ALTHOUGH they came up against some fierce competition in the semi-finals, the Adelaide 36ers were able to lock in their spot in the 2026 National Basketball League (NBL) Championship Series, and will be confident about their ability to win it all.

The Sixers will face another strong opponent in the decider in the Sydney Kings, who finished atop the standings at the conclusion of the home and away fixture. However, Adelaide was not far behind, and got the job done against a tougher team in the semi-finals, so will enter the clash slightly more battle-hardened than Sydney.

There is no doubt that the Sixers have the star power to get the job done on the big stage, boasting the best player in the series, and given the two teams have engaged in some thrilling contests this year (every encounter has been decided by six points or less), the series should go down to the wire.

Adelaide 36ers

2025/26 record – 23 wins, 10 losses

Ladder position – 2nd

Postseason result to date – Defeated the SEM Phoenix in three games

The regular season

The Sixers were tipped to be among the heavy-hitters when they recruited all-time great Bryce Cotton over the off-season in a massive move for the team from South Australia. It looked to be a winning move as well, with Adelaide taking top spot on the ladder in the second-half of the season. However, the Sixers were overtaken by a rampaging Kings side, and did drop some games in the back half of the fixture to slide down to second spot.

The postseason

The Sixers were given a tough challenge by the Phoenix in their semi-final series, with the sides making up two of the three best sides in the postseason picture. Adelaide got the job done at home in game one, before the Phoenix forced game three by returning serve in Melbourne. The Sixers were the superior team in the decider, claiming a 12-point win in game three to advance to the Championship Series and set up a blockbuster finish to their campaign.

The superstar

Adding to an already impressive resume, Cotton claimed his sixth Andrew Gaze Trophy for the NBL’s Most Valuable Player prior to the commencement of the postseason. It was immediate reward for his move from the Perth Wildcats, and showed that he is still the best player in the competition. Dominant over the course of the semi-finals, the star guard will be one of the biggest factors in Adelaide’s chances of lifting the championship trophy in the coming weeks. On the season, he posted 26.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game, and has been the best match-winner in the NBL, which is a trend he and the Sixers will be hopeful continues.

The weapon

Although Cotton has been undeniably dominant for the Sixers, the team has sometimes struggled to surround the superstar with enough support on the offensive end. Even in losses, Cotton has been able to post 25+ points and generate plenty of scoring for Adelaide, but it is not enough to get the win. The Sixers will come up against a seriously deep Kings outfit, so some support will be required. Luckily, Dejan Vasiljevic is coming off one of his best performances of the season with 21 points in the decider against the Phoenix, and if he can keep that form rolling, it will be a massive boost for Adelaide.

The bottom line

The Sixers were certainly deserving of the final spot in the Championship Series, having been one of the two best teams throughout NBL26 and proving too good for the next best side in the Phoenix. With the season MVP on their roster and a solid record against the Kings, they will be every chance to claim their first title since 2002.