2018–19 NBL season
The 2018–19 NBL season was the 41st season of the National Basketball League since its establishment in 1979. A total of eight teams have contested the league. The regular season had been played between October 2018 and February 2019, followed by a post-season featuring the top four in March 2019.
| 2018–19 NBL season | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||||
| League | National Basketball League | ||||||||||||
| Season | 2018–19 | ||||||||||||
| Teams | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Dates | 11 October 2018 – 17 March 2019 | ||||||||||||
| TV | Australia: New Zealand: Online: | ||||||||||||
| Finals | |||||||||||||
| Top seed | Perth Wildcats | ||||||||||||
| Champions | Perth Wildcats (9th title) | ||||||||||||
| Runners-up | Melbourne United | ||||||||||||
| Semifinalists | Sydney Kings Brisbane Bullets | ||||||||||||
| Awards | |||||||||||||
| MVP | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Andrew Bogut (Sydney) | ||||||||||||
| Finals MVP |  Terrico White (Perth) | ||||||||||||
| Statistical leaders | |||||||||||||
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Australian broadcast rights to the season are held by Fox Sports, in the fourth year of a five-year deal, with two game per week simulcast on the Nine Network. In New Zealand, Sky Sport are the official league broadcaster.
As Australia and New Zealand are participating in 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification, the league will take a break during the FIBA international windows of 26 November to 4 December 2018 and 18–26 February 2019.
The Perth Wildcats won their ninth NBL championship after defeating Melbourne United in the Grand Final.
Pre-season
The pre-season featured games in China and Maylasia. As well, it featured the NBLxNBA 2018 Tour in which five NBL teams played a total of seven games. Five NBL teams played a total of seven games against NBA teams in the 2018 pre-season.[1]
Regular season
Ladder
| 2018-19 NBL ladder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ladder | Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Total Rounds Legend
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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 between the teams will determine order of seeding.
1Perth Wildcats won on overall points percentage. Melbourne United finished 2nd on overall points percentage.
2Brisbane Bullets won on overall points percentage.
3New Zealand Breakers won on overall points percentage.
Ladder progression
- Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top four.
- Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
- Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide 36ers | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |
| Brisbane Bullets | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| Cairns Taipans | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
| Illawarra Hawks | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | |
| Melbourne United | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| New Zealand Breakers | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | |
| Perth Wildcats | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Sydney Kings | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Finals series
The 2018–19 National Basketball League Finals were played in February and March 2019, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final series and the best-of-five Grand Final series. In the semi-finals, the higher seed hosts the first and third games. In the Grand Final, the higher seed hosts the first, third and fifth games.
After winning both of their semi-finals in straight games, the Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United progressed to the Grand Final where the Wildcats triumphed 3–1.[2]
Playoff Bracket
| Semi-finals | Grand final | ||||||||||||||
| 1 | Perth Wildcats | 89 | 84 | X | |||||||||||
| 4 | Brisbane Bullets | 59 | 79 | X | |||||||||||
| 1 | Perth Wildcats | 81 | 74 | 96 | 97 | X | |||||||||
| 2 | Melbourne United | 71 | 92 | 67 | 82 | X | |||||||||
| 2 | Melbourne United | 95 | 90 | X | |||||||||||
| 3 | Sydney Kings | 73 | 76 | X | |||||||||||
Awards
Pre-season
- Most Valuable Player (Ray Borner Medal): Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)
Season
- Most Valuable Player (Andrew Gaze Trophy): Andrew Bogut (Sydney Kings)
- Rookie of the Year: Harry Froling (Adelaide 36ers)
- Best Defensive Player: Andrew Bogut (Sydney Kings)
- Best Sixth Man: Reuben Te Rangi (Brisbane Bullets)
- Most Improved Player: Reuben Te Rangi (Brisbane Bullets)
- Fans MVP: Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)
- Coach of the Year (Lindsay Gaze Trophy): Dean Vickerman (Melbourne United)
- Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen
- All-NBL First Team:
- All-NBL Second Team:
Finals
- Grand Final Series MVP (Larry Sengstock Medal): Terrico White (Perth Wildcats)
References
- "NBL Teams to Play Historic Seven Game Series in 2018 NBA Preseason". National Basketball League. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- "Wildcats Clinch Ninth Championship on the Road". NBL.com.au. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2020.