The 2003–04 NBL season was the 26th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 12 teams contested the league. This season marked the first NBL season that featured the New Zealand Breakers, the first New Zealand team in the Australian competition. Also, the Canberra Cannons were replaced by the Hunter Pirates.
| 2003–04 NBL season | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | National Basketball League | |||||||||
| Season | 2003–04 | |||||||||
| Dates | 1 October 2003 – 6 April 2004 | |||||||||
| Number of teams | 12 | |||||||||
| TV partner(s) | Australia: New Zealand: | |||||||||
| Regular season | ||||||||||
| Season champions | Sydney Kings | |||||||||
| Season MVP |  Matthew Nielsen (Sydney) | |||||||||
| Finals | ||||||||||
| Champions | Sydney Kings (2nd title) | |||||||||
| Runners-up | West Sydney Razorbacks | |||||||||
| Semifinalists | Wollongong Hawks Brisbane Bullets | |||||||||
| Finals MVP | Matthew Nielsen (Sydney) | |||||||||
| Statistical leaders | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
Regular season Edit
The 2003–04 regular season took place over 22 rounds between 1 October 2003 and 29 February 2004.
Round 1 Edit
Round 2 Edit
Round 3 Edit
Round 4 Edit
Round 5 Edit
Round 6 Edit
Round 7 Edit
Round 8 Edit
Round 9 Edit
Round 10 Edit
Round 11 Edit
Round 12 Edit
Round 13 Edit
Round 14 Edit
Round 15 Edit
Round 16 Edit
Round 17 Edit
Round 18 Edit
Round 19 Edit
Round 20 Edit
Round 21 Edit
Round 22 Edit
Ladder Edit
| Pos | 2003–04 NBL season | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP | |
| 1 | Sydney Kings | 33 | 26 | 7 | 78.79% | 4–1 | L1 | 14–3 | 12–4 | 3425 | 3029 | 113.07% |
| 2 | Wollongong Hawks | 33 | 25 | 8 | 75.76% | 4–1 | W1 | 11–5 | 14–3 | 3391 | 3045 | 111.36% |
| 3 | West Sydney Razorbacks1 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 66.67% | 2–3 | L1 | 13–4 | 9–7 | 3330 | 3172 | 104.98% |
| 4 | Brisbane Bullets1 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 66.67% | 2–3 | W2 | 12–4 | 10–7 | 3463 | 3222 | 107.48% |
| 5 | Melbourne Tigers | 33 | 20 | 13 | 60.61% | 4–1 | W2 | 11–5 | 9–8 | 3296 | 3239 | 101.76% |
| 6 | Cairns Taipans | 33 | 16 | 17 | 48.48% | 3–2 | W3 | 11–5 | 5–12 | 3090 | 3025 | 102.15% |
| 7 | Perth Wildcats | 33 | 15 | 18 | 45.45% | 2–3 | L2 | 13–3 | 2–15 | 3296 | 3342 | 98.62% |
| 8 | Adelaide 36ers | 33 | 14 | 19 | 42.42% | 2–3 | W1 | 10–7 | 4–12 | 3359 | 3450 | 97.36% |
| 9 | Townsville Crocodiles | 33 | 13 | 20 | 39.39% | 3–2 | W1 | 7–9 | 6–11 | 3365 | 3455 | 97.40% |
| 10 | New Zealand Breakers | 33 | 12 | 21 | 36.36% | 2–3 | L3 | 8–9 | 4–12 | 3016 | 3198 | 94.31% |
| 11 | Victoria Giants | 33 | 11 | 22 | 33.33% | 2–3 | W1 | 8–9 | 3–13 | 3113 | 3388 | 91.88% |
| 12 | Hunter Pirates | 33 | 2 | 31 | 06.06% | 0–5 | L15 | 2–15 | 0–16 | 3065 | 3644 | 84.11% |
Updated to match(es) played on 29 February 2004. Source: NBL.com.au
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.
1West Sydney Razorbacks won Head-to-Head (2-1).
Finals Edit
Playoff bracket Edit
| Elimination Finals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Grand Final | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Sydney Kings | 104 | 101 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Brisbane Bullets | 112 | 4 | Brisbane Bullets | 100 | 96 | X | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Melbourne Tigers | 111 | 5 | Melbourne Tigers | 101 | 1 | Sydney Kings | 96 | 72 | 80 | 82 | 90 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Adelaide 36ers | 107 | 3 | West Sydney Razorbacks | 76 | 87 | 82 | 77 | 79 | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | Wollongong Hawks | 91 | 95 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | West Sydney Razorbacks | 110 | 3 | West Sydney Razorbacks | 107 | 110 | X | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Cairns Taipans | 103 | 6 | Cairns Taipans | 88 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Perth Wildcats | 96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Elimination Finals Edit
Semi-finals Edit
Grand Final Edit
All Star Game Edit
4 April 2004
18:00 |
| Eastern All Stars | 129–126 | Western All Stars |
| Scoring by quarter: 29–32, 37 –31, 31–24, 32–39 | ||
| Pts: Knight 19 Rebs: Saville 12 Asts: Rose 5 |
Pts: Cattalini 27 Rebs: Bradtke 10 Asts: Rillie 7 | |
| Eastern All Stars win, 129–126 | ||
Most Valuable Player Edit
Awards Edit
- NBL Most Valuable Player: Matthew Nielsen (Sydney Kings)
- Larry Sengstock Medal (GF MVP): Matthew Nielsen (Sydney Kings)
- NBL Coach of the Year: Joey Wright (Brisbane Bullets)
- NBL Best Defensive Player: Ben Castle (Brisbane Bullets)
- NBL Rookie of the Year: Steven Markovic (West Sydney Razorbacks)
- NBL Most Improved Player: Geordie Cullen (Hunter Pirates)
- NBL Best Sixth Man: Darryl McDonald (Melbourne Tigers)
- All-NBL First Team:
Player of the month Edit
- October: Matthew Nielsen (Sydney Kings)
- November: Dusty Rychart (Adelaide 36ers)
- December: Kevin Freeman (Brisbane Bullets)
- January: Mike Chappell (New Zealand Breakers)
- February: Matthew Nielsen (Sydney Kings)
Coach of the month Edit
- October: Brian Goorjian (Sydney Kings)
- November: Brendan Joyce (Wollongong Hawks)
- December: Joey Wright (Brisbane Bullets)
- January: Gordon McLeod (West Sydney Razorbacks)
- February: Brendan Joyce (Wollongong Hawks)
All NBL Team Edit
| # | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Stephen Black[2] | Brisbane Bullets |
| SG | John Rillie | West Sydney Razorbacks |
| SF | Sam Mackinnon | West Sydney Razorbacks |
| PF | Matthew Nielsen | Sydney Kings |
| C | Mark Bradtke | Melbourne Tigers |
References Edit
- ^ "All-NBL Team revealed". NBL.com.au. 8 April 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2004. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ NBL: Basketball Australia