HOW exciting is more basketball? With the National Basketball League (NBL)1 competition set to kick off over the next few weeks around Australia, the action begins with the organisation debuting another division, this time on the Eastern seaboard, with the NBL1 East league beginning this weekend. The competition will introduce a complete new list to the standings, and while some have had experience in competitions such as the Waratah League, these teams now face a completely new landscape.

The competition will be made up of 12 sides, each competing on a weekly basis to showcase some of New South Wales’s best basketball talent. It is shaping up to be an intriguing season, with no real gauge on what the landscape of the standings will be. There has already been some big signings, both on a domestic and international scale as sides look to build the best roster possible on the eve of the season opener. The most recent noteworthy addition came in the last week, as the Norths Bears added former NCAA Div 1 point guard Marquis Navarre, who has faced off against some of the best players in the world.

Check out our team previews down below:

Albury Wodonga Bandits
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Bankstown Bandits
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Canberra Gunners/Nationals
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Central Coast Crusaders
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Hills Hornets
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Illawarra Hawks
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Inner West Bulls
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Maitland Mustangs
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Newcastle Basketball
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Norths Bears
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

Sutherland Sharks
>> TEAM INTRODUCTION

The fixture kicks off on Saturday afternoon, with the Bankstown Bruins hosting the Albury-Wodonga Bandits at Bankstown Basketball Stadium, and it marks the first of five games to take place throughout the course of the day/night. One more game will be played for the round on Sunday, with the Canberra Gunners heading up to play the Norths Bears at North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre, closing out what should be a ripping weekend of action.

Check out the full fixture below:

Bankstown Bruins

Saturday, April 2 | 4:00 pm AEDT
Bankstown Basketball Stadium

Albury-Wodonga Bandits

Central Coast Crusaders

Saturday, April 2 | 6:00 pm AEDT
Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Inner West Bulls

Saturday, April 2 | 7:00 pm AEDT
Els Hall Park

Hills Hornets

Newcastle Falcons

Saturday, April 2 | 7:15 pm AEDT
Newcastle Basketball Stadium

Maitland Mustangs

Illawarra Hawks

Saturday, April 2 | 7:30 pm AEDT
The Snakepit Stadium

Sutherland Sharks

Norths Bears

Sunday, April 3 | 3:00 pm AEDT
North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre

Canberra Gunners