The unbeatables, the snubbed star and coaching turmoil

The NBL season begins on Thursday night with a grand final rematch, when defending champions Tasmania JackJumpers face Melbourne United at RAC Arena as part of the four-day “HoopsFest” in Perth.

We take a look at the key questions ahead of the new campaign.

Brian Goorjian is back in the NBL

Can he maximise a Sydney Kings roster that many think is favourite to claim the title?
Absolutely, but there are two caveats. The Kings were dysfunctional last season in a 13-15 campaign, finishing fifth, and coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah was let go. Their gaze immediately turned to Goorjian, the six-time championship-winning coach who guided the Kings to a three-peat from 2003-05. Now free of international commitments after stepping down as Boomers coach, Goorjian, 71, wants at least one more championship ring before he retires.

Back at work: Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian is ready for the new season.Credit: James Brickwood

This roster is loaded, including former league MVPs Xavier Cooks and Jaylen Adams, ex-NBA forward Cam Oliver, former Cairns guard Bul Kuol, forward Kouat Noi, rising star Alex Toohey and New Zealand international Izayah Le’afa. However, they could be a tad small, with the 203-centimetre Cooks as their tallest player. And just how Goorjian manages minutes – and egos – on a deep roster will be pivotal, says NBL great and former Kings assistant coach Lanard Copeland.

“‘Goorj’ has been through all kinds of things like this, he is not under any pressure at all,” Copeland, now a prominent NBL commentator, told this masthead.

“What’s happening is, they have so much talent, everyone is expecting them to win, and that’s been the word: ‘If you guys don’t win, something is wrong’. The only way they don’t win it is if the players aren’t on the same page. Goorjian is going to do his best but, as we know, in this day and age and society, it’s all about the players and what they want to do. The coaches don’t have a lot of say on when a guy is taking a shot these days. But if all those guys can get together and say it’s about the championship, not my personal performance … I think they have more than enough talent to win it.”

The other contenders

Who else can we expect to be in the mix for the title?
Defending champions Tasmania JackJumpers, Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United are also expected to enjoy deep play-off runs. The Wildcats rebounded from an ugly start to finish second on the ladder last season before being bounced in the play-offs by the JackJumpers.

They have four-time league MVP Bryce Cotton (although they must not be too reliant on him), and have handed coach John Rillie a three-year contract extension. The JackJumpers have returned from their third placing at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup nursing injuries, but boast one of the best game-night atmospheres at a packed out My State Bank Arena. However, they will miss gun shooter Jack McVeigh, who now enjoys a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets. United were left stunned by their game five loss to the JackJumpers in an enthralling grand final series, and have reloaded under reigning coach of the year Dean Vickerman.

Redemption: Melbourne United captain Chris Goulding has championship aspirations.Credit: Getty Images

Grudge season

Snubbed by the Boomers ahead of Paris, what can we expect from Melbourne United star Chris Goulding?
Another MVP-type season, that’s what. Goulding, second behind Cotton in last season’s voting for the Andrew Gaze Trophy, is one of the greatest shooters this country has produced, and there is no reason why the 35-year-old cannot average 17 points per game again. As Gaze himself says, Goulding is a scoring threat as soon as he steps over the half-court line (or should that be within a 5km zone of any stadium?). And he may have more motivation after being one of the last cut players for the Olympics (mark October 31 in your diary when he faces Goorjian and his Kings).

“When you have four guards like Goulding, Ian Clark, Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova, four of the best guards in the league, and … they have more than enough experience, and know how to get it done, trust me, they will be in the mix,” Copeland said.

The return of the athletic Jack White and elite defender Marcus Lee is a major boost, but interior scoring is an issue. The loss of the 200cm Luke Travers to the Cleveland Cavaliers also hurts.

Phoenix rise

After an off-season cleanout, will South East Melbourne deliver under coach Mike Kelly?
One of the nicest guys in basketball finally has the roster he wants. Having battled through an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign when they finished last, the Phoenix have made considerable change. This includes Mitch Creek, who had been the hero of the “Heartland” since the franchise’s inception. Creek has gone to China, while imports Gary Browne and Alan Williams have also left. Creek’s great mate, ex-Boomer and Warrnambool native Nathan Sobey, is a major pick-up, having left the Brisbane Bullets in messy circumstances, while star playmaker Derrick Walton Jr, Angus Glover and Jordan Hunter bring nous and depth. Regardless, it’s still difficult to see the Phoenix finishing top four.

The storylines

What else is there to keep an eye on?
Spanish teenage wunderkind Izan Almansa, signed by the Wildcats as part of the NBL’s Next Star program. Almansa, 19, impressed in the pre-season Blitz competition, and says he relishes having NBA scouts at his games. A former MVP of the under-19 and under-17 FIBA World Cups, and the best player last year at the under-18 FIBA European championships, the forward-centre hopes to be a high pick at next year’s NBA draft.

The Adelaide 36ers have been in turmoil after sacking coach and club icon Scott Ninnis just weeks before the season tip-off. Ninnis, who replaced CJ Bruton through last season, had just signed a two-year contract extension. He has been replaced by Mike Wells, who had only just arrived from the US as Ninnis’ assistant. The 36ers did pull off a recruiting coup, signing NBA veteran and 2020 sixth man of the year, Montrezel Harrell. And we’ll continue to embrace the confidence of shooting marksman, DJ Vasiljevic, who also has a point to prove after his Paris snubbing.

On Thursday, Wells was filmed, by Channel 10 during an open training session, delivering an expletive-laden tirade at his players. At one stage, Wells threw a pile of papers as he lost his cool with the team.

There’s a major focus on Brisbane coach Justin Schueller, the former Melbourne United assistant guiding the Bullets to the pre-season NBL Blitz title, and now having the roster he wants in his second season in charge. Former Boomer Aron Baynes has seemingly retired, while Josh Bannon, who spent time with the LA Clippers in Summer League, is attracting more NBA interest. We look forward to watching the development of the 220cm skyscraper Rocco Zikarsky, whom league sources predict will be in the NBA by 2025-26.

Despite the addition of Jonah Bolden, a former NBA player and Sydney King, and NBA point-guard hopeful Taran Armstrong, respectively, the New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans will struggle to make the play-offs, but the Illawarra Hawks, complete with gunner Tyler Harvey, will be an interesting watch.

The broadcast deal

What does the new deal with Ten and Foxtel/Kayo/ESPN mean?
ESPN and streaming service Kayo will continue to televise all games, but the renewal of the contract with Ten now means the showcase 2.30pm game on a Sunday will be broadcast on Ten’s primary channel. This is the first time in a decade the league will be on a primary channel, a major boost for a competition that last season had record ratings and attendances and continues to thrive under majority owner Larry Kestelman, who is determined to bridge the gap between a thriving community playing base and interest in the elite-level competition.

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