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  • NBL Basketball Tips
  • NBL Live Streams
  • How to watch NBL Basketball Live Streams
  • Free Bets
  • Bookmaker Promotions
  • Best NBL Bookmakers
  • Betting Odds
  • Teams
  • Format
  • Betting Markets
  • NBL Champions & Runners-Up
  • NBL History

NBL Betting Tips for Australian Basketball

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NBL Basketball Tips


The National Basketball League (NBL) is the premier basketball league for Australia. As of the 2020/21 season, it also featured one team that was based in New Zealand. 

The NBL is part of the FIBA Oceania confederation with current teams in the league including the Perth Wildcats, New Zealand Breakers and the Sydney Kings.

The Australian Pyramid for basketball is not complicated nor deep in participation. The NBL is the top tier with NBL1 the second tier comprising a semi-professional level.

The league recognizes an MVP, a Rookie of the Year, a Coach of the Year, and many other individual accolades.

Bets.com.au has you covered with tips, previews and predictions for the biggest games throughout the NBL season.

NBL Live Streams


You can watch NBL basketball live streams on your favourite digital device including mobile phone and tablet.

Opening up an account with a number of our trusted online bookmaker partners will deliver basketball live streaming.

Account holders of Bet365 or Ladbrokes will be able to stream the majority of NBL regular season games and finals.

All you need is an active and funded account to take advantage of the NBA live streaming options bookmakers provide.

How to watch NBL Basketball Live Streams


The bet365 live streaming service is a great way to watch live basketball. Here is all you need to know to watch basketball live streaming with bet365.

  1. Log-in or register for an account at bet365
  2. Visit bet365 > Basketball > choose the fixture you want to watch
  3. Registered depositing users can watch & bet on basketball.

To watch a bet365 live stream users must be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. 18+, geo-restrictions & terms and conditions apply.

Free Bets


Australian bookmakers are unable to offer NBL free bets to any customers. If this law changes we will update you.

Bookmaker Promotions


Promotions available can include higher odds on a player market like over/under points, rebounds and assists. Take advantage of betting sites promotions throughout the NBL season at one of the best Australian betting sites.

Best NBL Bookmakers

Betting Odds


NBL betting odds are offered by every major online bookmaker in Australia. From betting market for every game to outright winner odds, you will find a huge choice from leading betting sites. Find the best option by using our betting sites reviews.

Teams


There are currently ten teams in the Australian NBL.

  • Adelaide 36ers
  • Brisbane Bullets
  • Cairns Taipans
  • Illawarra Hawks
  • Melbourne United
  • New Zealand Breakers
  • Perth Wildcats
  • South East Melbourne Phoenix
  • Sydney Kings
  • Tasmania JackJumpers

Format


The regular season sees each team play 28 games followed by Finals. Since NBL23 a Play-In tournament decided which teams would play Finals. The two top seeded teams would progress automatically, teams seeded 3rd and 4th would matchup in the Seeding Qualifier with the winner going into a Playoff Series with the 2nd ranked team. 

 Teams ranked 5th and 6th play in a knockout game dubbed Play-In Qualifier with the loser being eliminated and the winner advancing to the Play-In Game against the loser of the Seeding Qualifer. The victor from the Play-In Game then advances to the Play-off Series against the top ranked team from the Regular Season. The winner of these playoffs is awarded the NBL championship.

Betting Markets


The NBL betting markets range from the straight forward head-to-head markets all the way through to complicated individual frames.

Below we detail the betting markets for punters who are looking to wager on basketball.

Money Line, Winner

A money line bet on an NBA game is the most basic bets. All you have to do is pick the winner of the game.  

Total Points

The total points betting market refers to the combined points that will be scored by both teams in an NBA match. The bookie gives punters the option of taking an Over/Under bet on the Totals Market. It's important to note this market typically includes overtime.

Handicap, Line, Spread

Handicap, line or spread betting focuses on a number of points that either team will have to overcome of protect. The points handicap is often called ‘the spread’. 

There is often great value in the handicap market once you familiarise yourself with players and rosters. For example, the Perth Wildcats might be at odds of +8.5 against the New Zealand Breakers at -8.5. This means you'll get a return if the Breakers win or lose by eight points or less, conversely, the Wildcats need to win by nine points or more to win.

Half Time/Full Time

Predict which team will be winning at half time and at full time, this bet can be useful in lopsided games to give you more value than a win bet.

Player points, rebounds and assists

There are a number of different betting options if you want to bet on one player in a game. Bet on how many points a player will score, how many rebounds they will pull down or how many assists they will dish out. There are combinations available with different bookmakers including points + rebounds, points + rebounds + assists. 

Alternative Totals

If an game is tipped to go way over or under the total points, use alternative totals to get more value by predicting a game where many more or less points will be scored.

Team Points

These bets take the winner and loser out of the equation. Betting on only one team to score a certain amount of points can be done in different betting markets, such as over/under total points.

Other Betting Markets

Punters have the potential to wager on hundreds of specific outcomes for an match. These include 1st quarter, 1st and 2nd Half, Alternative Handicap Markets and individual team totals

NBL Champions & Runners-Up



YearChampionsRunners-up
2024Tasmania JackJumpersMelbourne United
2023Sydney KingsNew Zealand Breakers
2022Sydney KingsTasmania JackJumpers
2021Melbourne UnitedPerth Wildcats
2020Sydney KingsPerth Wildcats
2019Perth WildcatsMelbourne United
2018Melbourne UnitedAdelaide 36ers
2017Perth WildcatsIllawarra Hawks
2016Perth WildcatsNew Zealand Breakers
2015Cairns TaipansNew Zealand Breakers
2014Perth WildcatsAdelaide 36ers
2013New Zealand BreakersPerth Wildcats
2012New Zealand BreakersPerth Wildcats
2011New Zealand BreakersCairns Taipans
2010Perth WildcatsWollongong Hawks
2009South DragonsMelbourne Tigers
2008Sydney KingsMelbourne Tigers
2007Brisbane BulletsMelbourne Tigers
2006Sydney KingsMelbourne Tigers
2005Sydney KingsWollongong Hawks
2004Sydney KingsWest Sydney Razorbacks
2003Sydney KingsPerth Wildcats
2002Adelaide 36ersWest Sydney Razorbacks
2001Wollongong HawksTownsville Crocodiles
2000Perth WildcatsVictoria Titans

NBL History


The NBL had its first season in 1979. Since then, there have been many high points and low points. Sometimes the league does struggle with attendance.

In the past, the league included one team that was from Singapore. This stands as the only team in the league's history that was based outside of either Australia or New Zealand.

A look at the historical MVPs for the league does not reveal many stand-out players at the international level. However, Australian-born Andrew Bogut was the top pick in the 2005 NBA Draft and he enjoyed success in the NBA, including a title with the Golden State Warriors. Bogut was the NBL's MVP for the 2018/19 season. 

It is common for American-born players who enjoyed moderate success at the NCAA level in the USA to find opportunities in Australia's NBL.

Some players that have won the Rookie of the Year award have gone on to NBA careers. Shane Heal won the award in 1988 and played for a short time with the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. 

Joe Ingles was the 2006/07 NBL Rookie of the Year and he has since played hundreds of games for the Utah Jazz, including more than 250 starts. LaMelo Ball was the 2019/20 Rookie of the Year and he ended up being the third pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Alexandre Sarr from the Perth Wildcats Next Star program was drafted at No.2 in the 2024 NBA Draft making him the highest drafted player from the NBL and Next Star program.

Australian NBL Basketball

Can I watch a live stream of NBL matches?

Check our live streaming calendar to see where to watch NBL live streaming online.

What is the NBL?

The National Basketball League (NBL) is the premier basketball league for Australia. As of the 2020/21 season, it also features one team that was based in New Zealand - the NZ Breakers.

How many teams are in the NBL?

There are ten teams currently playing in the NBL. They are: Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets, Cairns Taipans, Illawarra Hawks, Melbourne United, New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats, South East Melbourne Phoenix, Sydney Kings and Tasmania JackJumpers.