Who else can we expect to see in the title fight?
Defending champions Tasmania JackJumpers, Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United are also expected to enjoy deep play-off runs. The Wildcats bounced back from a poor start to finish second in the table last season before being dumped out in the play-offs by the JackJumpers.

They have four-time league MVP Bryce Cotton (though they can’t be too dependent on him) and have handed coach John Rillie a three-year contract extension. The JackJumpers are coming off a third-place finish in the FIBA ​​Intercontinental Cup while nursing injuries, but they boast one of the best game-night atmospheres at a packed My State Bank Arena. They will be without shooting guard Jack McVeigh, who is now on a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets. United were stunned by a Game 5 loss to the JackJumpers in a thrilling grand final series and have reloaded under reigning coach of the year Dean Vickerman.

Season of resentment

What can we expect from Melbourne United star Chris Goulding after being snubbed by the Boomers ahead of Paris?
Another MVP-style season, that’s what. Goulding, second only to Cotton in the Andrew Gaze Trophy voting last season, is one of the best scorers this country has produced, and there’s no reason the 35-year-old can’t average 17 points per game again. As Gaze himself says, Goulding is a scoring threat once he crosses the halfway line (or is it within a 3-mile radius of any stadium?), and he might have more motivation after being one of the last players cut for the Olympics (mark your calendar for Oct. 31 when he’ll face Goorjian and his Kings).

“When you have four defenders like Goulding, Ian Clark, Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova, the four best defenders in the league and … they have more than enough experience and know how to do it, believe me, they’re going to be in the game,” Copeland said.

The return of athletic Jack White and elite defender Marcus Lee is a big boost, but interior scoring is a problem. The loss of 6-foot-1 Luke Travers to the Cleveland Cavaliers also hurts.

Rise of the Phoenix

Can South East Melbourne, under coach Mike Kelly, cope with the clean-up over the off-season?
One of the coolest guys in basketball finally has the roster he wants. After struggling through a disappointing 2023-24 campaign that saw them finish last, Phoenix have made significant changes. That includes Mitch Creek, who has been a fixture in the Heartland since the franchise’s inception. Creek has left for China, while imports Gary Browne and Alan Williams have also departed. Creek’s big mate, former Boomer and Warrnambool native Nathan Sobey, is a key addition that has left the Brisbane Bullets in disarray, while star point guard Derrick Walton Jr, Angus Glover and Jordan Hunter bring depth and knowledge. Regardless, it’s still hard to imagine Phoenix finishing in the top four.

Plot

What else is worth paying attention to?
Spanish teenage wunderkind Izan Almansa has been signed by the Wildcats as part of the NBL Next Star program. Almansa, 19, impressed in the preseason Blitz competition and says he’s happy to have NBA scouts at his games. A former MVP at the FIBA ​​Under-19 and Under-17 World Championships and last year’s MVP at the FIBA ​​Under-18 European Championship, the forward-center is hoping to be a high-profile pick in next year’s NBA draft.

Loading

The Adelaide 36ers were in disarray after firing coach and franchise icon Scott Ninnis just weeks before the start of the season. Ninnis, who replaced CJ Bruton last season, has just signed a two-year contract extension. He was replaced by Mike Wells, who recently arrived from the United States as Ninnis’ assistant. The 36ers pulled off a recruiting coup by signing NBA veteran and 2020 Sixth Man of the Year Montrezel Harrell. And we’ll continue to enjoy the confidence of sharpshooter DJ Vasiljevic, who also has something to prove after being snubbed in Paris.

The focus is on Brisbane coach Justin Schueller, a former Melbourne United assistant who led the Bullets to the NBL Blitz preseason title and now has the roster he wants in his second season as manager. Former Boomer Aron Baynes has seemingly retired, while Josh Bannon, who spent time with the LA Clippers in the Summer League, is attracting increasing NBA interest. We’re eager to see the development of 7-foot-3 Rocco Zikarsky, who league sources say will join the NBA in the 2025-26 season.

Despite the additions of Jonah Bolden, former NBA player Sydney King and NBA prospect Taran Armstrong, the New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans will struggle to make the playoffs, but the Illawarra Hawks, complete with shooting guard Tyler Harvey, will be an interesting attraction.

Broadcasting Agreement

What does the new deal with Ten and Foxtel/Kayo/ESPN mean?
ESPN and streaming service Kayo will continue to broadcast all matches, but the renewal of the deal with Ten means the 2.30pm Sunday exhibition match will be broadcast on Ten’s main channel. It will be the first time in a decade that the league will be broadcast on a main channel, a major boost for the competition, which achieved record viewing and attendance figures last season and continues to thrive under majority owner Larry Kestelman, who is determined to bridge the gap between the thriving gaming community and interest in elite-level competition.

News, results and expert analysis from the sports weekend sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.