NBLxNBA is a series involving clubs from the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia and New Zealand and the National Basketball Association (NBA) of the United States and Canada. The series started in 2017 for each league's 2017–18 season, and each season includes between two and seven games. The games have always been held in United States of America and Canada, and typically are held during September and early October.

Seasons

2017–18 season

In 2017 the NBL announced that the Brisbane Bullets, Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings would compete in games against three NBA teams in the inaugural NBLxNBA series.[1]

Despite losing all three games (including a one point thriller), the series was marked as a success for the NBL as it brought in much higher television ratings than the teams were used to,[1] and it showed how competitive the league is. The series also drew the attention of multiple high profile NBA players, including Australian Ben Simmons who expressed his interest in competing in a future NBLxNBA game.[2]

2 October 2017
19:00
Sydney Kings 83–108 Utah Jazz
Scoring by quarter: 16–35, 31–23, 13–19, 23–31
Pts: Ellis 19
Rebs: Blanchfield 9
Asts: Leslie 3		 Pts: Hood 18
Rebs: Gobert 10
Asts: Ingles 5
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, United States
Attendance: 15,692
Referees: Marc Davis, Kevin Scott, Randy Richardson
8 October 2017
14:00
Melbourne United 85–86 Oklahoma City Thunder
Scoring by quarter: 30–27, 14–22, 22–21, 19–16
Pts: Ware 20
Rebs: Prather 10
Asts: Wesley 5		 Pts: George 22
Rebs: Adams 10
Asts: Westbrook 7
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, United States
Attendance: not available
Referees: James Capers, Eric Dalen, Lauren Holtkamp
13 October 2017
19:00
Brisbane Bullets 93–114 Phoenix Suns
Scoring by quarter: 12–38, 33–33, 23–20, 25–23
Pts: Trice 20
Rebs: Kickert 10
Asts: Trice 5		 Pts: Booker 31
Rebs: Bender, Chandler 9
Asts: Booker 6
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, United States
Attendance: 8,297
Referees: Derek Richardson, Mark Ayotte, Ron Garretson

2018–19 season

The NBL announced a second series on 27 June 2018, with five of their eight clubs travelling to the United States of America to complete in seven games.[3] The clubs which didn't complete were the Brisbane Bullets, Cairns Taipans and Illawarra Hawks.

The Adelaide 36ers reached the highest score by the NBL teams and fell one point short of the elusive 100 points milestone, but the NBL teams failed to record a victory for a second year in a row.

28 September 2018
19:00
Melbourne United 84–104 Philadelphia 76ers
Scoring by quarter: 21–34, 21–22, 22–25, 20–23
Pts: Pledger, Ware 19
Rebs: Pledger 13
Asts: Ware 5		 Pts: Embiid 20
Rebs: Embiid 10
Asts: Simmons 14
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, United States
Attendance: not available
Referees: Ed Malloy, Mark Lindsay, Aaron Smith
29 September 2018
19:00
Perth Wildcats 72–130 Utah Jazz
Scoring by quarter: 13–44, 21–31, 11–25, 27–30
Pts: Cotton 14
Rebs: Vague 7
Asts: Kay 3		 Pts: Allen 19
Rebs: Bradley, Gobert 9
Asts: Exum 6
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, United States
Attendance: 17,685
Referees: Rodney Mott, Tre Maddox, Brett Nansel
30 September 2018
15:30
Sydney Kings 91–110 Los Angeles Clippers
Scoring by quarter: 17–28, 37–31, 18–23, 19–28
Pts: Randle 25
Rebs: Lisch 9
Asts: Lisch 6		 Pts: Harris 20
Rebs: Harris 11
Asts: three players 5
Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, United States
Attendance: 6,911
Referees: James Capers, Gary Zielinski, Karl Lane
3 October 2018
19:00
New Zealand Breakers 86–91 Phoenix Suns
Scoring by quarter: 20–28, 22–24, 20–25, 24–14
Pts: Webster 27
Rebs: Long 10
Asts: Webster 7		 Pts: Ayton 21
Rebs: Ayton 16
Asts: Ariza 6
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, United States
Attendance: 7,183
Referees: Bill Kennedy, CJ Washington, Scott Twardoski
5 October 2018
19:00
Adelaide 36ers 99–129 Utah Jazz
Scoring by quarter: 31–28, 23–38, 32–28, 13–35
Pts: Sobey 23
Rebs: Drmic 9
Asts: three players 4		 Pts: Mitchell 18
Rebs: Udoh 10
Asts: Ingles 7
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, United States
Attendance: 18,074
Referees: Mark Ayotte, Gary Zielinski, CJ Washington
5 October 2018
19:00
Melbourne United 82–120 Toronto Raptors
Scoring by quarter: 17–23, 22–34, 19–44, 24–19
Pts: Goulding, Ware 17
Rebs: Boone 11
Asts: Ware 5		 Pts: Powell 21
Rebs: Ibaka 12
Asts: Wright 5
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada
Attendance: 15,781
Referees: Matt Boland, Eric Dalen, Sean Corbin
5 October 2018
19:00
Perth Wildcats 88–96 Denver Nuggets
Scoring by quarter: 16–27, 25–24, 29–24, 18–21
Pts: Cotton 33
Rebs: Kay 8
Asts: Norton 4		 Pts: Morris 15
Rebs: Millsap 9
Asts: Morris 9
Pepsi Center, Denver, United States
Attendance: 9,812
Referees: Josh Tiven, Jason Goldenberg, Nick Buchert

2019–20 season

On July 4, 2019 it was announced that the Adelaide 36ers, Melbourne United and the New Zealand Breakers would play the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings in the 2019 edition of NBLxNBA.[4] The series was pushed closer towards the start of the NBA season, which meant the Adelaide 36ers and New Zealand Breakers missed the beginning of the NBL season, and Melbourne United missed a fortnight of the early rounds of the season.

Despite the NBL losing streak continuing, this series marked the first time an NBL team reached the 100 point mark against an NBA team. This happened in both Melbourne United games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.

5 October 2019
19:00
Adelaide 36ers 81–133 Utah Jazz
Scoring by quarter: 18–28, 21–32, 24–44, 18–29
Pts: Randle 18
Rebs: Froling 11
Asts: Dillon 4		 Pts: Bradley 18
Rebs: Bradley 10
Asts: Ingles, O'Neale 6
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, United States
Attendance: 18,306
Referees: Derek Richardson, Ken Mauer, Phenizee Ransom
8 October 2019
19:00
New Zealand Breakers 94–108 Memphis Grizzlies
Scoring by quarter: 14–27, 22–28, 29–22, 29–31
Pts: Webster 19
Rebs: Hopson 8
Asts: Webster 8		 Pts: Jackson Jr., Allen 18
Rebs: Clarke 12
Asts: Morant 10
FedExForum, Memphis, United States
Attendance: 10,259
Referees: Derrick Collins, Michael Smith, CJ Washington
10 October 2019
19:00
New Zealand Breakers 84–110 Oklahoma City Thunder
Scoring by quarter: 15–29, 20–33, 22–28, 27–20
Pts: Loe 19
Rebs: Hopson, Majok 6
Asts: Hampton, Henry 5		 Pts: Adams 19
Rebs: Adams 10
Asts: Schroder 6
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, United States
Attendance: not available
Referees: Derrick Collins, Brett Nansel, Michael Smith
13 October 2019
12:30
Melbourne United 100–118 Los Angeles Clippers
Scoring by quarter: 24–18, 27–29, 20–43, 29–28
Pts: Trimble 22
Rebs: Long 9
Asts: Trimble 6		 Pts: Harrell 22
Rebs: Zubac 8
Asts: Williams 7
STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, United States
Attendance: 10,181
Referees: Brandon Adair, Tre Maddox, Bill Spooner
16 October 2019
19:00
Melbourne United 110–124 Sacramento Kings
Scoring by quarter: 28–31, 21–29, 23–39, 38–25
Pts: Goulding 25
Rebs: Long 15
Asts: Trimble 6		 Pts: Bagley III 30
Rebs: Bagley III 14
Asts: Ferrell, Hield 6
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, United States
Attendance: 10,534
Referees: J.T. Orr, CJ Washington, Sean Wright

2022–23 season

After a 3-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that the Adelaide 36ers would take on the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder in October 2022.[5] The series saw the first NBL win over an NBA team, with the 36ers beating the Suns 134-124 in Arizona on 3 October 2022.[6]

2 October 2022
21:00
Adelaide 36ers 134–124 Phoenix Suns
Scoring by quarter: 33–28, 38–31, 25–31, 38–34
Pts: Randall II 35
Rebs: McCarron 9
Asts: McCarron 16		 Pts: Payne 23
Rebs: Bridges 7
Asts: Paul 12
Footprint Center, Phoenix, United States
Attendance: 15,152
Referees: Bill Kennedy, Justin Van Duyne, Dannica Mosher
6 October 2022
20:00
Adelaide 36ers 98–131 Oklahoma City Thunder
Scoring by quarter: 16–35, 27–38, 27–35, 28–23
Pts: Randall II 27
Rebs: Franks 7
Asts: Randall II 8		 Pts: Mann 26
Rebs: Williams 12
Asts: Giddey, Williams 6
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, United States
Attendance: not available
Referees: Pat Fraher, Derrick Collins, Jenna Schroeder

2023–24 season

In August 2023, it was announced that the Cairns Taipans and New Zealand Breakers will compete in the series in October 2023. The Taipans took on the Washington Wizards and the Toronto Raptors in their NBLxNBA series debut, while the Breakers played the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz.[7]

10 October 2023
19:00
Cairns Taipans 82–145 Washington Wizards
Scoring by quarter: 23–44, 23–38, 22–34, 14–29
Pts: Gak 17
Rebs: Roberts 10
Asts: Armstrong 8		 Pts: Kuzma 22
Rebs: Gafford 8
Asts: Wright 6
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 6,856
Referees: Bill Kennedy, Marat Kogut, Tyler Mirkovich
10 October 2023
19:00
New Zealand Breakers 66–106 Portland Trail Blazers
Scoring by quarter: 23–23, 16–25, 11–20, 16–38
Pts: Jackson-Cartwright 19
Rebs: Cheatham 10
Asts: Cheatham 4		 Pts: Simons 14
Rebs: Brown 8
Asts: Henderson 6
Moda Center, Portland
Attendance: 12,694
Referees: Justin Van Duyne, Mousa Dagher, John Butler
15 October 2023
18:00
Cairns Taipans 93–134 Toronto Raptors
Scoring by quarter: 17–38, 27–33, 39–33, 10–30
Pts: Miller 22
Rebs: Roberts 9
Asts: Payton 7		 Pts: Freeman-Liberty 15
Rebs: Boucher 8
Asts: Siakam 5
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Attendance: 18,141
Referees: Courtney Kirkland, Eric Dalen, Robert Hussey
16 October 2023
19:00
New Zealand Breakers 94–114 Utah Jazz
Scoring by quarter: 11–31, 32–28, 22–25, 29–30
Pts: Lamb 23
Rebs: Lamb 7
Asts: Jackson-Cartwright 6		 Pts: Markkanen 15
Rebs: Markkanen 7
Asts: Juzang 4
Delta Center, Salt Lake City
Attendance: 14,190
Referees: J.T. Orr, Gediminas Petraitis, Jenna Reneau

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "What We Learned from NBL x NBA". Aussie Hoopla. 23 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Simmons wants a piece of NBL action". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 20 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "NBLxNBA is back, and it's bigger than ever". pickandroll.com.au.
  4. ↑ "NBL news: NBLxNBA NBA preseason games, NBA preseason, Los Angeles Clippers, schedule". Fox Sports. 3 July 2019.
  5. ↑ "Adelaide 36ers take on Suns, Thunder in preseason fixtures". ESPN. 26 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "'Never seen this': Aussie hoops history as NBL side Adelaide stuns NBA powerhouse Phoenix". Fox Sports. 3 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Taipans, Breakers set for NBA preseason games in U.S." ESPN. 30 August 2023.
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