NBLxNBA
NBLxNBA is an annual series involving clubs from the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia and the National Basketball Association (NBA) of the United States of America and Canada. The series started in 2017 for each leagues 2017–18 season, and each season includes between three and seven games. The games have previously always been held in America and Canada, and typically are held during September and early October.
Seasons
2017–18 season
In 2017 the NBL announced that the Brisbane Bullets, Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings would compete in games against three NBA teams in the inaugural NBLxNBA series.[1]
Despite losing all three games (including a one point thriller), the series was marked as a success for the NBL as it brought in much higher television ratings than the teams were used to,[1] and it showed how competitive the league is. The series also drew the attention of multiple high profile NBA players, including Australian Ben Simmons who expressed his interest in competing in a future NBLxNBA game.[2]
2 October 2017 19:00 |
83–108 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 16–35, 31–23, 13–19, 23–31 | ||
Pts: Ellis 19 Rebs: Blanchfield 9 Asts: Leslie 3 |
Pts: Hood 18 Rebs: Gobert 10 Asts: Ingles 5 |
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, United States Attendance: 15,692 Referees: Marc Davis, Kevin Scott, Randy Richardson |
8 October 2017 14:00 |
85–86 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 30–27, 14–22, 22–21, 19–16 | ||
Pts: Ware 20 Rebs: Prather 10 Asts: Wesley 5 |
Pts: George 22 Rebs: Adams 10 Asts: Westbrook 7 |
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, United States Attendance: not available Referees: James Capers, Eric Dalen, Lauren Holtkamp |
13 October 2017 19:00 |
93–114 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 12–38, 33–33, 23–20, 25–23 | ||
Pts: Trice 20 Rebs: Kickert 10 Asts: Trice 5 |
Pts: Booker 31 Rebs: Bender, Chandler 9 Asts: Booker 6 |
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, United States Attendance: 8,297 Referees: Derek Richardson, Mark Ayotte, Ron Garretson |
2018–19 season
The NBL announced a second series on 27 June 2018, with five of their eight clubs travelling to the United States of America to complete in seven games.[3] The clubs which didn't complete were the Brisbane Bullets, Cairns Taipans and Illawarra Hawks.
The Adelaide 36ers reached the highest score by the NBL teams and fell one point short of the elusive 100 points milestone, but the NBL teams failed to record a victory for a second year in a row.
28 September 2018 19:00 |
84–104 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 21–34, 21–22, 22–25, 20–23 | ||
Pts: Pledger, Ware 19 Rebs: Pledger 13 Asts: Ware 5 |
Pts: Embiid 20 Rebs: Embiid 10 Asts: Simmons 14 |
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, United States Attendance: not available Referees: Ed Malloy, Mark Lindsay, Aaron Smith |
29 September 2018 19:00 |
72–130 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 13–44, 21–31, 11–25, 27–30 | ||
Pts: Cotton 14 Rebs: Vague 7 Asts: Kay 3 |
Pts: Allen 19 Rebs: Bradley, Gobert 9 Asts: Exum 6 |
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, United States Attendance: 17,685 Referees: Rodney Mott, Tre Maddox, Brett Nansel |
30 September 2018 15:30 |
91–110 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 17–28, 37–31, 18–23, 19–28 | ||
Pts: Randle 25 Rebs: Lisch 9 Asts: Lisch 6 |
Pts: Harris 20 Rebs: Harris 11 Asts: three players 5 |
Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, United States Attendance: 6,911 Referees: James Capers, Gary Zielinski, Karl Lane |
3 October 2018 19:00 |
86–91 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 20–28, 22–24, 20–25, 24–14 | ||
Pts: Webster 27 Rebs: Long 10 Asts: Webster 7 |
Pts: Ayton 21 Rebs: Ayton 16 Asts: Ariza 6 |
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, United States Attendance: 7,183 Referees: Bill Kennedy, CJ Washington, Scott Twardoski |
5 October 2018 19:00 |
99–129 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 31–28, 23–38, 32–28, 13–35 | ||
Pts: Sobey 23 Rebs: Drmic 9 Asts: three players 4 |
Pts: Mitchell 18 Rebs: Udoh 10 Asts: Ingles 7 |
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, United States Attendance: 18,074 Referees: Mark Ayotte, Gary Zielinski, CJ Washington |
5 October 2018 19:00 |
82–120 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 17–23, 22–34, 19–44, 24–19 | ||
Pts: Goulding, Ware 17 Rebs: Boone 11 Asts: Ware 5 |
Pts: Powell 21 Rebs: Ibaka 12 Asts: Wright 5 |
5 October 2018 19:00 |
88–96 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 16–27, 25–24, 29–24, 18–21 | ||
Pts: Cotton 33 Rebs: Kay 8 Asts: Norton 4 |
Pts: Morris 15 Rebs: Millsap 9 Asts: Morris 9 |
Pepsi Center, Denver, United States Attendance: 9,812 Referees: Josh Tiven, Jason Goldenberg, Nick Buchert |
2019–20 season
On July 4, 2019 it was announced that the Adelaide 36ers, Melbourne United and the New Zealand Breakers would play the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings in the 2019 edition of NBLxNBA.[4] The series was pushed closer towards the start of the NBA series, which meant the Adelaide 36ers and New Zealand Breakers missed the beginning of the NBL season, and Melbourne United missed a fortnight of the early rounds of the season.
Despite the NBL losing streak continuing, this series marked the first time an NBL team reached the 100 point mark against an NBA team. This happened in both Melbourne United games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.
5 October 2019 19:00 |
81–133 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 18–28, 21–32, 24–44, 18–29 | ||
Pts: Randle 18 Rebs: Froling 11 Asts: Dillon 4 |
Pts: Bradley 18 Rebs: Bradley 10 Asts: Ingles, O'Neale 6 |
Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, United States Attendance: 18,306 Referees: Derek Richardson, Ken Mauer, Phenizee Ransom |
8 October 2019 19:00 |
94–108 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 14–27, 22–28, 29–22, 29–31 | ||
Pts: Webster 19 Rebs: Hopson 8 Asts: Webster 8 |
Pts: Jackson Jr., Allen 18 Rebs: Clarke 12 Asts: Morant 10 |
FedExForum, Memphis, United States Attendance: 10,259 Referees: Derrick Collins, Michael Smith, CJ Washington |
10 October 2019 19:00 |
84–110 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 15–29, 20–33, 22–28, 27–20 | ||
Pts: Loe 19 Rebs: Hopson, Majok 6 Asts: Hampton, Henry 5 |
Pts: Adams 19 Rebs: Adams 10 Asts: Schroder 6 |
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, United States Attendance: not available Referees: Derrick Collins, Brett Nansel, Michael Smith |
13 October 2019 12:30 |
100–118 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 24–18, 27–29, 20–43, 29–28 | ||
Pts: Trimble 22 Rebs: Long 9 Asts: Trimble 6 |
Pts: Harrell 22 Rebs: Zubac 8 Asts: Williams 7 |
STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, United States Attendance: 10,181 Referees: Brandon Adair, Tre Maddox, Bill Spooner |
16 October 2019 19:00 |
110–124 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 28–31, 21–29, 23–39, 38–25 | ||
Pts: Goulding 25 Rebs: Long 15 Asts: Trimble 6 |
Pts: Bagley III 30 Rebs: Bagley III 14 Asts: Ferrell, Hield 6 |
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, United States Attendance: 10,534 Referees: J.T. Orr, CJ Washington, Sean Wright |
References
- "What We Learned from NBL x NBA". Aussie Hoopla. 23 October 2017.
- "Simmons wants a piece of NBL action". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 20 October 2017.
- "NBLxNBA is back, and it's bigger than ever". pickandroll.com.au.
- "NBL news: NBLxNBA NBA preseason games, NBA preseason, Los Angeles Clippers, schedule". Fox Sports. 3 July 2019.