NBL Grand Final
Other names | NBL Final |
---|---|
Locale |
Australia New Zealand |
Teams | 2 |
First meeting | 10 June 1979 |
Latest meeting | 26 February–5 March 2017 |
Next meeting | March 2018 |
Broadcasters |
ABC (1979–1987, 1998–2001) Seven Network (1988–1991) Network Ten (1992–1997, 2011–2015) Fox Sports (2002–2010, 2016–) Nine Network (2016) SBS (2017) |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 39 |
Most wins | Perth Wildcats (8 titles) |
The NBL Grand Final is the championship series of the Australasian-based National Basketball League.
History
The series is played between the winners of the two teams for the best-of-three. Prior to 1986 the Grand Final was decided by a single game. From 2004 until 2009, the series was expanded to a best-of-five games.
The first NBL Grand Final was played on 10 June 1979 at the Albert Park Basketball Stadium in Melbourne. The St. Kilda Saints defeated the Canberra Cannons 94-93 to become the inaugural NBL Champions.
The Perth Wildcats hold the record for most Grand Final appearances with 11 between 1987 and 2013-14. They have also won a record 6 NBL championships. The Wildcats have not missed the NBL playoffs since 1986, a record of 28 consecutive years.
No Grand Final MVP was awarded between 1981 and 1985. The NBL Grand Final MVP is named for the first winner of the award and is now known as the Larry Sengstock Medal.
Rocky Smith (1980), Leroy Loggins (1987), Scott Fisher (1989), Chris Williams (2002–03), Chris Anstey (2005–06) and Cedric Jackson (2012-13) all won the Grand Final MVP and the regular season MVP awards in the same season.
The NBL Grand Final attendance record of 15,064 was set on 1 November 1996 at Melbourne Park when the South East Melbourne Magic defeated cross town rivals the Melbourne Tigers 88-84 in Game 2 of the series.
Results
Grand Final Record
Finals | Team | Win | Loss | % | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | Perth Wildcats | 8 | 5 | .545 | Have not missed the playoffs since 1986 |
8 | Melbourne United | 4 | 4 | .500 | Formerly named the Melbourne Tigers till 2014 |
7 | Adelaide 36ers | 4 | 3 | .571 | Won the first 3-game Grand Final series in 1986 |
5 | New Zealand Breakers | 4 | 1 | .800 | Became the first non-Australian NBL champions in 2011 |
6 | Brisbane Bullets | 3 | 3 | .500 | Team folded in 2008, won the last stand alone GF in 1985, returned in 2016-17 |
5 | Canberra Cannons | 3 | 2 | .600 | Became the Hunter Pirates in 2003 |
5 | Sydney Kings | 3 | 2 | .600 | Team folded in 2008, returned in 2010 |
4 | North Melbourne Giants | 2 | 2 | .500 | Merged to form the Victoria Titans in 1998 |
4 | South East Melbourne Magic | 2 | 2 | .500 | Merged to form the Victoria Titans in 1998 |
2 | St Kilda Saints | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | Inaugural NBL champions in 1979. Became the Westside Melbourne Saints in 1987 |
3 | Illawarra Hawks | 1 | 2 | .333 | Won their only title as the Wollongong Hawks in 2001 |
3 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 1 | 2 | .333 | Left the NBL in 1984, now in the ABA |
1 | Launceston Casino City Tigers | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Played only 3 NBL seasons. Team folded in 1983 |
1 | South Dragons | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Quit the NBL after their 2009 championship win |
2 | Cairns Taipans | 0 | 2 | .000 | Runners up in 2010-11 and 2014-15 |
2 | Victoria Titans | 0 | 2 | .000 | Became the Victoria Giants in 2002 |
2 | West Sydney Razorbacks | 0 | 2 | .000 | Became the Sydney Spirit in 2009, folded in the same year |
1 | Eastside Melbourne Spectres | 0 | 1 | .000 | Merged to form the South East Melbourne Magic in 1991 |
1 | Geelong Cats | 0 | 1 | .000 | Became the Geelong Supercats in 1988, now in the ABA |
1 | Nunawading Spectres | 0 | 1 | .000 | Became the Eastside Melbourne Spectres in 1987, now in the ABA |
1 | Townsville Crocodiles | 0 | 1 | .000 | Runners up in 2000-01 |
* Teams in bold are currently in the NBL