2011–12 NBL season
Encyclopedia
The 2011–12 National Basketball League is the thirty-fourth season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 9 teams will contest the league. The regular season will be played between October 2011 and March 2012, followed by a post-season involving the top four in April 2012. The schedule was announced on 19 May 2011. New Zealand Breakers
will be defending their title.
Broadcast rights are held by free-to-air network Channel Ten
and its digital sports sister station One HD, currently in the second year of a five-year deal, through to the 2014-2015 season. In New Zealand, Sky Sport
will once again provide coverage.
Sponsorship includes iiNet
entering its second and penultimate year as league naming rights sponsor and Centrebet
in the final year as the official sports betting partner. Spalding
provide equipment including the official game ball, with AND1 supplying team apparel.
Due to the 2011 NBA lockout
Australia's two highest profile NBA players, Portland Point Guard
Patrick Mills
and Milwaukee
Centre Andrew Bogut
were both looking to sign for NBL clubs for the 2011-12 season until the lockout ended. Surprisingly, neither had previously played in the NBL as both preferred to play College basketball
the USA in their successful attempts to obtain NBA contracts. Mills signed for the Melbourne Tigers
on 29 August and suited up for the Tigers first home game
against the Sydney Kings
in Round 1 scoring 28 points leading the Tigers to a 82-76 win in the inaugural Capital City Clash. Bogut, who had been the #1 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft
, was linked to the Gold Coast Blaze
, Adelaide 36ers
and the Kings. Ultimately he chose the Kings but unfortunately the insurance to cover his remaining USD
$39m contract with the Milwaukee Bucks couldn't be resolved leaving the Kings and NBL without the on-court services of Australia's highest profile player. Despite not being able to play Bogut has since expressed interest in joining the Kings coaching staff during the lockout to help out the club (whom he supported as a child) and still helping to raise the NBL's profile.
, Ipswich
, on the Gold Coast
and Brisbane
. Perth Wildcats
are defending pre-season champions.
win Sunshine State Challenge.
New Zealand Breakers
The New Zealand Breakers are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The Breakers joined the NBL for the 2003/04 season as one of two expansion clubs. The club is based in the city of Auckland, New Zealand and play their home games at the North...
will be defending their title.
Broadcast rights are held by free-to-air network Channel Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
and its digital sports sister station One HD, currently in the second year of a five-year deal, through to the 2014-2015 season. In New Zealand, Sky Sport
SKY Sport (New Zealand)
Sky Sport is a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by New Zealand's satellite pay-TV company, Sky Network Television. Sky Sport 1 was launched in 1990...
will once again provide coverage.
Sponsorship includes iiNet
IiNet
iiNet Limited is Australia's second largest internet service provider with over 1.3 million customers as of 15th August 2011. Their focus is primarily on ADSL-based Internet access, using their own ADSL2+ infrastructure, and reselling Telstra ADSL1. iiNet also provides dial-up and voice...
entering its second and penultimate year as league naming rights sponsor and Centrebet
Centrebet
Centrebet is an Australian bookmaker licensed in the Northern Territory.Centrebet originated from Alice Springs, Northern Territory and was the first bookmaker to be licensed in Australia in 1993 and the first bookmaker to go online in the Southern Hemisphere. Centrebet was acquired by its biggest...
in the final year as the official sports betting partner. Spalding
Spalding (sports equipment)
Spalding is a sporting goods company founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago, Illinois, in 1876 and now headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The company specializes in the production of balls for many sports, but is most-known for its basketballs...
provide equipment including the official game ball, with AND1 supplying team apparel.
Due to the 2011 NBA lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
Australia's two highest profile NBA players, Portland Point Guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
Patrick Mills
Patrick Mills
Patrick "Patty" Sammie Mills is an Indigenous Australian professional basketball player who plays as a point guard for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers....
and Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
Centre Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the United States' National Basketball Association....
were both looking to sign for NBL clubs for the 2011-12 season until the lockout ended. Surprisingly, neither had previously played in the NBL as both preferred to play College basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
the USA in their successful attempts to obtain NBA contracts. Mills signed for the Melbourne Tigers
Melbourne Tigers
The Melbourne Tigers are Australia's oldest and most respected basketball team, established circa 1931 in a local church hall League. Entering the National Basketball League in 1984, they are now the only Melbourne team, after the South Dragons withdrew from the league.The Melbourne Tigers are the...
on 29 August and suited up for the Tigers first home game
State Netball and Hockey Centre
State Netball Hockey Centre is a multipurpose sporting facility located in Melbourne, Australia. It is the home arena of the Melbourne Vixens netball team in the ANZ Championship, and the Melbourne Tigers National Basketball League team. The facility is located in Royal Park, Parkville next to...
against the Sydney Kings
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. They are the only team to date to win three consecutive championships in the NBL and currently sit third behind the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers two away from the record five wins...
in Round 1 scoring 28 points leading the Tigers to a 82-76 win in the inaugural Capital City Clash. Bogut, who had been the #1 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft
2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
, was linked to the Gold Coast Blaze
Gold Coast Blaze
The Gold Coast Blaze is an Australian professional basketball team which competes in the National Basketball League . The Blaze competed in their inaugural season in 2007/08. The club is based on the Gold Coast and joins two other NBL clubs competing from Queensland...
, Adelaide 36ers
Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most...
and the Kings. Ultimately he chose the Kings but unfortunately the insurance to cover his remaining USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$39m contract with the Milwaukee Bucks couldn't be resolved leaving the Kings and NBL without the on-court services of Australia's highest profile player. Despite not being able to play Bogut has since expressed interest in joining the Kings coaching staff during the lockout to help out the club (whom he supported as a child) and still helping to raise the NBL's profile.
Pre-season
NBL Sunshine State Challenge, a round robin competition with a final series, involving all nine sides, will be held between September 22-24, 2011 in RockhamptonRockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
, Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
, on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. Perth Wildcats
Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth...
are defending pre-season champions.
New Zealand Breakers pre-season
Gold Coast Blaze pre-season
Cairns Taipans pre-season
2011 China Intercontinental Club Championship
Final
Sydney Kings pre-season
Melbourne Tigers pre-season
Wollongong Hawks pre-season
Perth Wildcats pre-season
Townsville Crocodiles pre-season
Adelaide 36ers pre-season
2011 NBL Sunshine State Challenge
Finals
Perth WildcatsPerth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth...
win Sunshine State Challenge.
2011 Cable Beach Invitational
Perth vs. Singapore cancelled due to poor condition of the outdoor court.Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
Round 22
Round 23
Round 24
Round 25
Finals Series
The 2011–12 National Basketball League Finals will be played between March 2012 and April 2012, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final and final series, where the higher seed hosts the first and, if necessary, third game.Player of the Week
| Round | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patty Mills Patrick Mills Patrick "Patty" Sammie Mills is an Indigenous Australian professional basketball player who plays as a point guard for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.... |
Melbourne Tigers Melbourne Tigers The Melbourne Tigers are Australia's oldest and most respected basketball team, established circa 1931 in a local church hall League. Entering the National Basketball League in 1984, they are now the only Melbourne team, after the South Dragons withdrew from the league.The Melbourne Tigers are the... |
| 2 | Shawn Redhage Shawn Redhage Shawn Redhage is a naturalised Australian professional basketball player, originally from the United States... |
Perth Wildcats Perth Wildcats The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth... |
| 3 | Julian Khazzouh Julian Khazzouh Julian Khazzouh in an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sydney Kings in the National Basketball League... |
Sydney Kings Sydney Kings The Sydney Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. They are the only team to date to win three consecutive championships in the NBL and currently sit third behind the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers two away from the record five wins... |
| 4 | Daniel Johnson Daniel Johnson (basketball) Daniel Johnson is an Australian professional basketball player currently playing for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League... |
Adelaide 36ers Adelaide 36ers The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most... |
| 5 | Gary Wilkinson Gary Wilkinson (basketball) Gary Kristopher Wilkinson is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australasian NBL. He played college basketball at Utah State and has played previously for professional teams in Greece and South Korea.-Early life:Wilkinson was born in... |
New Zealand Breakers New Zealand Breakers The New Zealand Breakers are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The Breakers joined the NBL for the 2003/04 season as one of two expansion clubs. The club is based in the city of Auckland, New Zealand and play their home games at the North... |
| 6 | Eddie Gill Eddie Gill Eddie Gill is an American professional basketball player. He is a 1.84 m point guard.Gill went undrafted after a college career at Salt Lake Community College and Weber State University... |
Townsville Crocodiles Townsville Crocodiles The Townsville Crocodiles are a professional Australian basketball team based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in the National Basketball League... |
| 7 | Jamar Wilson | Cairns Taipans Cairns Taipans The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The club is based in the northern Queensland city of Cairns. The Taipans, named after a species of venomous snake native to Australia, entered the NBL in the 1999/2000 season... |
| 8 | Adris Deleon Adris Deleon Adris DeLeon is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Gold Coast Blaze in the Australasian National Basketball League... |
Gold Coast Blaze Gold Coast Blaze The Gold Coast Blaze is an Australian professional basketball team which competes in the National Basketball League . The Blaze competed in their inaugural season in 2007/08. The club is based on the Gold Coast and joins two other NBL clubs competing from Queensland... |
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Player of the Month
| Round | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| October | Kevin Lisch Kevin Lisch Kevin Lisch is an American professional basketball player, currently signed with the Perth Wildcats of the NBL... |
Perth Wildcats Perth Wildcats The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth... |
| November | ||
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Coach of the Month
| Round | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| October | Andrej Lemanis | New Zealand Breakers New Zealand Breakers The New Zealand Breakers are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The Breakers joined the NBL for the 2003/04 season as one of two expansion clubs. The club is based in the city of Auckland, New Zealand and play their home games at the North... |
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Season
- Most Valuable Player (Andrew Gaze TrophyAndrew GazeAndrew Barry Casson Gaze is Australia's best known basketball player, and one of its most successful. He is considered as the greatest player in the history of the NBL....
): - Rookie of the Year:
- Best Defensive Player:
- Best Sixth Man:
- Most Improved Player:
- Coach of the Year (Lindsay Gaze TrophyLindsay GazeLindsay John Casson Gaze is an Australian basketball player and coach. He played for Australia in three Olympics between 1960 and 1968 and coached the Australian basketball team at four Olympics between 1972 and 1984...
): - Referee of the Year:
- All-NBL First Team:
- All-NBL Second Team:
- All-NBL Third Team: