WITH the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season starting in less than a month, preparations are ramping up, with the Blitz preseason competition beginning later tonight in a true glimpse of all 10 teams.
Following an extremely entertaining season in which the Illawarra Hawks took out the ultimate prize, the NBL is gearing up for an even more intriguing campaign, given the off-season moves that took place over the past six months.
Some of the competition’s biggest names found new homes and will be facing off against their former teams in what is shaping as a truly even season. There is no clear favourite with several teams building championship-calibre rosters.
Some of the biggest off-season stories included the reigning champions bringing in a massive signing in big man JaVale McGee. The center has won titles at NBA level and played valuable minutes for successful teams, and will undoubtedly star in the NBL, although a struggle with Pneumonia has interrupted his preparation.
Another massive storyline over the off-season was the move of five-time Most Valuable Player Bryce Cotton, who spectacularly departed the Perth Wildcats, and will be suiting up for the Adelaide 36ers, making the South Australian team one of the most talented teams in the competition.
Also making moves were the likes of Jaylen Adams (Brisbane Bullets), Jo Lual-Acuil (Perth Wildcats), Matthew Dellavedova (Sydney Kings) and Jack McVeigh (Cairns Taipans), shaking up the NBL in a big way with star players donning new colours in the upcoming season.
With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will begin previewing teams ahead of the NBL season, giving you all you need to know ahead of the season opener on September 18 following one of the most eventful off-seasons in competition history.
Whether it is Next Stars, key players to watch or what they need to do to win it all, each team will be placed under the microscope, ahead of an extremely balanced competition that could see all 10 teams emerge victorious in 2026.
The first cab off the rank will be the Adelaide 36ers, who kept most of their stars from last season as well as adding one of the greatest players the NBL has ever seen, immediately launching into the upper echelon of teams ahead of the upcoming season.
NBL Team Previews kick off tomorrow
WITH the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season starting in less than a month, preparations are ramping up, with the Blitz preseason competition beginning later tonight in a true glimpse of all 10 teams. Following an extremely entertaining season in which the Illawarra Hawks took out the ultimate prize, the NBL is gearing up for […]
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