2020–21 NBL season
{{short description|Professional basketball season}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox basketball league season
| title = 2020–21 NBL season
| league = National Basketball League
| season = 2020–21
| games = 162
| duration = 15 January – 25 June 2021
| teams = 9
| TV = Australia:{{Plainlist|
}} New Zealand:{{Plainlist|
}} Online:{{Plainlist|* SBS On Demand
NBL TV
Twitch
}}
| season_champs = Melbourne United
| champions = Melbourne United {{small|(6th title)}}
| runners_up = Perth Wildcats
| semifinalists = Illawarra Hawks
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix
| continentalcup1 = NBL Cup
| continentalcup1 qualifiers = Perth Wildcats {{small|(1st title)}}
| regular_season = Regular season
| regular_season_link = 2020–21 NBL regular season
| finals = Finals
| finals_link = 2021 NBL Finals
| MVP = Bryce Cotton {{small|(Perth)}}
| MVP_link = NBL Most Valuable Player Award
| MVP_n = USA
| finals_MVP = Jock Landale {{small|(Melbourne)}}
| finals_MVP_link = NBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player Award
| finals_MVP_n = AUS
| efficiency_leader = David Andersen {{small|(Melbourne)}}
| epg_n = AUS
| epg = 67%
| top_scorer = Bryce Cotton {{small|(Perth)}}
| top_scorer_link = List of National Basketball League (Australia) annual scoring leaders
| ppg_n = USA
| ppg = 23.5
| rebounds_leader = John Mooney {{small|(Perth)}}
| rpg_n = USA
| rpg = 11.4
| assists_leader = Josh Giddey {{small|(Adelaide)}}
| apg_n = AUS
| apg = 7.6
| updated = 25 June 2021
| biggest_home_win = 29 points
Phoenix 106–77 Taipans
(19 March 2021)
| biggest_away_win = 32 points
Hawks 63–95 Phoenix
(1 April 2021)
| highest_scoring = 227 points
Bullets 108–119 Kings
(13 March 2021)
| winning_streak = 11 games
Melbourne United
(21 March – 2 May 2021)
| losing_streak = 8 games
Cairns Taipans
(25 April – 26 May 2021)
| highest_attendance = 12,185 – RAC Arena
Wildcats vs United
(4 June 2021)
| lowest_attendance = 809 – John Cain Arena
Bullets vs Hawks
Taipans vs Wildcats
(26 February 2021)
| attendance = 572,950
| average_attendance = 3,951
| seasonslist = List of NBL seasons
| seasonslistnames = NBL
| prevseason_link = 2019–20 NBL season
| prevseason_year = 2019–20
| nextseason_link = 2021–22 NBL season
| nextseason_year = 2021–22
| extra information =
}}
The 2020–21 NBL season was the 43rd season of the National Basketball League since its establishment in 1979. A total of nine teams contested in the 2020–21 season. The regular season was played between January and June 2021, followed by a post-season in June 2021.
Australian broadcast rights to the season were held by SBS Viceland in the second year of a two-year deal. All games were available live and free on streaming platforms such as SBS On Demand. ESPN also broadcast select games, including all games after 7.30pm AEDT.{{cite web |title=National Basketball League now on SBS and ESPN after Nine opts out of its broadcast deal |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-31/nbl-reaches-new-free-to-air-deal-with-sbs-after-nine-drops-out/11369256 |first=David|last=Mark|work=ABC |date=31 July 2019 |access-date=23 October 2019}} In New Zealand, Sky Sport were the official league broadcaster.{{cite web |title=NBL and Breakers Team Up with SKY Sport |url=http://nbl.com.au/news/article/nbl-and-breakers-team-up-with-sky-sport |work=National Basketball League |date=5 June 2019 |access-date=7 July 2019}} The NBL continued broadcasting games online on Twitch in the second year of a two-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl-strikes-revolutionary-live-stream-deal-with-twitch-20191010-p52zlc.html|title=NBL strikes 'revolutionary' live stream deal with Twitch|date=11 October 2019|access-date=22 October 2019|first=Roy|last=Ward|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald}}
Teams
Nine teams competed in the 2020–21 season, with the Tasmania JackJumpers set to enter the league for the 2021–22 season.{{cite web |title=Tasmania will get its first NBL team since 1996 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-28/tasmania-gets-first-basketball-team-since-1996/12011670 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU |date=28 February 2020}}
During the off-season the Illawarra Hawks were renamed to The Hawks after the new ownership group announced they wanted to expand out from Illawarra and into the wider region.{{cite web |last1=Fernandez |first1=Timothy |title=Illawarra Hawks are no more as NBL locks in new owners |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-17/nbl-illlawarra-hawks-new-owners/12363938 |website=www.abc.net.au |access-date=18 July 2020 |language=en-AU |date=17 June 2020}}
On 9 February 2021, the NBL reinstated the Illawarra Hawks name following an increase in support from the local community.{{cite web |title= NBL Reinstates Illawarra Hawks Name |url= https://nbl.com.au/news/nbl-reinstates-illawarra-hawks-name |website=www.nbl.com.au |access-date=10 February 2021 |language=en-AU |date=9 February 2021}}
= Stadiums and locations =
File:Map of Australia and New Zealand.png
{{Image label small|x=0.8|y=0.432|scale=438|text=Breakers}} {{Image label small|x=0.650|y=0.280|scale=438|text=Bullets}} {{Image label small|x=0.626|y=0.405|scale=438|text=Hawks}} {{Image label small|x=0.626|y=0.374|scale=438|text=Kings}} {{Image label small|x=0.540|y=0.142|scale=438|text=Taipans}} {{Image label small|x=0.42|y=0.477|scale=438|text=United}} {{Image label small|x=0.00|y=0.38|scale=439|text=Wildcats}} {{Image label small|x=0.343|y=0.42|scale=438|text=36ers}} {{Image label small|x=0.52|y=0.477|scale=438|text=Phoenix}} |
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Team
! Location ! Stadium ! Capacity |
|---|
| Adelaide 36ers
|Adelaide Entertainment Centre |style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|11,300}} |
| Brisbane Bullets
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|5,000}} |
| Cairns Taipans
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|2,000}} |
| Illawarra Hawks
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|6,000}} |
| rowspan="2" |Melbourne United
| rowspan="2" |Melbourne |style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|10,500}} |
| Bendigo Stadium
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|4,000}} |
| rowspan="8" |New Zealand Breakers
| rowspan="8" |Auckland |style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|9,300}} |
| The Trusts Arena
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|4,900}} |
| TSB Stadium
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|4,500}} |
| Christchurch Arena
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|7,200}} |
| Energy Events Centre
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|3,500}} |
| Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|1,100}} |
| Silverdome
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|3,255}} |
| Bendigo Stadium
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|4,000}} |
| Perth Wildcats
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|14,800}} |
| rowspan="2" |South East Melbourne Phoenix
| rowspan="2" |Melbourne |style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|10,500}} |
| State Basketball Centre
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|3,200}} |
| Sydney Kings
|style="text-align:center"|{{Nts|18,200}} |
= Personnel and sponsorship =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Team
! Coach ! Captain ! Main sponsor ! Kit manufacturer |
|---|
| Adelaide 36ers
|{{flagicon|USA}} {{sortname|Conner|Henry}} |{{flagicon|AUS}} {{sortname|Daniel|Dillon|dab=basketball}} | rowspan="9" | Champion |
| Brisbane Bullets
|{{flagicon|AUS}} {{sortname|Andrej|Lemanis}} |{{flagicon|AUS}} {{sortname|Jason|Cadee}} |St. Genevieve |
| Cairns Taipans
|{{flagicon|USA}} Mike Kelly |{{flagicon|BRA}} Scott Machado |
| Illawarra Hawks
|{{flagicon|USA}} Brian Goorjian |{{flagicon|AUS}} Andrew Ogilvy |
| Melbourne United
|{{flagicon|AUS}} Dean Vickerman |{{flagicon|AUS}} Chris Goulding |
| New Zealand Breakers
|{{flagicon|ISR}} Dan Shamir |{{flagicon|NZL}} Thomas Abercrombie |
| Perth Wildcats
|{{flagicon|AUS}} Trevor Gleeson |{{flagicon|AUS}} Jesse Wagstaff |Pentanet |
| South East Melbourne Phoenix
|{{flagicon|AUS}} Simon Mitchell |{{flagicon|AUS}} Kyle Adnam |
| Sydney Kings
|{{flagicon|AUS}} Adam Forde |{{flagicon|AUS}} Daniel Kickert |Brydens Lawyers |
{{notelist}}
= Player transactions =
{{Main|List of 2020–21 NBL season transactions}}
Free agency negotiations were delayed until 15 July 2020, after the NBL and the Australian Basketball Players' Association postponed the original start date of 30 March 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=2020/21 Hungry Jack's NBL Season to Tip Off in December {{!}} NBL |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/202021-hungry-jacks-nbl-season-to-tip-off-in-december |website=nbl.com.au |language=en}}{{cite web |title=NBL Free Agency {{!}} NBL |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/nbl-free-agency |website=nbl.com.au |language=en}} On 17 April 2020, the NBL, the Australian Basketball Players' Association and the nine clubs reached an agreement in response to the financial pressure caused by the pandemic, which reduced the salaries of players signed for the 2020–21 season, lowered the full-time roster positions from 11 to 10 players (plus a Next Star slot) and from three import slots to two import slots.{{cite web |title=NBL, ABPA and Clubs Reach Agreement for 2020/21 Season {{!}} NBL |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/nbl-abpa-and-clubs-reach-agreement-for-202021-season |website=nbl.com.au |language=en}}
= Coaching transactions =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Team !! Role !! 2019–20 season !! 2020–21 season |
| rowspan="4"|Adelaide 36ers
|Head coach |
| rowspan="3" |Assistant |
| Darren Golley
| rowspan="2" |N/A |
| Andrew Jantke |
| rowspan="2" |Brisbane Bullets
| rowspan="2" |Assistant |
| Mick Downer
|N/A |
| rowspan="4" |Illawarra Hawks
|Head coach |
| rowspan="3" |Assistant |
| Eric Cooks |
| Tyson Demos
|N/A |
| Melbourne United
|Assistant |
| rowspan="2" |New Zealand Breakers
| rowspan="2" |Assistant |
| N/A |
| SEM Phoenix
|Assistant |N/A |
| rowspan="4" |Sydney Kings
|Head coach |
| rowspan="3" |Assistant |
| rowspan="2" |N/A |
| Lachlan Lonergan |
Pre-season
{{Main|2020 NBL pre-season}}
The pre-season games began on 13 November 2020, and ran until 10 January 2021.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/hungry-jacks-nbl-preseason-games|title=Hungry Jack's NBL Preseason Games|website=NBL.com.au|date=29 October 2020|access-date=29 October 2020}}
= Ladder =
{{NBL Pre-Season Ladder 2020–21}}
Regular season
{{Main|2020–21 NBL regular season}}
The regular season which was due to begin in early October, began on 15 January 2021 after it was delayed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=Hungry Jack's NBL to Tip Off in Early 2021 |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/hungry-jack-s-nbl-to-tip-off-in-early-2021 |website=NBL.com.au |access-date=14 September 2020 |date=14 September 2020}} It consisted of 162 games spread across 21 rounds, with the final game being played on 8 June 2021.
=Ladder=
{{NBL Ladder 2020–21}}
{{NBL Ladder Progression 2020–21}}
= NBL Cup =
{{Main|2021 NBL Cup}}
The 2020–21 season sees the introduction of the NBL Cup, which was a tournament based in Melbourne ran from 20 February to 14 March 2021.{{cite web |last1=Hope |first1=Shayne |title=NBL Cup a slam dunk for Melbourne hub |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl-cup-a-slam-dunk-for-melbourne-hub-c-1808684 |website=7NEWS.com.au |access-date=21 December 2020 |date=21 December 2020}}
== Ladder ==
{{NBL Cup Ladder 2021}}
Perth Wildcats won the inaugural NBL Cup trophy with a 7–1 record in eight games played.{{cite web |title=Wildcats complete NBL Cup with dazzling comeback |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/wildcats-complete-nbl-cup-with-dazzling-comeback |website=nbl.com.au |access-date=19 March 2021 |date=14 March 2021}}
Finals
{{Main|2021 NBL Finals}}
The 2021 NBL Finals was played in June 2021, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final series and a best-of-five Grand Final series. In the semi-finals, the higher seed hosted the first and third games. In the Grand Final, the higher seed usually hosts the first, third and fifth games. However, due to the border restrictions by the Western Australian state government, Perth Wildcats (the lower seed) hosted the first two games, while Melbourne United hosted the third game (and would have also hosted the fourth and fifth games had they not already won the series by the third game).
= Playoff bracket =
{{NBL Finals 2021 bracket}}
Awards
=Regular season=
==Player of the Week==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| Rounds | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Justin Simon | The Hawks |
| Round 2 | Isaac Humphries | Adelaide 36ers |
| rowspan="2" | Round 3 | Vic Law | rowspan="2" | Brisbane Bullets |
| Nathan Sobey | ||
| Round 4 | Scott Machado | Cairns Taipans |
| Round 5 | Tyler Harvey | Illawarra Hawks |
| Round 6 | Mitch Creek | South East Melbourne Phoenix |
| Round 7 | Mitch McCarron | Melbourne United |
| Round 8 | John Mooney | Perth Wildcats |
| Round 9 | Josh Giddey | Adelaide 36ers |
| Round 10 | Bryce Cotton | Perth Wildcats |
| Round 11 | John Mooney | Perth Wildcats |
| Round 12 | Jarell Martin | Sydney Kings |
| Round 13 | Tyler Harvey | Illawarra Hawks |
| Round 14 | Cameron Oliver | Cairns Taipans |
| Round 15 | Jordan Hunter | Sydney Kings |
| Round 16 | John Mooney | Perth Wildcats |
| Round 17 | Bryce Cotton | Perth Wildcats |
| Round 18 | Keifer Sykes | South East Melbourne Phoenix |
| Round 19 | Finn Delany | New Zealand Breakers |
| Round 20 | Tyler Harvey | Illawarra Hawks |
| Round 21 | Nathan Sobey | Brisbane Bullets |
==Awards Night==
- Most Valuable Player (Andrew Gaze Trophy): Bryce Cotton{{cite web |title= Bryce Cotton Claims Third Andrew Gaze MVP Trophy |url= https://nbl.com.au/news/bryce-cotton-claims-third-andrew-gaze-mvp-trophy |website=NBL.com.au |access-date=16 June 2021 |date=16 June 2021}} (Perth Wildcats)
- Rookie of the Year: Josh Giddey (Adelaide 36ers)
- Best Defensive Player (Damian Martin Trophy): Justin Simon (Illawarra Hawks)
- Best Sixth Man: Jo Lual-Acuil (Melbourne United)
- Most Improved Player: Sam Froling (Illawarra Hawks)
- Fans MVP: Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)
- Coach of the Year (Lindsay Gaze Trophy): Trevor Gleeson (Perth Wildcats)
- Executive of the Year: Mark Boyd (Melbourne United)
- Referee of the Year: Chris Reid
- Most Outstanding Media Coverage: Olgun Uluc (ESPN)
- GameTime by Kmart: Kyle Adnam (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
- All-NBL First Team:
- Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)
- Nathan Sobey (Brisbane Bullets)
- Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks)
- John Mooney (Perth Wildcats)
- Jock Landale (Melbourne United)
- All-NBL Second Team:
- Chris Goulding (Melbourne United)
- Casper Ware (Sydney Kings)
- Mitch McCarron (Melbourne United)
- Mitch Creek (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
- Finn Delany (New Zealand Breakers)
=Post season=
- Grand Final Series MVP (Larry Sengstock Medal): Jock Landale (Melbourne United)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|nbl.com.au}}
{{2020–21_NBL_season_by_team}}
{{NBL seasons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:NBL,2020-21}}
Category:2020–21 in Australian basketball