The 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season will begin with the inaugural HoopsFest, a weekend-long celebration of basketball, live from Perth, Western Australia. The event will see every game from the opening round broadcast live on ESPN, spanning from Thursday, 19 September to Sunday, 22 September.
Over the four days, five matches will be played, featuring teams from across the league, marking a dynamic start to the NBL season. HoopsFest aims to showcase not just the games, but the broader basketball culture, blending sport, entertainment, and community in a unique setting.
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The season opener is set for Thursday, 19 September, at 8:30pm AEST, with a rematch of last year’s NBL Championship Series between reigning champions, the Tasmania JackJumpers, and Melbourne United. Tasmania, fresh from representing the league in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore, will be looking to defend their title. However, they face stiff competition from a determined Melbourne United, who will be keen to avenge last season’s finals loss.
Melbourne’s line-up remains formidable, with key players such as Chris Goulding, Matthew Dellavedova, and Jack White expected to play significant roles. On the other side, Tasmania’s roster has undergone changes, notably with the departure of star Jack McVeigh to the NBA, but they’ve bolstered their squad by recruiting Craig Sword from the NBA G-League.
The action continues on Friday, 20 September, when the Perth Wildcats face the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 8:30pm AEST, with the Wildcats led by reigning NBL MVP Bryce Cotton. The RAC Arena will host this high-energy match, setting the tone for Perth’s season on home court.
Saturday’s schedule includes a double-header, with the New Zealand Breakers taking on the Brisbane Bullets at 6pm AEST, followed by the Cairns Taipans against the Illawarra Hawks at 8:30pm AEST.
The round wraps up on Sunday, 22 September, when the Adelaide 36ers meet the Sydney Kings at 2:30pm AEST. The Kings, led by experienced coach Brian Goorjian, have made significant roster additions for the upcoming season, including talents like Xavier Cooks, Alex Toohey, and Jaylen Adams. Meanwhile, Adelaide has made waves with the signing of former NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Montrezl Harrell.
Adding to the spectacle, HoopsFest will also feature a host of celebrity guests, including NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, basketball commentator Kenny Smith, Australian basketball icon Luc Longley, and tennis star Nick Kyrgios. This combination of sporting excellence and entertainment reflects HoopsFest’s ambition to blend basketball with broader cultural elements.
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For Australian and New Zealand audiences, ESPN will be the go-to destination for live coverage throughout the season, including exclusive broadcasts of the NBL Playoffs and Championship Series. Sky viewers in New Zealand will also have access to every NBL game, through platforms such as Sky Box, Sky Go, and Sky Sport Now.
In addition to the games, ESPN’s dedicated basketball show, Nothing But Net: Aussie Hoops, will provide in-depth analysis throughout the season, featuring insights from well-known figures in the basketball world such as Kane Pitman, Andrew Gaze, Olgun Uluc, and Ryan Broekhoff.
The HoopsFest broadcast schedule on ESPN kicks off on Thursday, 19 September, with a variety of programming, including NBL Slam at 6:30pm AEST, followed by Nothing But Net: Aussie Hoops at 7:30pm AEST. Coverage continues with NBL Pre Game at 8:00pm AEST, leading into the highly anticipated Tasmania JackJumpers versus Melbourne United clash at 8:30pm AEST.
The schedule for the following days includes:
As the new NBL season launches, basketball fans in Australia and New Zealand can look forward to non-stop action, enhanced by the unique atmosphere of HoopsFest.
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