NBL25: Key schedule takeaways

The NBL's schedule for the 2024/2025 campaign landed on Friday and it's full of blockbusters, challenges for every team and the potential of another epic finish to the season.

NBL analyst Pete Hooley has analysed every game and provides his key takeaways ahead of a huge season, tipping off on September 19 with the first ever HoopsFest.

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Pete Hooley said: "A brutal start"
There will be no easing into the season for the 36ers as the first five rounds have them with one of the toughest schedules in the competition. Adelaide has four of their opening seven games on the road, including two double-headers in rounds 3 and 4.

The 36ers will face the Sydney Kings twice, who many have as early championship favourites, as well as the new-look South East Melbourne Phoenix at home. They will also see both Championship Series teams from last season in Melbourne United and Tasmania in the opening five weekends.

Welcome to NBL25. 

What the club said:
"We had eight sell outs in NBL24 after seven in NBL23 and we can’t wait to increase this and continue to build that momentum.

"Our fans have been rewarded by voting with their feet, this is an exciting schedule, with a lot of family friendly times." - 36ers CEO Nic Barbato

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Hooley said: "Fresh legs matter"
The Brisbane Bullets will be waiting until Round 9 before they have their first double-header round in NBL25. With a lot of their roster construction in the off-season geared around Casey Prather and Josh Bannon firing, this is a friendly way to begin for two players they want to keep fresh and healthy.

However, Brisbane’s first double could be a tough one. The team will travel down to Tasmania on Friday, November 15, before welcoming Perth back home on the Sunday. They simply must take advantage of this lighter start to the season if they want to be there at the business end. 

What the club said:
"Taking our home games to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre is an important next step in what is projected to be a significant growth period for the Club." - Bullets CEO Malcolm Watts.

"As a team we are thrilled to get the opportunity to play at BEC once again, an arena that we know can rival other teams in the league." - Bullets coach Justin Schueller.

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Hooley said: "An early test"
The Taipans could potentially have the toughest back-to-back double-header in the league starting in Round 3. On October 4, Cairns plays host to the champs in Tasmania, before venturing down to Melbourne to meet the NBL24 runner-up just two days later.

If that double doesn’t test the snakes, then perhaps it will come the following weekend, when they welcome the Wildcats into town, before making their way to Sydney to take on the Kings. Based on early signs from the off-season, that is set up to be a huge test for a young Cairns outfit early in NBL25.

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What the club said:
"The highlight that stands out that our fans have become used to is New Year's Eve, so locking that in is very important for us.

"Boxing Day obviously (is a big game) ... but I think the five Saturday games will certainly be well received.

"I think the upside, (is) certainly in the front half of the schedule for the players - the back half will be challenging with three doubles, and some of those are challenging doubles with long road-trips.

"The distribution of games and the balance for that, I think we're really happy with." - Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft.

Hooley said: "Don't leave it too late"
One thing we have come to know about the NBL is how close the standings will be at the end of the season. It’s usually safe to assume the final round will have plenty on the line for some teams, whether they’re separated by wins or percentage.

Knowing that – the Hawks will be hoping they don’t leave it up to the final weekend to claim must-win games. In Round 20, Illawarra begins by travelling to New Zealand on Wednesday and then returns for a Friday night blockbuster against their biggest rivals, the Sydney Kings. The script almost writes itself… 

What the club said:
"Let’s pick up where we left off. With the majority of last year's squad returning, and Justin Tatum starting his first full season as Head Coach, the Club has a competitive team that proved themselves in NBL24.

"A full house and pumping WIN Entertainment Centre will be key to that, and we need everyone in the Illawarra to be a part of it." - Hawks CEO Stuart Taggart.

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Pete Hooley said: "Christmas is key"
Melbourne United have a very busy schedule early in NBL25, which includes five double-headers in the opening 10 rounds. If they can navigate their way through that, they’ll be eager to get to December 15, which gives them some much-needed rest before the back end of the season.

From the 15th through to January 4, United play just two games, which are on the 23rd of December and Boxing Day in Cairns. After that tough start to the season, they’ll be playing just six times in January, albeit all road games due to the Australian Open. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL MELBOURNE UNITED SCHEDULE

Pete Hooley said: "Double trouble"
The Breakers are looking at three different blocks of double-header weekends throughout their NBL25 season. With the club hinting at a return to the USA for NBLxNBA games after Round 2, from October 17 they get straight back into it with three double-header rounds in a row. They will then travel to Tasmania for a single game in Round 8 and Cairns for one game in Round 9, and then it gets hectic again.

From November 28 until Christmas Day, the Breakers play eight games, which include the Champion JackJumpers and Sydney Kings twice each.

Just when you thought the tough stretches may be over, they also have three back-to-back doubles from Round 16 to 18.

What the club said:
"With a new coach and a new-look team led by Parker Jackson-Cartwright, this season is shaping up as the most exciting we've ever had.

"Our final two games of the regular season are at Spark Arena. Our fans will back us to win those games against the Taipans and Hawks, giving us incredible momentum into the post season.

"We have seen over the last couple of seasons that we are virtually impossible to beat when we go into games with momentum." - Breakers CEO Lisa Edser

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Pete Hooley said: "A dream start"
Three straight home games to begin the season against tough opponents will have the Red Army excited to see their team begin their title quest.

After HoopsFest against the Phoenix, Perth hosts the Kings in a blockbuster Round 2 match and then United a week later. It’s a dream start for a team that hopes to rebuild the fortress of the Jungle and protect their home court.

The Wildcats also end the season with four games at RAC in their remaining five, with the only away trip being a Sunday matchup against the Kings in Round 19. 

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Pete Hooley said: "A home away from home"
Usually for both Melbourne teams, once January rolls around they find themselves constantly on the road due to the Australian Open. While you won’t see the Phoenix in action at John Cain Arena in January, the fans will still get four opportunities to see their team in action in the Heartland, thanks to their regional venues.

South East Melbourne will host the Brisbane Bullets at their yearly game in Gippsland, before playing three straight at the newly renovated State Basketball Centre. Even throughout their struggles last season, the fans showed up with their feet for every game at SBC and provided one of the best game environments around the league. 

What the club said:
"We’re really excited to be able to show off our new roster build in front of as many eyes as possible in stadium and on the TV.

"But the fixture also gives us to showcase our premier game day entertainment, and every season we get an opportunity to build on that.

"As the league grows and we get more fans watching basketball in Australia, it’s a great time to be a part of the Phoenix." - Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX SCHEDULE

Pete Hooley said: "Old mates reunite"
If the off-season recruiting from the Kings doesn’t get fans excited and want to get to Qudos Bank Arena, then perhaps their holiday schedule will add some extra juice to it.

After the Christmas Day rivalry classic against Illawarra, the Kings play host to DJ Vasiljevic and the Adelaide 36ers on December 30. They then follow it up three days later when they welcome former Kings in Derrick Walton Jr, Angus Glover and Jordan Hunter back to Sydney, taking on the Phoenix on January 2.

What more do Kings fans want for Christmas? High-flying dunks, trash-talking, physicality between previous players and the Freeway Series … sign me up. 

What the club said:
"A new season is dawning and a new era of Kings basketball is tipping off this summer." - Hoops Capital executive director Matthew Denholm.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL SYDNEY KINGS SCHEDULE

Pete Hooley said: "Frequent flyers"
The JackJumpers begin their title defence with a brutal away trip before their first home game. After departing Tasmania for the Blitz, the JackJumpers will take off to Singapore to play in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, before eventually arriving in Perth ahead of NBL25 tip-off.

The Championship Series rematch is scheduled for September 19 to kick things off, after which Tasmania will finally head home with an eight-day break, before again playing United in their home opener. The travel combined with back-to-back games against a team who wants their revenge, is certainly one way to begin the season. 

What the club said:
"Christmas Day has become a unique feature of the NBL calendar securing huge broadcast numbers and the JackJumpers have once again been selected to host a home game on this day, which is a great opportunity to continue to build the brand of Tasmania and the JackJumpers.

"The NBL have worked hard to create a balanced mix of game days and times this season. We're confident that families and supporters will continue to immerse themselves in the JackJumpers experience through all mediums." - JackJumpers CEO Christine Finnegan.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS SCHEDULE