Adelaide 36ers’ first home game at the Entertainment Centre to feature clash with former star Nathan Sobey, now at Brisbane
Adelaide will open its new home at the Entertainment Centre against former vice captain Nathan Sobey who is now with Brisbane. And there’s a home New Year’s Day game. See the 36ers full season schedule here.
The Adelaide 36ers’ first game at their new home, the Entertainment Centre, will feature Nathan Sobey’s return as the enemy with Brisbane.
The NBL’s 2019-20 schedule to be released on Thursday will confirm the Sixers’ first home game at their new venue will be against the Bullets on Saturday, October 19.
Sobey left the 36ers as its vice captain last year after five seasons including the 2017-18 grand final.
Adelaide will be in the US in Round 1 of the regular season playing the Utah Jazz and on the road when they return in Round 2 meaning fans will have to wait three weeks to see them in action at home.
But the Bullets clash is followed by home games against Cairns on October 25 and Sydney on November 2, while a feature of the schedule is a New Year’s Day home game against reigning champions Perth.
Times and broadcast details are yet to be finalised but the new-look fixture featuring new franchise the South East Melbourne Phoenix will see each team playing 28 games.
Every club will play four teams four times during the season with two games at home and two away. They will play the remaining four teams three times across the season with the venues split.
NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger said he expects the new season to break attendance and broadcast records.
“We will see the return of big name stars such as Andrew Bogut after his NBA stint with Golden State Warriors and quality imports including Bryce Cotton, Casper Ware, Melo Trimble and Shawn Long,” Loeliger said.
“Adelaide will play in a new venue, we will have two games in Canberra and highly rated NBA prospects in RJ Hampton, LaMelo Ball, Terry Armstrong and Didi Louzada joining the league as part of our Next Stars program.
“With the Boomers to play the USA in August followed by the FIBA World Cup in China in September, there’s never been a more exciting time for basketball in Australia and New Zealand.”
In other basketball news, the Adelaide Lightning has suffered an off-season blow with import Natalie Novosel tearing her ACL for the third time since 2014.
Novosel suffered the same injury in December, 2017, while playing with Adelaide and missed last year’s grand final season but signed on for next year.
But the latest injury may now spell the end to her basketball career.
“It was me against the guys and I was going after a loose ball,” Novosel said.
“I don’t know if he had any influence on it, outside of going after the ball, but I ended up hearing it (ACL) pop.
“I heard it and I’ve never heard it before with my other two, but I knew straight away.
“It was just so crazy because I was like the only person in that whole camp who couldn’t (afford to) get hurt.”
Lightning coach Chris Lucas said he was devastated for Novosel.
“You just can’t replace a player like Nat, she has a high basketball IQ, makes players around her better and is a big-game performer,” Lucas said.
ADELAIDE 36ERS SCHEDULE 2019/20
Oct 12: v Sydney (A)
Oct 19: v Brisbane (H)
Oct 21: v Illawarra (H)
Oct 25: v Cairns (H)
Oct 27 v SE Melbourne (A)
Nov 2 v v Sydney (H)
Nov 10 v Melbourne (A)
Nov 15 v Perth (H)
Nov 18 v SE Melbourne (A)
Nov 22 v Brisbane (A)
Nov 24 v New Zealand (H)
Dec 1 v Perth (A)
Dec 7 v Melbourne (A)
Dec 13 v SE Melbourne (H)
Dec 15 v New Zealand (A)
Dec 20 v Illaawarra (H)
Dec 22 v Cairns (A)
Dec 29 v New Zealand (H)
Jan 1 v Perth (H)
Jan 4 v Sydney (A)
Jan 6 v Illawarra (H)
Jan 11 v Melbourne (H)
Jan 18 v Cairns (A)
Jan 25 v Brisbane (H)
Jan 31 v New Zealand (A)
Feb 2 v SE Melbourne (H)
Feb 8 v Cairns (H)
Feb 15 v Perth (A)