NBL

The National Basketball League is back, with another blockbuster season in store – where every game of the regular season and finals series is LIVE on ESPN. After a phenomenal campaign last season, the NBL returns with a bang as the defending champion Sydney Kings look to continue their reign at the top. The live basketball will come thick and fast in the opening week of the season, with ESPN bringing nine live games across the first seven days. ESPN’s coverage of the new NBL campaign begins on Saturday October 1, with a massive double header involving the Grand Finalists of last season. The 2022-23 NBL season kicks off at 6pm AEST, when the South East Melbourne Phoenix welcome the Tasmania JackJumpers LIVE on ESPN. The JackJumpers were the story of last campaign, with the Tasmanian side going on a fairytale run to the Grand Final, in their inaugural year. Following at 8pm AEST, is the local derby between the Illawarra Hawks and Sydney Kings, LIVE on ESPN. The Sydney Kings were crowned NBL champions and will be looking to continue their dominance. Sydney have lost some key personnel following their title triumph, but will look to young talent such as Dejan Vasiljevic to lead their defence of the NBL crown. Sunday October 2 sees the NBL action continue with another double header, beginning at 2pm AEDT, Melbourne United tackle the New Zealand Breakers. United finished top of the table at the end of the regular season, but fell short of making the Grand Final. They will be looking for redemption against the Breakers, who themselves are looking to bounce back, now they are on home soil in New Zealand once again. Following live at 4pm AEDT Sunday, the Perth Wildcats welcome the Brisbane Bullets. The Wildcats saw their remarkable finals streak come to an end last season. Given the playing group at their disposal, Perth will not be down for long and most expect the Wildcats to return to winning ways quickly under new head coach John Rillie. Again the Wildcats will be led by star Bryce Cotton, who hopes to light up the league with his brand of offence. Boomers star Aron Baynes returns to the NBL with the Bullets, and Brisbane look to be emerging as a real force in the competition. Baynes joins former NBA player Tyler Johnson and Nathan Sobey, in a side that are playing some eye catching ball. Brisbane can make an immediate statement to the competition, with the scalp of the Wildcats in week one. ESPN will also ensure that hoops fans are covered with all the action off the court. ESPN’s The Jump returns for another year, hosted by Nat Edwards and legend Andrew Gaze, with an hour long wrap of all the latest NBL news and discussion airing each Wednesday night at 8.30pm AEDT. The Jump sets out to bring you the most thoughtful basketball opinions on the players, games and stories that matter. It will look at the hot topics in the NBA with a local lens, and takes the viewers beyond the stats. NBL: The Crossover will air between games each Saturday and following the weekend’s action on Sunday evenings. NBL Overtime and NBL Slam also return, meaning basketball fans have every angle covered across the channels of ESPN. ESPN is ‘Your Home For Hoops’ with the network bringing basketball fans countless hours of exclusive NBL, NBA, WNBL, WNBA, NCAA and FIBA action. NBL 22-23 on ESPN Saturday October 16pm AEST, South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Tasmania JackJumpers, ESPN8pm AEST, Illawarra Hawks vs Sydney Kings, ESPN Sunday October 22pm AEDT, Melbourne United vs New Zealand Breakers, ESPN4pm AEDT, Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets, ESPN Monday October 37.30pm AEDT, Tasmania JackJumpers vs Cairns Taipans, ESPN Thursday October 65.30pm AEDT, New Zealand Breakers vs Tasmania JackJumpers, ESPN Friday October 77.30pm AEDT, Sydney Kings vs Brisbane Bullets, ESPN Saturday October 85.30pm AEDT, South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Cairns Taipans, ESPN8pm AEDT, Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks, ESPN ESPN and ESPN2 are available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.