda Stadium
1,703 		21–9
31 8 February Sydney L 88–114 Brown, Sobey (15) Jordan Hunter (7) Owen Foxwell (7) John Cain Arena
10,175 		21–10
32 14 February Tasmania W 120–104 Angus Glover (21) Angus Glover (7) Nathan Sobey (9) John Cain Arena
7,328 		22–10
33 19 February @ Melbourne L 95–91 Nathan Sobey (29) Nathan Sobey (7) Malique Lewis (4) John Cain Arena
8,919 		22–11
2025–26 season schedule

NBL Ignite Cup

Main article: 2025–26 NBL Ignite Cup

The NBL introduced the new NBL Ignite Cup tournament for the 2025–26 season, with all games except the championship final counting towards the regular-season standings.[5][6]

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PP BP Pts Qualification
1 Adelaide 36ers 4 3 1 390 329 118.5 12 21 Ignite Cup final
2 New Zealand Breakers 4 3 1 441 385 114.5 11 20
3 Perth Wildcats 4 3 1 399 365 109.3 9.5 18.5
4 Melbourne United 4 2 2 390 359 108.6 9.5 15.5
5 Tasmania JackJumpers 4 2 2 349 338 103.3 8.5 14.5
6 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 4 2 2 408 402 101.5 8 14
7 Illawarra Hawks 4 2 2 372 397 93.7 7 13
8 Brisbane Bullets 4 1 3 334 411 81.3 6 9
9 Sydney Kings 4 1 3 350 381 91.9 5 8
10 Cairns Taipans 4 1 3 340 406 83.7 3.5 6.5
Updated to match(es) played on 28 January 2026. Source: Ignitecup.com.au


Postseason

Main article: 2026 NBL Finals
2026 finals game log
Total: 2–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–2)
Seeding qualifier: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 4 March Perth W 111–94 Nathan Sobey (24) John Brown (8) Nathan Sobey (7) John Cain Arena
3,891 		1–0
Semifinals: 1–2 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 10 March @ Adelaide L 104–97 Nathan Sobey (23) Nathan Sobey (10) Nathan Sobey (7) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
10,055 		0–1
2 14 March Adelaide W 101–92 Nathan Sobey (41) John Brown (7) Owen Foxwell (7) John Cain Arena
5,600 		1–1
3 17 March @ Adelaide L 108–96 Ian Clark (32) John Brown (10) Nathan Sobey (8) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
10,018 		1–2
2026 finals schedule

Transactions

Free agency began on 4 April 2025.[7][8]

Re-signed

Player Date Signed Contract Ref.
Malique Lewis 11 June 2025 1-year deal [9]

Additions

Player Date Signed Contract Former team Ref.
Akech Aliir 10 April 2025 1-year deal Melbourne United [10]
Daniel Foster 29 April 2025 1-year deal Nevada Wolf Pack [11]
D. J. Mitchell 15 May 2025 2-year deal (mutual option) Manchester Basketball [12]
Gorjok Gak 17 May 2025 1-year deal Tasmania JackJumpers [13]
Hunter Maldonado 5 August 2025 1-year deal Riesen Ludwigsburg [14]
Wes Iwundu 10 October 2025 2-year deal Promitheas Patras [15]
Ian Clark 27 December 2025 1-year deal Cangrejeros de Santurce [16]

Subtractions

Player Reason left Date Left New team Ref.
Matt Kenyon Free agent 15 May 2025 Adelaide 36ers [17]
Vrenz Bleijenbergh Released 16 September 2025 Yukatel Merkezefendi [18]
Gorjok Gak Parted ways 18 December 2025 Sichuan Blue Whales [19]
Hunter Maldonado Released 27 December 2025 Brisbane Bullets [20]

Awards

Club awards

  • Club MVP: Nathan Sobey
  • Fan Voted Player of the Year: John Brown
  • The Locker Room Award: John Brown
  • Defensive Player of the Year: John Brown
  • Staff Member of the Year: Simon Wigg
  • Heartland Crew Member of the Year: Tracey Helman
  • Life Member Award: Tommy Greer
  • Community Impact Award: Malique Lewis

See also

References

  1. ^ "Blitz heads to Canberra". NBL.com.au. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Canberra back on NBL agenda with hosting of Blitz". CanberraTimes.com.au. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  3. ^ Uluc, Olgun (20 June 2025). "Storylines everywhere as NBL releases schedule for 2025-26 season". ESPN Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  4. ^ Jackson, Andrew (20 June 2025). "'Personal' rivalries as 'hurt' US star, five-time MVP face former teams: NBL and WNBL Schedule". Fox Sports. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  5. ^ Uluc, Olgun (7 October 2025). "NBL Ignite Cup: Everything you need to know". ESPN Australia. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  6. ^ Shadlow, Jai (7 October 2025). "'All roads lead to Gold Coast': In-season tournament reveal adds to NBL expansion rumblings". Fox Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Free agency begins April 4". NBL.com.au. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. ^ "NBL26 Roster Tracker: Every signing, extension and departure". NBL.com.au. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Next stop, NBL26: Lewis runs it back with Phoenix". NBL.com.au. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Rival swap: Aliir signs with Phoenix". NBL.com.au. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Phoenix to Foster new DP". NBL.com.au. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Phoenix sign DJ Mitchell for two years". South East Melbourne Phoenix | Official NBL Website. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Return to the Heartland: Gak runs it back at Phoenix". NBL.com.au. 17 May 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  14. ^ "G League champ to elevate Phoenix roster". NBL.com.au. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Phoenix unveil new import". NBL.com.au. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  16. ^ Uluc, Olgun (21 December 2025). "Ian Clark agrees to deal with the South East Melbourne Phoenix". ESPN Australia. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  17. ^ "36ers add versatile Kenyon for NBL26". Adelaide 36ers Official Website. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Phoenix axe import days out from season | Basketball.com.au". www.basketball.com.au. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Gorjok Gak departs Phoenix". South East Melbourne Phoenix. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Phoenix add experienced import in NBL title hunt". CanberraTimes.com.au. 27 December 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
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