NBL to introduce mid-season tournament as Wildcats target Aussie NBA star Mills
The NBL is set to follow in the NBA’s footsteps and introduce a mid-season tournament with big prize money on the line, while clubs circle Boomers legend Patty Mills.
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The NBL is set to follow in the NBA’s footsteps and introduce a mid-season tournament with big prize money on the line.
As first reported by ESPN, the NBL is close to announcing a tournament for the 2025-26 campaign that will add an extra 20 games to the league’s regular season schedule.
The mid-season event is looking to start in Round 4, with games played every Wednesday night.
There are also plans for the tournament to feature a points system, with teams to receive one point per quarter win and three points per game win.
The two highest ranked teams based on the Wednesday night points will play in a one-off grand final game in February to be played for prize money.
The NBL is yet to finalise the prize money for the winner of the mid-season tournament, but there is hope the figure will be decent.
The winner of the NBA’s mid-season tournament - which made its debut in the 2023-24 season - takes home almost $AU800,000.
The NBL last had a mid-season tournament during the 2020-21 season. Dubbed the NBL Cup and hosted in Melbourne, the tournament was won by the Perth Wildcats.
As revealed by Code Sports, Canberra is in the box seat to host the pre-season NBL Blitz in a boost for the city’s expansion bid.
While no deal is formally signed off, it’s expected the nation’s capital will be named as the venue for the annual event.
The NBL is keen to ramp up the Blitz after last season’s tournament on the Gold Coast was part of a loaded schedule that included the maiden Hoops Fest in Perth just weeks later.
It’s understood the Hoops Fest will be moved to mid-season, but Perth will be retained as host for the basketball extravaganza.
Moving the Hoops Fest – which sees every NBL team come together to play one round in the same location - to mid-season could give the Blitz more breathing room to take centre stage.
Canberra – the home of hoops’ junior production line at the AIS – is the perfect city to host the NBL’s long-running pre-season tournament.
NBL CLUBS CIRCLE MILLS
Perth has held preliminary talks with Australian NBA star Patty Mills about the prospect of finishing his stellar career in the NBL as a replacement for five-time league MVP Bryce Cotton.
Code Sports can confirm the Wildcats have engaged in discussions with Mills – who faces an uncertain future as an unrestricted free agent.
The veteran guard has bounced between five NBA clubs in a bench role since 2023, while he is coming off a season with the LA Clippers where he averaged just 5.1 minutes and 3.1 points in his 12 games.
Mills has been linked to an NBL homecoming for some time, but it has grown momentum in recent months due to his off-contract status.
It’s been reported that “one large market team”, believed to be the Wildcats, has had a conversation with the Boomers great about a potential homecoming.
Code Sports understands the Brisbane Bullets are also interested in Mills.
The Bullets haven’t had a conversation with the veteran guard yet, but view him as a perfect fit given he is a proud Queenslander.
Mills’ parents live on the Sunshine Coast, he is a massive Broncos NRL fan and he owns a Brisbane-based Pickle Ball pro team.
It remains to be seen whether Mills is prepared to pull the trigger on his NBA career to return to the NBL.
He turns 37 in August, but could secure another veteran contract to serve predominantly as a strong cultural presence in the locker room.
Mills also has ambition to play for the Boomers at the 2028 LA Olympics – and will need court time to make this a reality.
It’s why the NBL is a legitimate chance of happening, alongside a lucrative stint in Asia or Europe, which would also give him court time.
The Wildcats need a star guard after losing Cotton, most likely to a big dollar offer in Japan.
CANBERRA IN BOX SEAT FOR BLITZ
Canberra is in the box seat to host the pre-season NBL Blitz in a boost for the city’s expansion bid.
While no deal is formally signed off, it’s expected the nation’s capital will be named as the venue for the annual event.
The NBL is keen to ramp up the Blitz after last season’s tournament on the Gold Coast was part of a loaded schedule that included the maiden Hoops Fest in Perth just weeks later.
It’s understood the Hoops Fest will be moved to mid-season.
Moving the Hoops Fest – which sees every NBL team come together to play one round in the same location - to mid-season could give the Blitz more breathing room to take centre stage.
Canberra – the home of hoops’ junior production line at the AIS – is the perfect city to host the NBL’s long-running pre-season tournament.
The nation capital is also keen to return to the top-level of Australian domestic basketball with its own team.
Canberra has been in the NBL wilderness since 2003 when the Cannons – a side that won three championships in the 1980s – went into financial administration.
NBL head office has previously stated interest in a team returning to the national capital, but require funding for a stadium to complete the deal.
NBL SELECT TEAM BOUND FOR JAPAN
In other news, an NBL select team will travel to Japan on June 28 and 29 to take on a B League select team.
Code Sports can reveal South East Melbourne GM of basketball operations Simon Mitchell will coach the NBL side.
The makeup of the team is yet to be finalised, but it’s likely a squad of emerging talent will be sent to Japan for the two games against a B League select side.
‘WANT AND INTENT’: A MILLS’ NBL HOMECOMING IN THE WORKS?
By Matt Logue
NBL boss Larry Kestelman believes Patty Mills has a “want and intent” to finish his stellar career in Australia and he’d be “surprised” if it didn’t happen.
Mills’ future is up the air, with the veteran guard an unrestricted free agent heading into the NBA off-season.
It means the Boomers great – who has bounced between five clubs since 2023 in predominantly bench roles – is free to negotiate and sign with any team.
Mills has been linked to an NBL homecoming for some time, but it has grown momentum in recent months due to his off-contract status.
Last season’s grand finalists Melbourne United is in need of a star guard after losing Matthew Dellavedova to the Sydney Kings and young gun Flynn Cameron to Adelaide.
NBL championship-winner Ian Clark is also no certainty to return to United, opening the door for Mills.
The Perth Wildcats are also in the market for a marquee guard after losing five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton.
Kestelman doesn’t know when Mills could land in the NBL, but said he expects the Boomers’ five-time Olympian to one day feature in the Australian league.
“I would be surprised if at some stage that Patty didn’t come back here to play,” Kestelman said about Mills, who averaged 3.1 points and 5.1 minutes in his 12 games for the Los Angeles Clippers this NBA season.
“I know that is his want and intent, but when that is needs to be on his terms.
“I can’t speak for if it is this year or next year, but my hope is that he comes back to play in front of his family and fans.”
Kestelman says the NBL’s successful track record in attracting Australian NBA stars to the league could help to lure Mills home.
“Well, we’ve proven before through people like Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova coming here to play,” he said.
“It was always part of the vision to have a bit of a circular economy where we can create a product here where some of the youngest stars can come to the NBL, develop their skills and then go to the NBA.
“And vice a versa, especially for Australians, where there is a league that our players can be proud to come and play in for the last few years of their career.”
NBL REVEAL BIG EUROLEAGUE PLANS
The NBL will host Greek and Serbian EuroLeague giants this September – and if successful – officials plan to turn the pre-season event into an annual basketball extravaganza with the prospect of Australian teams playing games on European soil.
In a major cue for the NBL’s global rise and respect, Panathinaikos BC AKTOR and KK Partizan have agreed to play games Down Under as part of the prestigious Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament.
It’s the first time the revered tournament – which honours the late Pavlos Giannakopoulos, a legendary figure in European basketball and long-time Panathinaikos president - will be played outside of Europe.
Panathinaikos and KK Partizan clash on September 18 at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena, before competing in a four-team tournament with the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on September 21 and 22.
The Kings and 36ers clash in the NBL’s opening round on September 18, before each taking on Panathinaikos and KK Partizan in a tournament format later in the week.
The NBL feels blessed and privileged to host the seventh instalment of the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament in Sydney and remain hopeful of the event becoming a regular on the league’s calendar.
“Our plan is for this to be just the first of many opportunities to continue building and having EuroLeague games here,” NBL Director, Nikola Milivojevic said.
“I was just in Athens a couple of weeks ago and clubs are asking if they come and play here and clubs from Italy are also asking.
“It’s definitely something that we want to continue to do and we’re hopeful that this becomes an annual tradition.
“To have two of Europe’s biggest teams competing in a tournament of this calibre, along with two of the biggest clubs in Australian basketball, the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers, is not only a reflection of the NBL’s growing global reputation, but underlines the increasing level of passion and interest Australians have for the game.”
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is one of the most storied and successful basketball clubs in European history. Founded in 1919, the Greek powerhouse has won seven European championships, 41 Greek championships, and 21 Greek Cups.
KK Partizan is one of Europe’s most iconic basketball clubs, with a rich legacy that dates back to its founding in 1945.
Partizan made history by winning the EuroLeague title in 1992, becoming the first Serbian (and former Yugoslav) club to claim Europe’s top basketball honour. The team has also secured numerous Adriatic League, Serbian League, and national cup titles, consistently competing at the highest levels of European basketball.
Countless Australians have played for Partizan, including Dante Exum, Alex Maric, Nate Jawai and Jock Landale.
Former Kings big man and assistant coach - Maric - also played for Panathinaikos between 2010 and 2012.
Panathinaikos and Partizan pull in a combined net worth of over $A90 million.
Last year’s Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament took place at the iconic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens – the stadium built for the first of the modern Olympic games in 1896.
NBL boss Larry Kestelman revealed the league’s bold vision for Australian teams to one day play against EuroLeague sides in Europe.
“Yeah and I think it’s exciting,” Kestelman said when asked about the prospect of NBL teams playing in Europe.
“Our players want to play against the best players in the world because we want our league to grow.”
Panathinaikos AKTOR BC President, Vassilis Parthenopoulos, can’t wait to connect with his club’s strong Australian fan base.
“We are proud to bring the legacy of Panathinaikos and the memory of Pavlos Giannakopoulos to Australia. This tournament marks a major step in our global journey, honouring a visionary who shaped our club’s modern identity,” Parthenopoulos said.
Partizan President, Ostoja Mijailović believes his club’s connection to Australia is special and he wants to build the link.
“We look forward to meeting all Australian basketball fans and showing them what we’re all about, and we also look forward to reconnecting with our expatriates and those with Serbian heritage who we hope will come out in strong support.”
Pre-registration for tickets for the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament are now open, with those who sign up early given priority access on May 19.
General public tickets will go on-sale on May 22.
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