The National Basketball League (NBL) Finals is a tournament held at the end of each NBL season to determine the league champions.

The top six teams qualify for the finals based on their regular season performance. The current Finals format consists of four rounds: two sudden-death play-in games, followed by the best-of-three Semifinals and the best-of-five NBL Championship series.

Format

1980–1983

SemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
2
3

1984

Preliminary / Elimination finalsQualifying finalsSemifinalsGrand final
1
4
5
8
6
7
2
3

1985

Elimination FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
2
3
6

1986

Elimination FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
2
3
6

1987–1988

Elimination FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
2
3
6

1989–1991

Elimination FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
2
3
6

1992–1996

QuarterfinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
8
4
5
3
6
2
7

1997–1998

Elimination FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
2
3
6

1999; 2001–2003

Qualifying FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
1Seed 1
6Seed 6
2Seed 2
5Seed 5
2
3Seed 3
4Seed 4

The top six teams at the end of the regular season advance to the finals under this playoff system:

  • The first round of the postseason sees the team that finishes in first place at the end of the regular season against the team that finishes sixth; second plays fifth, and third plays fourth.
  • The three teams that win their respective best-of-three first-round series advances, and is joined in the semifinals by the highest-placed losing team from the first round.
  • Teams are then seeded again for the best-of-three semifinal series. The three winning teams from the first round are seeded in order of their regular-season finishing positions, and the first-round loser automatically becomes the No. 4 seed.
  • The two winning teams from the semifinals meet in a best-of-three Grand Final series to determine the champion.

2000

Elimination FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
2
3
6

2004–2008

Elimination FinalsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
8
2
3
6
7

2009

Elimination FinalsSemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
5
2
3
6

2010–2016

SemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
2
3

2017–2022

SemifinalsGrand Final
1
4
2
3

The top four teams at the end of the regular season advance to the finals under this playoff system:

  • The semifinals of the postseason sees the team that finishes in first place at the end of the regular season against the team that finishes fourth; and second plays third. All four teams play a best-of-three semifinal series.
  • The two winning teams from the semifinals meet in a best-of-five Grand Final series to determine the champion.

2023–present

Play-in / Seeding qualifierPlay-in gameSemifinalsChampionship
51
6
32
4

List of finals

This is a complete listing of National Basketball League (NBL) Finals series, grouped by franchise. Series featuring relocated and/or renamed teams are kept with their ultimate relocation franchises. Bolded years indicate wins. Years in italics indicate series in progress. Tables are sorted first by the number of series, then the number of wins, and then by year of first occurrence.

Adelaide 36ers

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Brisbane Bullets41985, 1986, 1994, 200584–4.500
Cairns Taipans1200610–1.000
Canberra Cannons1198820–2.000
Eastside Spectres1198410–1.000
Illawarra Hawks51986, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2017117–4.636
Melbourne United51991, 1994, 2004, 2014, 2018138–5.615
Newcastle Falcons21985, 199543–1.750
New Zealand Breakers22009, 201530–3.000
North Melbourne Giants1199420–2.000
Perth Wildcats101987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2014, 20182512–13.480
S.E. Melbourne Magic31992, 1996, 199862–4.333
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix1202510–1.000
Sydney Kings1202511–01.000
Victoria Titans41999, 2000, 2001, 2002127–5.583
West Sydney Razorbacks1200232–1.667
Totals429346–47.495

As of the end of the 2025 season

Brisbane Bullets

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Adelaide 36ers41985, 1986, 1994, 200584–4.500
Canberra Cannons31984, 1985, 198632–1.667
Eastside Spectres1199022–01.000
Geelong Cats1198411–01.000
Hunter Pirates1200511–01.000
Illawarra Hawks1198732–1.667
Launceston Casino City1198110–1.000
Melbourne United61996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008147–7.500
Newcastle Falcons1199322–01.000
New Zealand Breakers1200811–01.000
North Melbourne Giants21984, 199531–2.333
Perth Wildcats71987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2006, 2019144–10.286
S.E. Melbourne Magic1199820–2.000
Sydney Kings61986, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2005, 2007125–7.417
West Adelaide Bearcats1198010–1.000
Totals376832–36.471

As of the end of the 2019 season

Cairns Taipans

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Adelaide 36ers1200611–01.000
Hunter Pirates1200611–01.000
Melbourne United1200720–2.000
New Zealand Breakers32008, 2011, 201561–5.167
Perth Wildcats62004, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023106–4.600
South Dragons1200711–01.000
Sydney Kings22006, 202351–4.200
Tasmania JackJumpers1202310–1.000
Townsville Crocodiles1201132–1.667
West Sydney Razorbacks1200410–1.000
Totals183113–18.419

As of the end of the 2023 season

Illawarra Hawks

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Adelaide 36ers51986, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2017114–7.364
Brisbane Bullets1198731–2.333
Melbourne United41993, 1994, 2024, 2025124–8.333
Newcastle Falcons1198410–1.000
New Zealand Breakers1202411–01.000
North Melbourne Giants21987, 199231–2.333
Perth Wildcats101998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021245–19.208
S.E. Melbourne Magic1199531–2.333
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix1202532–1.667
Sydney Kings22005, 202250–5.000
Tasmania JackJumpers1202410–1.000
Townsville Crocodiles42001, 2003, 2005, 2010108–2.800
Victoria Titans1199920–2.000
West Sydney Razorbacks21986, 200431–2.333
Totals368228–54.341

As of the end of the 2025 season

Melbourne United

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Adelaide 36ers51991, 1994, 2004, 2014, 2018135–8.385
Brisbane Bullets61996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008147–7.500
Cairns Taipans1200722–01.000
Canberra Cannons1199632–1.667
Illawarra Hawks41993, 1994, 2024, 2025128–4.667
New Zealand Breakers32009, 2016, 201864–2.667
North Melbourne Giants1199722–01.000
Perth Wildcats91990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2019, 2021, 20252414–10.583
South Dragons1200952–3.400
S.E. Melbourne Magic41992, 1993, 1996, 1997116–5.545
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix1202132–1.667
Sydney Kings71989, 1992, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, 20202213–9.591
Tasmania JackJumpers22022, 202483–5.375
Townsville Crocodiles1200410–1.000
Victoria Titans31999, 2000, 200283–5.375
West Sydney Razorbacks1200231–2.333
Totals5013774–63.540

As of the end of the 2025 season

New Zealand Breakers

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Adelaide 36ers22009, 201533–01.000
Brisbane Bullets1200810–1.000
Cairns Taipans32008, 2011, 201565–1.833
Illawarra Hawks1202410–1.000
Melbourne United32009, 2016, 201862–4.333
Perth Wildcats42011, 2012, 2013, 2016117–4.636
Sydney Kings32013, 2023, 202485–3.625
Townsville Crocodiles1201232–1.667
Tasmania JackJumpers1202332–1.667
Totals4226–16.619

As of the end of the 2024 season

Perth Wildcats

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Adelaide 36ers101987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2014, 20182513–12.520
Brisbane Bullets71987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2006, 20191410–4.714
Cairns Taipans62004, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023104–6.400
Canberra Cannons1198711–01.000
Eastside Spectres1199132–1.667
Gold Coast Blaze22010, 201254–1.800
Illawarra Hawks101998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 20212419–5.792
Melbourne United91990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2019, 2021, 20252410–14.417
New Zealand Breakers42011, 2012, 2013, 2016114–7.364
North Melbourne Giants51988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995158–7.533
S.E. Melbourne Magic21994, 199740–4.000
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix22023, 202522–01.000
Sydney Kings32003, 2008, 202083–5.375
Tasmania JackJumpers1202431–2.333
Townsville Crocodiles32000, 2008, 200953–2.600
Victoria Titans1200022–01.000
West Sydney Razorbacks22000, 200252–3.400
Totals6916188–73.547

As of the end of the 2025 season

S.E. Melbourne Phoenix

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Adelaide 36ers1202511–01.000
Illawarra Hawks1202531–2.333
Melbourne United1202131–2.333
Perth Wildcats22023, 202520–2.000
Totals593–6.333

As of the end of the 2025 season

Sydney Kings

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Adelaide 36ers1202510–1.000
Brisbane Bullets61986, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2005, 2007127–5.583
Cairns Taipans22006, 202354–1.800
Canberra Cannons21989, 199662–4.333
Illawarra Hawks22004, 202255–01.000
Melbourne United71989, 1992, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, 2020229–13.409
Newcastle Falcons1198311–01.000
New Zealand Breakers32013, 2023, 202483–5.375
North Melbourne Giants21983, 199442–2.500
Perth Wildcats32003, 2008, 202085–3.625
Tasmania JackJumpers1202233–01.000
Townsville Crocodiles32001, 2003, 200774–3.571
West Adelaide Bearcats1198310–1.000
West Sydney Razorbacks1200453–2.600
Totals358848–40.545

As of the end of the 2025 season

Tasmania JackJumpers

OpponentSOccurrencesGPRec%
Cairns Taipans1202311–01.000
Illawarra Hawks1202411–01.000
Melbourne United22022, 202485–3.625
New Zealand Breakers1202331–2.333
Perth Wildcats1202432–1.667
Sydney Kings1202230–3.000
Totals71910–9.526

As of the end of the 2024 season

Finals appearances

TeamAppearancesNotes
Perth Wildcats3935 straight Finals appearances from 1987 to 2021.
Melbourne United30Rebranded as Melbourne United in 2014, and represents the whole of Melbourne.
Adelaide 36ers27Formerly the Adelaide City Eagles (1982 only).
Illawarra Hawks24Only team to play all seasons since 1979.
Brisbane Bullets22Foundation club since 1979.
Sydney Kings20Formerly the Sydney Supersonics and the West Sydney Westars.
North Melbourne Giants15Last season in 1998. Formed the Victoria Titans in 1998.
Canberra Cannons11Last season in 2003. Became the Hunter Pirates in 2003.
New Zealand Breakers10Joined the NBL in 2003. First club outside of Australia.
Townsville Crocodiles10Competed in the league for 24 seasons. Last season in 2016.
Cairns Taipans9Joined the NBL in 1999.
Eastside Spectres8Last season in 1991. Formed the South East Melbourne Magic in 1992.
S.E. Melbourne Magic7Last season in 1998. Formed the Victoria Titans in 1998.
Newcastle Falcons6Competed in the league for 21 seasons. Last season in 1999.
Geelong Supercats4Last season in 1996. Now in NBL1 South.
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix4Joined the NBL in 2019.
Tasmania JackJumpers4Joined the NBL in 2021.
Victoria Titans4Became the Victoria Giants in 2002.
West Adelaide Bearcats4Last season in 1984. Now in NBL1 Central.
Gold Coast Blaze3Last season in 2012.
St. Kilda Saints3Last season in 1991. Formed the South East Melbourne Magic in 1992.
West Sydney Razorbacks3Became Sydney Spirit in 2008.
Hunter Pirates2Last season in 2006. Became the Singapore Slingers in 2006.
South Dragons2Left the NBL in 2009.
Sydney SuperSonics2Formed the Sydney Kings in 1988.
Launceston Casino City1Last season in 1982.
Singapore Slingers1Left the NBL in 2008. Joined the ABL in 2009.
West Sydney Westars1Formed the Sydney Kings in 1988.

See also

External links