NBL Finals

NBL Finals
Current season, competition or edition:
2026 NBL Finals
Logo of the finals sponsored by Hungry Jack's
SportBasketball
Founded1979
No. of teams6
Most recent
champions		Illawarra Hawks
(2nd title)
Most titlesPerth Wildcats
(10 titles)
Broadcasters
Streaming partners
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 their regular season performance. The current Finals format consists of four rounds: two sudden-death play-in games, followed by the best-of-three Semifinals and the 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; 2001–2003

Qualifying Finals Semifinals Grand Final
               
1  
 
1 Seed 1
6 Seed 6
 
 
2 Seed 2
5 Seed 5
2  
 
3 Seed 3
4 Seed 4

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  

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 gameSemifinalsChampionship
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 %
Brisbane Bullets 4 1985, 1986, 1994, 2005 8 4–4 .500
Cairns Taipans 1 2006 1 0–1 .000
Canberra Cannons 1 1988 2 0–2 .000
Eastside Spectres 1 1984 1 0–1 .000
Illawarra Hawks 5 1986, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2017 11 7–4 .636
Melbourne United 5 1991, 1994, 2004, 2014, 2018 13 8–5 .615
Newcastle Falcons 2 1985, 1995 4 3–1 .750
New Zealand Breakers 2 2009, 2015 3 0–3 .000
North Melbourne Giants 1 1994 2 0–2 .000
Perth Wildcats 10 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2014, 2018 25 12–13 .480
S.E. Melbourne Magic 3 1992, 1996, 1998 6 2–4 .333
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 1 2025 1 0–1 .000
Sydney Kings 1 2025 1 1–0 1.000
Victoria Titans 4 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 12 7–5 .583
West Sydney Razorbacks 1 2002 3 2–1 .667
Totals 42 93 46–47 .495

As of the end of the 2025 season

Brisbane Bullets

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 4 1985, 1986, 1994, 2005 8 4–4 .500
Canberra Cannons 3 1984, 1985, 1986 3 2–1 .667
Eastside Spectres 1 1990 2 2–0 1.000
Geelong Cats 1 1984 1 1–0 1.000
Hunter Pirates 1 2005 1 1–0 1.000
Illawarra Hawks 1 1987 3 2–1 .667
Launceston Casino City 1 1981 1 0–1 .000
Melbourne United 6 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008 14 7–7 .500
Newcastle Falcons 1 1993 2 2–0 1.000
New Zealand Breakers 1 2008 1 1–0 1.000
North Melbourne Giants 2 1984, 1995 3 1–2 .333
Perth Wildcats 7 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2006, 2019 14 4–10 .286
S.E. Melbourne Magic 1 1998 2 0–2 .000
Sydney Kings 6 1986, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2005, 2007 12 5–7 .417
West Adelaide Bearcats 1 1980 1 0–1 .000
Totals 37 68 32–36 .471

As of the end of the 2019 season

Cairns Taipans

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 1 2006 1 1–0 1.000
Hunter Pirates 1 2006 1 1–0 1.000
Melbourne United 1 2007 2 0–2 .000
New Zealand Breakers 3 2008, 2011, 2015 6 1–5 .167
Perth Wildcats 6 2004, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023 10 6–4 .600
South Dragons 1 2007 1 1–0 1.000
Sydney Kings 2 2006, 2023 5 1–4 .200
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2023 1 0–1 .000
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2011 3 2–1 .667
West Sydney Razorbacks 1 2004 1 0–1 .000
Totals 18 31 13–18 .419

As of the end of the 2023 season

Illawarra Hawks

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 5 1986, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2017 11 4–7 .364
Brisbane Bullets 1 1987 3 1–2 .333
Melbourne United 4 1993, 1994, 2024, 2025 12 4–8 .333
Newcastle Falcons 1 1984 1 0–1 .000
New Zealand Breakers 1 2024 1 1–0 1.000
North Melbourne Giants 2 1987, 1992 3 1–2 .333
Perth Wildcats 10 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021 24 5–19 .208
S.E. Melbourne Magic 1 1995 3 1–2 .333
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 1 2025 3 2–1 .667
Sydney Kings 2 2005, 2022 5 0–5 .000
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2024 1 0–1 .000
Townsville Crocodiles 4 2001, 2003, 2005, 2010 10 8–2 .800
Victoria Titans 1 1999 2 0–2 .000
West Sydney Razorbacks 2 1986, 2004 3 1–2 .333
Totals 36 82 28–54 .341

As of the end of the 2025 season

Melbourne United

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 5 1991, 1994, 2004, 2014, 2018 13 5–8 .385
Brisbane Bullets 6 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008 14 7–7 .500
Cairns Taipans 1 2007 2 2–0 1.000
Canberra Cannons 1 1996 3 2–1 .667
Illawarra Hawks 4 1993, 1994, 2024, 2025 12 8–4 .667
New Zealand Breakers 3 2009, 2016, 2018 6 4–2 .667
North Melbourne Giants 1 1997 2 2–0 1.000
Perth Wildcats 9 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2019, 2021, 2025 24 14–10 .583
South Dragons 1 2009 5 2–3 .400
S.E. Melbourne Magic 4 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 11 6–5 .545
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 1 2021 3 2–1 .667
Sydney Kings 7 1989, 1992, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, 2020 22 13–9 .591
Tasmania JackJumpers 2 2022, 2024 8 3–5 .375
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2004 1 0–1 .000
Victoria Titans 3 1999, 2000, 2002 8 3–5 .375
West Sydney Razorbacks 1 2002 3 1–2 .333
Totals 50 137 74–63 .540

As of the end of the 2025 season

New Zealand Breakers

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 2 2009, 2015 3 3–0 1.000
Brisbane Bullets 1 2008 1 0–1 .000
Cairns Taipans 3 2008, 2011, 2015 6 5–1 .833
Illawarra Hawks 1 2024 1 0–1 .000
Melbourne United 3 2009, 2016, 2018 6 2–4 .333
Perth Wildcats 4 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 11 7–4 .636
Sydney Kings 3 2013, 2023, 2024 8 5–3 .625
Townsville Crocodiles 1 2012 3 2–1 .667
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2023 3 2–1 .667
Totals 42 26–16 .619

As of the end of the 2024 season

Perth Wildcats

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 10 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2014, 2018 25 13–12 .520
Brisbane Bullets 7 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2006, 2019 14 10–4 .714
Cairns Taipans 6 2004, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023 10 4–6 .400
Canberra Cannons 1 1987 1 1–0 1.000
Eastside Spectres 1 1991 3 2–1 .667
Gold Coast Blaze 2 2010, 2012 5 4–1 .800
Illawarra Hawks 10 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021 24 19–5 .792
Melbourne United 9 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2019, 2021, 2025 24 10–14 .417
New Zealand Breakers 4 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 11 4–7 .364
North Melbourne Giants 5 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 15 8–7 .533
S.E. Melbourne Magic 2 1994, 1997 4 0–4 .000
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 2 2023, 2025 2 2–0 1.000
Sydney Kings 3 2003, 2008, 2020 8 3–5 .375
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2024 3 1–2 .333
Townsville Crocodiles 3 2000, 2008, 2009 5 3–2 .600
Victoria Titans 1 2000 2 2–0 1.000
West Sydney Razorbacks 2 2000, 2002 5 2–3 .400
Totals 69 161 88–73 .547

As of the end of the 2025 season

S.E. Melbourne Phoenix

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 1 2025 1 1–0 1.000
Illawarra Hawks 1 2025 3 1–2 .333
Melbourne United 1 2021 3 1–2 .333
Perth Wildcats 2 2023, 2025 2 0–2 .000
Totals 5 9 3–6 .333

As of the end of the 2025 season

Sydney Kings

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Adelaide 36ers 1 2025 1 0–1 .000
Brisbane Bullets 6 1986, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2005, 2007 12 7–5 .583
Cairns Taipans 2 2006, 2023 5 4–1 .800
Canberra Cannons 2 1989, 1996 6 2–4 .333
Illawarra Hawks 2 2004, 2022 5 5–0 1.000
Melbourne United 7 1989, 1992, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, 2020 22 9–13 .409
Newcastle Falcons 1 1983 1 1–0 1.000
New Zealand Breakers 3 2013, 2023, 2024 8 3–5 .375
North Melbourne Giants 2 1983, 1994 4 2–2 .500
Perth Wildcats 3 2003, 2008, 2020 8 5–3 .625
Tasmania JackJumpers 1 2022 3 3–0 1.000
Townsville Crocodiles 3 2001, 2003, 2007 7 4–3 .571
West Adelaide Bearcats 1 1983 1 0–1 .000
West Sydney Razorbacks 1 2004 5 3–2 .600
Totals 35 88 48–40 .545

As of the end of the 2025 season

Tasmania JackJumpers

Opponent S Occurrences GP Rec %
Cairns Taipans 1 2023 1 1–0 1.000
Illawarra Hawks 1 2024 1 1–0 1.000
Melbourne United 2 2022, 2024 8 5–3 .625
New Zealand Breakers 1 2023 3 1–2 .333
Perth Wildcats 1 2024 3 2–1 .667
Sydney Kings 1 2022 3 0–3 .000
Totals 7 19 10–9 .526

As of the end of the 2024 season

Finals appearances

Team Appearances Notes
Perth Wildcats 39 35 straight Finals appearances from 1987 to 2021.
Melbourne United 30 Rebranded as Melbourne United in 2014, and represents the whole of Melbourne.
Adelaide 36ers 27 Formerly the Adelaide City Eagles (1982 only).
Illawarra Hawks 24 Only team to play all seasons since 1979.
Brisbane Bullets 22 Foundation club since 1979.
Sydney Kings 20 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.
New Zealand Breakers 10 Joined the NBL in 2003. First club outside of Australia.
Townsville Crocodiles 10 Competed in the league for 24 seasons. Last season in 2016.
Cairns Taipans 9 Joined the NBL in 1999.
Eastside Spectres 8 Last season in 1991. Formed the South East Melbourne Magic in 1992.
S.E. 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.
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 4 Joined the NBL in 2019.
Tasmania JackJumpers 4 Joined the NBL in 2021.
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.
Sydney SuperSonics 2 Formed the Sydney Kings in 1988.
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.
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