The NBL Grand Final is the annual championship series of the National Basketball League (NBL). The entrants are determined by the victors of the two Semi Finals series, who engage in a best-of-five game series to determine the league champion. The winners of the Grand Final series are awarded the Dr John Raschke Trophy.
History
Prior to 1986, the NBL Grand Final was decided by a single game. From 2004 until 2009, the series was expanded to a best-of-five games.
The first NBL Grand Final was played on 10 June 1979 at the Albert Park Basketball Stadium in Melbourne. The St. Kilda Saints defeated the Canberra Cannons 94-93 to become the inaugural NBL Champions.
The Perth Wildcats hold the record for most Grand Final appearances with 15 between 1987 and 2019/20. They have also won a record 10 NBL Championships. The Wildcats have not missed the NBL Finals since 1987, a record of 35 consecutive years.
No Grand Final MVP was awarded between 1981 and 1985. The NBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player Award winner receives the Larry Sengstock Medal, which is named in honour of Larry Sengstock, the winner of the league's first Grand Final MVP award in 1986.
Rocky Smith (1980), Leroy Loggins (1987), Scott Fisher (1989), Chris Williams (2002/03), Chris Anstey (2005/06) and Cedric Jackson (2012/13) all won the Grand Final MVP and the regular season MVP awards in the same season.
Grand Final Record
| Finals |
Team |
Win |
Loss |
% |
Note
|
| 16 |
Perth Wildcats |
10 |
6 |
.625 |
Have made every playoffs since 1986 to 2021.
|
| 11 |
Melbourne United |
6 |
5 |
.545 |
Four championships won as the Tigers. Rebranded as Melbourne United in 2014.
|
| 8 |
Sydney Kings |
5 |
3 |
.625 |
Team folded in 2008, returned in 2010.
|
| 8 |
Adelaide 36ers |
4 |
4 |
.500 |
Won the first 3-game Grand Final series in 1986.
|
| 6 |
New Zealand Breakers |
4 |
2 |
.667 |
Became the first non-Australian NBL champions in 2011.
|
| 6 |
Brisbane Bullets |
3 |
3 |
.500 |
Team folded in 2008, won the last stand alone GF in 1985, returned in 2016-17.
|
| 5 |
Canberra Cannons |
3 |
2 |
.600 |
Became the Hunter Pirates in 2003.
|
| 4 |
North Melbourne Giants |
2 |
2 |
.500 |
Merged to form the Victoria Titans in 1998.
|
| 4 |
South East Melbourne Magic |
2 |
2 |
.500 |
Merged to form the Victoria Titans in 1998.
|
| 2 |
St. Kilda Saints |
2 |
0 |
1.000 |
Inaugural NBL champions in 1979. Became the Westside Saints in 1987.
|
| 4 |
Illawarra Hawks |
1 |
3 |
.250 |
Won their only title as the Wollongong Hawks in 2001.
|
| 3 |
West Adelaide Bearcats |
1 |
2 |
.333 |
Left the NBL in 1984, now in the ABA.
|
| 1 |
Launceston Casino City |
1 |
0 |
1.000 |
Played only 3 NBL seasons, team folded in 1983.
|
| 1 |
South Dragons |
1 |
0 |
1.000 |
Quit the NBL after their 2009 championship win.
|
| 2 |
Cairns Taipans |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
Runners-up in 2010-11 and 2014-15.
|
| 2 |
Victoria Titans |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
Became the Victoria Giants in 2002.
|
| 2 |
West Sydney Razorbacks |
0 |
2 |
.000 |
Became the Sydney Spirit in 2009, folded in 2010.
|
| 1 |
Eastside Spectres |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
Merged to form the South East Melbourne Magic in 1991.
|
| 1 |
Geelong Cats |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
Became the Geelong Supercats in 1988, now in the ABA.
|
| 1 |
Nunawading Spectres |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
Became the Eastside Spectres in 1987, now in NBL1.
|
| 1 |
Tasmania JackJumpers |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
Runners-up in 2021-22.
|
| 1 |
Townsville Crocodiles |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
Runners-up in 2000-01.
|
* Teams in bold are currently in the NBL.
Australia
New Zealand
2023 NBL Finals
