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.

NBL Grand Final
Dr John Raschke Trophy
StatusActive
GenreSporting event
Date(s)February – March
FrequencyAnnual
Country Australia
 New Zealand
Inaugurated1979 (1979)
Organised byNational Basketball League
SponsorHungry Jack's (2018–present)
Most titlesPerth Wildcats
(10 titles)
WebsiteNBL.com.au
2024 NBL Finals

History

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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.

Results

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Year Date Champions Score Runners-up MVP Arena
1979 10 June 1979 St. Kilda Saints 94–93 Canberra Cannons Larry Sengstock Albert Park Basketball Stadium
1980 15 June 1980 St. Kilda Saints 113–88 West Adelaide Bearcats Rocky Smith Dowling Street Stadium
1981 28 June 1981 Launceston Casino City 75–54 Nunawading Spectres N/A Apollo Stadium
1982 18 July 1982 West Adelaide Bearcats 80–74 Geelong Cats N/A Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre
1983 4 July 1983 Canberra Cannons 75–73 West Adelaide Bearcats N/A Kilsyth Stadium
1984 1 July 1984 Canberra Cannons 84–82 Brisbane Bullets N/A The Glass House
1985 7 September 1985 Brisbane Bullets 121–95 Adelaide 36ers N/A Sleeman Sports Centre
1986 11 October 1986 Adelaide 36ers 122–119 (OT) Brisbane Bullets Mark Davis Brisbane Entertainment Centre
17 October 1986 Brisbane Bullets 104–83 Adelaide 36ers Apollo Stadium
19 October 1986 Adelaide 36ers 113–91 Brisbane Bullets Apollo Stadium
1987 10 October 1987 Brisbane Bullets 80–79 Perth Wildcats Leroy Loggins Challenge Stadium
16 October 1987 Brisbane Bullets 106–87 Perth Wildcats Brisbane Entertainment Centre
1988 30 July 1988 Canberra Cannons 120–95 North Melbourne Giants Phil Smyth AIS Arena
5 August 1988 North Melbourne Giants 117–101 Canberra Cannons The Glass House
7 August 1988 Canberra Cannons 108–101 North Melbourne Giants The Glass House
1989 14 October 1989 North Melbourne Giants 111–105 Canberra Cannons Scott Fisher AIS Arena
20 October 1989 North Melbourne Giants 111–97 Canberra Cannons The Glass House
1990 19 October 1990 Perth Wildcats 112–106 Brisbane Bullets Ricky Grace Perth Entertainment Centre
26 October 1990 Brisbane Bullets 106–90 Perth Wildcats Brisbane Entertainment Centre
28 October 1990 Perth Wildcats 109–86 Brisbane Bullets Brisbane Entertainment Centre
1991 19 October 1991 Perth Wildcats 109–83 Eastside Spectres Pete Hansen The Glass House
25 October 1991 Eastside Spectres 86–81 Perth Wildcats Perth Entertainment Centre
27 October 1991 Perth Wildcats 90–80 Eastside Spectres Perth Entertainment Centre
1992 24 October 1992 Melbourne Tigers 116–98 South East Melbourne Magic Bruce Bolden Melbourne Park
30 October 1992 South East Melbourne Magic 115–93 Melbourne Tigers Melbourne Park
1 November 1992 South East Melbourne Magic 95–88 Melbourne Tigers Melbourne Park
1993 23 October 1993 Melbourne Tigers 117–113 Perth Wildcats Ricky Grace Melbourne Park
29 October 1993 Perth Wildcats 112–105 Melbourne Tigers Perth Entertainment Centre
31 October 1993 Melbourne Tigers 104–102 Perth Wildcats Perth Entertainment Centre
1994 22 October 1994 North Melbourne Giants 95–93 (OT) Adelaide 36ers Paul Rees Clipsal Powerhouse
28 October 1994 North Melbourne Giants 117–97 Adelaide 36ers The Glass House
1995 7 October 1995 North Melbourne Giants 104–97 Perth Wildcats Andrew Vlahov Perth Entertainment Centre
13 October 1995 Perth Wildcats 97–88 North Melbourne Giants The Glass House
15 October 1995 Perth Wildcats 108–88 North Melbourne Giants Perth Entertainment Centre
1996 25 October 1996 Melbourne Tigers 100–89 South East Melbourne Magic Mike Kelly Melbourne Park
1 November 1996 South East Melbourne Magic 88–84 Melbourne Tigers Melbourne Park
3 November 1996 South East Melbourne Magic 107–70 Melbourne Tigers Melbourne Park
1997 25 October 1997 Melbourne Tigers 111–74 South East Melbourne Magic Lanard Copeland Melbourne Park
29 October 1997 South East Melbourne Magic 84–78 Melbourne Tigers Melbourne Park
1 November 1997 Melbourne Tigers 93–83 South East Melbourne Magic Melbourne Park
1998 28 June 1998 Adelaide 36ers 100–93 South East Melbourne Magic Kevin Brooks Clipsal Powerhouse
1 July 1998 Adelaide 36ers 90–62 South East Melbourne Magic Melbourne Park
1999 16 April 1999 Adelaide 36ers 104–94 Victoria Titans Brett Maher Melbourne Park
21 April 1999 Victoria Titans 88–82 Adelaide 36ers Clipsal Powerhouse
23 April 1999 Adelaide 36ers 80–63 Victoria Titans Clipsal Powerhouse
2000 7 April 2000 Perth Wildcats 84–78 Victoria Titans Marcus Timmons Melbourne Park
12 April 2000 Perth Wildcats 83–76 Victoria Titans Perth Entertainment Centre
2001 22 April 2001 Wollongong Hawks 104–101 Townsville Crocodiles Glen Saville WIN Entertainment Centre
28 April 2001 Townsville Crocodiles 114–97 Wollongong Hawks Townsville Entertainment Centre
29 April 2001 Wollongong Hawks 97–94 Townsville Crocodiles WIN Entertainment Centre
2002 12 April 2002 Adelaide 36ers 106–97 West Sydney Razorbacks Brett Maher Clipsal Powerhouse
14 April 2002 West Sydney Razorbacks 103–100 Adelaide 36ers State Sports Centre
19 April 2002 Adelaide 36ers 125–107 West Sydney Razorbacks Clipsal Powerhouse
2003 3 April 2003 Sydney Kings 98–94 Perth Wildcats Chris Williams Sydney Entertainment Centre
6 April 2003 Sydney Kings 117–101 Perth Wildcats Challenge Stadium
2004 24 March 2004 Sydney Kings 96–76 West Sydney Razorbacks Matthew Nielsen Sydney Entertainment Centre
26 March 2004 West Sydney Razorbacks 87–72 Sydney Kings State Sports Centre
31 March 2004 West Sydney Razorbacks 106–97 Sydney Kings Sydney Entertainment Centre
4 April 2004 Sydney Kings 82–77 West Sydney Razorbacks State Sports Centre
6 April 2004 Sydney Kings 90–79 West Sydney Razorbacks Sydney Entertainment Centre
2005 12 March 2005 Sydney Kings 96–73 Wollongong Hawks Jason Smith Sydney Entertainment Centre
14 March 2005 Sydney Kings 105–80 Wollongong Hawks WIN Entertainment Centre
19 March 2005 Sydney Kings 112–85 Wollongong Hawks Sydney Entertainment Centre
2006 24 February 2006 Melbourne Tigers 100–93 Sydney Kings Chris Anstey Sydney Entertainment Centre
26 February 2006 Melbourne Tigers 103–99 Sydney Kings State Netball Hockey Centre
28 February 2006 Melbourne Tigers 88–83 Sydney Kings Sydney Entertainment Centre
2007 2 March 2007 Brisbane Bullets 98–95 Melbourne Tigers Sam Mackinnon Brisbane Entertainment Centre
4 March 2007 Melbourne Tigers 105–91 Brisbane Bullets State Netball Hockey Centre
7 March 2007 Brisbane Bullets 113–93 Melbourne Tigers Brisbane Entertainment Centre
9 March 2007 Brisbane Bullets 103–94 Melbourne Tigers State Netball Hockey Centre
2008 5 March 2008 Sydney Kings 95–74 Melbourne Tigers Chris Anstey Sydney Entertainment Centre
7 March 2008 Melbourne Tigers 104–93 Sydney Kings State Netball Hockey Centre
9 March 2008 Melbourne Tigers 89–87 Sydney Kings Sydney Entertainment Centre
12 March 2008 Sydney Kings 90–87 Melbourne Tigers State Netball Hockey Centre
14 March 2008 Melbourne Tigers 85–73 Sydney Kings Sydney Entertainment Centre
2009 4 March 2009 South Dragons 93–81 Melbourne Tigers Donta Smith Hisense Arena
6 March 2009 Melbourne Tigers 88–83 South Dragons State Netball Hockey Centre
8 March 2009 South Dragons 84–67 Melbourne Tigers Hisense Arena
11 March 2009 Melbourne Tigers 108–95 South Dragons State Netball Hockey Centre
13 March 2009 South Dragons 102–91 Melbourne Tigers Hisense Arena
2010 5 March 2010 Perth Wildcats 75–64 Wollongong Hawks Kevin Lisch Challenge Stadium
9 March 2010 Wollongong Hawks 75–63 Perth Wildcats WIN Entertainment Centre
12 March 2010 Perth Wildcats 96–72 Wollongong Hawks Challenge Stadium
2011 20 April 2011 New Zealand Breakers 85–67 Cairns Taipans Thomas Abercrombie North Shore Events Centre
24 April 2011 Cairns Taipans 85–81 (2OT) New Zealand Breakers Cairns Convention Centre
29 April 2011 New Zealand Breakers 71–53 Cairns Taipans North Shore Events Centre
2012 12 April 2012 New Zealand Breakers 104–98 (OT) Perth Wildcats C.J. Bruton Vector Arena
20 April 2012 Perth Wildcats 87–86 New Zealand Breakers Challenge Stadium
24 April 2012 New Zealand Breakers 79–73 Perth Wildcats Vector Arena
2013 7 April 2013 New Zealand Breakers 79–67 Perth Wildcats Cedric Jackson Vector Arena
12 April 2013 New Zealand Breakers 70–66 Perth Wildcats Perth Arena
2014 7 April 2014 Perth Wildcats 92–85 (OT) Adelaide 36ers Jermaine Beal Perth Arena
11 April 2014 Adelaide 36ers 89–84 Perth Wildcats Adelaide Arena
13 April 2014 Perth Wildcats 93–59 Adelaide 36ers Perth Arena
2015 6 March 2015 New Zealand Breakers 86–71 Cairns Taipans Cedric Jackson Cairns Convention Centre
8 March 2015 New Zealand Breakers 83–81 Cairns Taipans North Shore Events Centre
2016 2 March 2016 Perth Wildcats 82–76 New Zealand Breakers Damian Martin Perth Arena
4 March 2016 New Zealand Breakers 71–68 Perth Wildcats North Shore Events Centre
6 March 2016 Perth Wildcats 75–52 New Zealand Breakers Perth Arena
2017 26 February 2017 Perth Wildcats 89–77 Illawarra Hawks Bryce Cotton Perth Arena
1 March 2017 Perth Wildcats 89–77 Illawarra Hawks WIN Entertainment Centre
5 March 2017 Perth Wildcats 95–86 Illawarra Hawks Perth Arena
2018 16 March 2018 Melbourne United 107–96 Adelaide 36ers Chris Goulding Hisense Arena
18 March 2018 Adelaide 36ers 110–95 Melbourne United Titanium Security Arena
23 March 2018 Melbourne United 101–98 Adelaide 36ers Hisense Arena
25 March 2018 Adelaide 36ers 90–81 Melbourne United Titanium Security Arena
31 March 2018 Melbourne United 100–82 Adelaide 36ers Hisense Arena
2019 8 March 2019 Perth Wildcats 81–71 Melbourne United Terrico White RAC Arena
10 March 2019 Melbourne United 92–74 Perth Wildcats Melbourne Arena
15 March 2019 Perth Wildcats 96–67 Melbourne United RAC Arena
17 March 2019 Melbourne United 84–97 Perth Wildcats Melbourne Arena
2020 8 March 2020 Sydney Kings 86–88 Perth Wildcats Bryce Cotton Qudos Bank Arena
13 March 2020 Perth Wildcats 85–97 Sydney Kings RAC Arena
15 March 2020 Sydney Kings 96–111 Perth Wildcats Qudos Bank Arena
2021 18 June 2021 Perth Wildcats 70–73 Melbourne United Jock Landale RAC Arena
20 June 2021 Perth Wildcats 74–83 Melbourne United RAC Arena
25 June 2021 Melbourne United 81–76 Perth Wildcats John Cain Arena
2022 6 May 2022 Sydney Kings 95–78 Tasmania JackJumpers Xavier Cooks Qudos Bank Arena
8 May 2022 Tasmania JackJumpers 86–90 Sydney Kings MyState Bank Arena
11 May 2022 Sydney Kings 97–88 Tasmania JackJumpers Qudos Bank Arena
2023 3 March 2023 New Zealand Breakers 95–87 Sydney Kings Derrick Walton Qudos Bank Arena
5 March 2023 Sydney Kings 81–74 New Zealand Breakers Spark Arena
10 March 2023 Sydney Kings 91–68 New Zealand Breakers Qudos Bank Arena
12 March 2023 New Zealand Breakers 80–70 Sydney Kings Spark Arena
15 March 2023 Sydney Kings 77–69 New Zealand Breakers Qudos Bank Arena
2024 17 March 2024 Melbourne United 104–81 Tasmania JackJumpers Jack McVeigh John Cain Arena
22 March 2024 Tasmania JackJumpers 82–77 Melbourne United MyState Bank Arena
24 March 2024 Melbourne United 91–93 Tasmania JackJumpers John Cain Arena
28 March 2024 Tasmania JackJumpers 86–88 Melbourne United MyState Bank Arena
31 March 2024 Melbourne United 81–83 Tasmania JackJumpers John Cain Arena

Grand Final Record

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Finals Team Win Loss % Note
16 Perth Wildcats 10 6 .625 Have made every playoffs since 1986 to 2021.
12 Melbourne United 6 6 .500 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 1998–99.
4 S.E. Melbourne Magic 2 2 .500 Merged to form the Victoria Titans in 1998–99.
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 NBL1 Central.
2 Tasmania JackJumpers 1 1 .500 Runners-up in 2022. Champions 2024.
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 title win.
2 Cairns Taipans 0 2 .000 Runners-up in 2011, 2015.
2 Victoria Titans 0 2 .000 Became the Victoria Giants in 2002.
2 West Sydney Razorbacks 0 2 .000 Became the Sydney Spirit in 2008, folded in 2009.
1 Eastside Spectres 0 1 .000 Merged to form the S.E. Melbourne Magic in 1991.
1 Geelong Cats 0 1 .000 Became the Geelong Supercats in 1988, now in NBL1 South.
1 Nunawading Spectres 0 1 .000 Became the Eastside Spectres in 1987, now in NBL1 South.
1 Townsville Crocodiles 0 1 .000 Runners-up in 2001.

* Teams in bold are currently in the NBL.

See also

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References

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