Gold Coast Hoops: A Concise NBL History

The Gold Coast has had an extensive history in the NBL and now, for the first time in a decade, the league is coming back to one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

It’s been over a decade since the coastal city had an NBL side to call its own, but the Hungry Jack's NBL Blitz will provide the passionate and raucous fans an opportunity to experience the game at the highest level once more.

The Gold Coast Rollers – who were known as the Cougars in their debut 1990 season – graced the NBL for seven seasons through the golden era of the early and mid-90s. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Hungry Jack’s <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> is back on the Gold Coast for the annual pre-season Blitz ??<br><br>Every game from this festival of hoops will be broadcast live and free on <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KayoSports</a> Freebies ?<br><br>Head to <a href="https://t.co/rHfgJTiKSk">https://t.co/rHfgJTiKSk</a> for more information ??<a href="https://twitter.com/majoreventsgc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@majoreventsgc</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/destgc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@destgc</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/QldGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QldGov</a> <a href="https://t.co/vGfgKnGjRw">pic.twitter.com/vGfgKnGjRw</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1682179253100740608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Some of the greatest players in NBL history passed through the program – including all-time greats Larry Sengstock and Steve Woodberry, All-NBL First Team nominee Mike Mitchell, star forward Dwayne McClain and cult hero Andre LaFleur.

The club's most successful season came when they won 14 games in 1991. 

The Rollers name is still in existence and the team participates in the NBL1 North competition, of which they are the reigning champions.

High-level hoops found its way back to the Gold Coast in 2007, when the Blaze entered the NBL.

The club experienced a strong level of success on the court and made the post-season in three of its five seasons in the competition, including a third-place finish under the guidance of star players Adam Gibson, Mark Worthington and import Adris DeLeon.

The Blaze pulled together something of a who’s who of local NBL basketball during their short stint in the league. Brendan Joyce was named as the club’s inaugural coach, before being replaced by Joey Wright, and legends of the game including Shane Heal and Pero Cameron, alongside Gibson and Worthington pulled on the Gold Coast jersey. 

Melbourne legend Chris Goulding also represented the Blaze for three seasons, prior to its exit from the league in 2012. 

The success and quality of the NBL1 North competition – and the fervent support thrown behind the Brisbane Bullets since their return to the NBL – showcases the massive appetite for basketball that exists in Queensland, and the latest NBL Blitz is just the next step in the basketball journey steeped in history.

Andre Lafleur played 95 games for the Gold Coast Rollers.