NBL's Biggest Season Yet

Off the back of a record-breaking campaign, the Hungry Jack’s NBL will return bigger and better when the season tips-off on September 28 - the earliest start since 2009.

Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix have been locked in to do battle on opening night at John Cain Arena.

Coming off record crowds and TV ratings, an exciting schedule has been released which is set to continue the NBL’s rapid and remarkable resurgence.

“Anticipation for next season is already building with a lot of drama unfolding in the off-season,” NBL Owner and Executive Chairman Larry Kestelman said.

“There’s been plenty of player movement from club to club, teams making big offers to Free Agents, star players returning home, the recruitment of more amazing Next Stars all looking to make it to the NBA, local talent desperate for success and clubs out for redemption, while the champion Kings will be hoping for a three-peat.

“With more Next Stars on the horizon, exciting new imports, more player movement, and former NBL players such as Xavier Cooks and Jarrell Brantley making the NBA after strong NBL campaigns - I can’t remember a better leadin to a season in my time.”

FULL NBL24 SCHEDULE | SYNC YOUR CALENDAR | DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE VERSION OF NBL24 SCHEDULE

Free agency has provided plenty of surprises with Keanu Pinder moving to Perth, William McDowell-White staying in New Zealand, Luke Travers and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr joining Melbourne, and NBA hopeful AJ Johnson landing in Illawarra as a Next Star.

“These signings have created great excitement, and now supporters from all 10 teams can mark their calendars and plan their summers around the new schedule,” Kestelman added.

“The NBL’s growth has been unprecedented, and we are confident that we will usher in the biggest season ever when the season tips-off in September.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mark those calendars. The Round 1 schedule has been released ?<br><br>Stay tuned for the full drop ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/UZY6EcUz30">https://t.co/UZY6EcUz30</a> <a href="https://t.co/GTSr4ziNet">pic.twitter.com/GTSr4ziNet</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1648447135791333378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Hungry Jack’s NBL Round will launch the season across the first two rounds to celebrate the start of the season. Both Indigenous Round and Champion Pride Round will return, and an exciting new Warner Brothers Round will take place.

After the incredible success of last year’s historic Christmas game, the NBL has doubled down with four teams set to play on the evening of December 25, with Tasmania v South East Melbourne and Sydney v Illawarra.

Illawarra and Cairns will continue their traditional hostings on New Year’s Eve, while New Year’s Day basketball will head to Tasmania.

The tension between Sydney and New Zealand will be reignited on Sunday November 5 when the sides meet for the first time since last season’s Championship Series.

Every game of the season will be broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel, with Sunday games simulcast on 10 Peach and 10 Play.

Highlights of the 2023/24 Hungry Jack’s NBL Season include: ·
- Tip-off: United vs Phoenix - Sept 28
- Travers returns to Perth: Wildcats vs United - Oct 13
- Championship Series re-match: Kings v Breakers - Nov 5
- Melbourne Cup Eve: United v Wildcats – Nov 6
- Christmas Eve: 36ers v Bullets - Dec 24
- Christmas Night: JackJumpers v Phoenix, Kings v Hawks - Dec 25
- Pinder returns to Cairns: Taipans v Wildcats - Dec 26
- New Year’s Eve: Hawks v 36ers, Taipans v United - Dec 31
- New Year’s Day: JackJumpers v Breakers – Jan 1

FULL NBL24 SCHEDULE | SYNC YOUR CALENDAR | DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE VERSION OF NBL24 SCHEDULE