1997 NBL season

Professional basketball season

Basketball league season

1997 NBL season

League| National Basketball League
Season| 1997
Dates| 11 April – 1 November 1997
Teams| 11
TV partner(s)| Australia:

* Network Ten
* Fox Sports

Regular season
Season champions| S.E. Melbourne Magic
Season MVP|  Andrew Gaze (Melbourne)
Finals
Champions| Melbourne Tigers (2nd title)
Runners-up| S.E. Melbourne Magic
Semifinalists| North Melbourne Giants
Perth Wildcats
Finals MVP|  Lanard Copeland (Melbourne)
Statistical leaders
| Points|  Andrew Gaze (Melbourne)|  31.5

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|

NBL seasons

← 1996

1998 →

The 1997 NBL season was the 19th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 11 teams contest the league. The Hobart Devils, Geelong Supercats and Gold Coast Rollers did not return this season. The Melbourne Tigers were the champions.[1]

## Regular season

[edit]

The 1997 regular season took place over 24 rounds between 11 April 1997 and 29 September 1997.

### Round 1

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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11/04/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 85–81 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
11/04/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 84–104 | South East Melbourne Magic | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
11/04/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 111–105 | Melbourne Tigers | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
12/04/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 83–97 | North Melbourne Giants | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
12/04/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 96–112 | Newcastle Falcons | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
12/04/1997  | Townsville Suns | 113–115 | Melbourne Tigers | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
13/04/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 83–85 | South East Melbourne Magic | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 2

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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18/04/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 101–109 | North Melbourne Giants | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
19/04/1997  | Sydney Kings | 92–94 | North Melbourne Giants | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
19/04/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 97–85 | Adelaide 36ers | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
19/04/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 101–108 | Perth Wildcats | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
19/04/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 77–99 | South East Melbourne Magic | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
20/04/1997  | Townsville Suns | 104–86 | South East Melbourne Magic | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
21/04/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 100–103 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 3

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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25/04/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 69–89 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
25/04/1997  | Sydney Kings | 97–92 | Perth Wildcats | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
25/04/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 96–104 | Townsville Suns | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
26/04/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 96–97 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
26/04/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 101–122 | Perth Wildcats | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
26/04/1997  | Townsville Suns | 97–91 | Sydney Kings | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
26/04/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 98–117 | Canberra Cannons | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 4

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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2/05/1997  | Sydney Kings | 112–108 | Townsville Suns | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
2/05/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 121–103 | Melbourne Tigers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
2/05/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 98–81 | Brisbane Bullets | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
3/05/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 92–99 | North Melbourne Giants | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
3/05/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 123–106 | Illawarra Hawks | Whitlam Centre | N/A  | boxscore
3/05/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 85–108 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
3/05/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 82–71 | Sydney Kings | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
4/05/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 110–104 | Townsville Suns | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 5

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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7/05/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 78–89 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
9/05/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 102–84 | Adelaide 36ers | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
9/05/1997  | Townsville Suns | 109–97 | Illawarra Hawks | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
10/05/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 77–88 | South East Melbourne Magic | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
10/05/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 106–93 | Canberra Cannons | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
11/05/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 109–104 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 6

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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16/05/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 82–86 | Brisbane Bullets | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
16/05/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 105–88 | Illawarra Hawks | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
16/05/1997  | Townsville Suns | 119–95 | Melbourne Tigers | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
17/05/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 96–92 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
17/05/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 111–98 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
17/05/1997  | Sydney Kings | 104–78 | Canberra Cannons | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
18/05/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 85–78 | Brisbane Bullets | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
18/05/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 95–126 | Illawarra Hawks | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 7

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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23/05/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 122–114 | Townsville Suns | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
23/05/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 93–81 | Newcastle Falcons | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
23/05/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 107–119 | Adelaide 36ers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
24/05/1997  | Sydney Kings | 96–107 | Adelaide 36ers | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
24/05/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 96–83 | North Melbourne Giants | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
24/05/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 85–117 | South East Melbourne Magic | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
24/05/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 110–92 | Illawarra Hawks | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
25/05/1997  | Townsville Suns | 100–89 | Canberra Cannons | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 8

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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29/05/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 113–99 | Melbourne Tigers | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
30/05/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 98–103 | Sydney Kings | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
31/05/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 97–102 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
31/05/1997  | Sydney Kings | 106–101 | Canberra Cannons | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
31/05/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 97–126 | Townsville Suns | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
31/05/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 108–100 | Adelaide 36ers | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 9

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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5/06/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 104–90 | Illawarra Hawks | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
5/06/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 78–82 | Brisbane Bullets | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
6/06/1997  | Townsville Suns | 102–107 | Adelaide 36ers | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
6/06/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 106–98 | Brisbane Bullets | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
7/06/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 109–89 | Illawarra Hawks | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
7/06/1997  | Sydney Kings | 124–117 | Melbourne Tigers | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 10

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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11/06/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 80–55 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
13/06/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 96–106 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
14/06/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 104–111 | North Melbourne Giants | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
14/06/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 99–114 | Sydney Kings | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
14/06/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 87–83 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
14/06/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 109–90 | Townsville Suns | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
14/06/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 104–91 | Newcastle Falcons | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
15/06/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 116–108 | Newcastle Falcons | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
16/06/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 99–96 | Townsville Suns | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 11

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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20/06/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 107–123 | Sydney Kings | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
20/06/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 100–91 | North Melbourne Giants | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
21/06/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 115–104 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
21/06/1997  | Sydney Kings | 88–89 | South East Melbourne Magic | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
21/06/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 90–102 | Newcastle Falcons | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
22/06/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 141–99 | Newcastle Falcons | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 12

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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27/06/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 99–114 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
27/06/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 92–86 | Perth Wildcats | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
28/06/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 127–100 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
28/06/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 105–92 | Adelaide 36ers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
28/06/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 87–98 | Melbourne Tigers | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
29/06/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 82–92 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
29/06/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 112–92 | Sydney Kings | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
29/06/1997  | Townsville Suns | 98–94 | North Melbourne Giants | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 13

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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4/07/1997  | Townsville Suns | 81–84 | South East Melbourne Magic | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
5/07/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 97–71 | Canberra Cannons | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
5/07/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 112–100 | North Melbourne Giants | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
5/07/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 93–102 | Melbourne Tigers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
5/07/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 97–86 | Sydney Kings | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
6/07/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 106–101 | Newcastle Falcons | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
7/07/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 86–94 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 14

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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9/07/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 113–105 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
11/07/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 107–112 | Perth Wildcats | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
11/07/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 84–102 | North Melbourne Giants | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
12/07/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 96–89 | South East Melbourne Magic | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
12/07/1997  | Sydney Kings | 109–85 | Brisbane Bullets | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
12/07/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 106–86 | Illawarra Hawks | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
12/07/1997  | Townsville Suns | 97–95 | Canberra Cannons | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
13/07/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 87–62 | Canberra Cannons | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 15

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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18/07/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 94–93 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
18/07/1997  | Sydney Kings | 92–109 | Newcastle Falcons | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
18/07/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 97–105 | South East Melbourne Magic | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
18/07/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 91–88 | Perth Wildcats | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
19/07/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 90–92 | Newcastle Falcons | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
19/07/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 99–86 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
19/07/1997  | Townsville Suns | 102–90 | Perth Wildcats | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 16

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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1/08/1997  | Townsville Suns | 101–104 | Brisbane Bullets | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
2/08/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 112–82 | Illawarra Hawks | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 17

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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8/08/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 79–84 | Townsville Suns | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
9/08/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 91–94 | Melbourne Tigers | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 18

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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15/08/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 86–97 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
15/08/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 119–107 | Canberra Cannons | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
15/08/1997  | Townsville Suns | 124–103 | Illawarra Hawks | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
16/08/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 97–92 | Sydney Kings | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
16/08/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 97–93 | South East Melbourne Magic | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
16/08/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 99–102 | North Melbourne Giants | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
17/08/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 80–81 | Illawarra Hawks | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 19

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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20/08/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 120–90 | Townsville Suns | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
22/08/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 98–73 | Brisbane Bullets | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
23/08/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 94–83 | South East Melbourne Magic | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
23/08/1997  | Sydney Kings | 100–112 | Adelaide 36ers | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
23/08/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 114–130 | Townsville Suns | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
23/08/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 93–96 | Illawarra Hawks | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
25/08/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 128–107 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 20

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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29/08/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 103–86 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
29/08/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 74–77 | Brisbane Bullets | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
30/08/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 92–67 | South East Melbourne Magic | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
30/08/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 85–97 | North Melbourne Giants | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
30/08/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 98–95 | Perth Wildcats | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
30/08/1997  | Sydney Kings | 93–112 | Townsville Suns | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
31/08/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 128–98 | Illawarra Hawks | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
2/09/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 94–78 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 21

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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5/09/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 71–82 | South East Melbourne Magic | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
6/09/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 88–82 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
6/09/1997  | Sydney Kings | 95–77 | Illawarra Hawks | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
6/09/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 101–107 | Adelaide 36ers | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
6/09/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 112–120 | Melbourne Tigers | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
6/09/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 101–98 | Townsville Suns | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
7/09/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 124–106 | Townsville Suns | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
7/09/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 117–96 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 22

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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10/09/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 97–74 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
12/09/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 99–96 | Townsville Suns | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
13/09/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 88–87 | Canberra Cannons | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
13/09/1997  | Newcastle Falcons | 110–97 | Illawarra Hawks | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
13/09/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 82–76 | Townsville Suns | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
13/09/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 103–90 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
15/09/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 92–94 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
15/09/1997  | Sydney Kings | 90–85 | Newcastle Falcons | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 23

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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19/09/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 101–88 | Sydney Kings | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
19/09/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 86–85 | Adelaide 36ers | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
20/09/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 92–90 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
20/09/1997  | Sydney Kings | 98–103 | South East Melbourne Magic | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
20/09/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 98–107 | Melbourne Tigers | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
20/09/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 120–97 | Adelaide 36ers | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
20/09/1997  | Townsville Suns | 103–106 | Newcastle Falcons | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
22/09/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 70–102 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

### Round 24

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

|
|
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24/09/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 102–106 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
26/09/1997  | Townsville Suns | 100–102 | Perth Wildcats | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
27/09/1997  | Adelaide 36ers | 104–110 | Melbourne Tigers | Adelaide Arena | N/A  | boxscore
27/09/1997  | Illawarra Hawks | 115–90 | Brisbane Bullets | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
27/09/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 98–95 | Sydney Kings | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
28/09/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 108–99 | Newcastle Falcons | Dandenong Basketball Stadium | N/A  | boxscore
29/09/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 116–107 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

## Ladder

[edit]

This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. The top 6 teams qualified for the finals series.

Pos  | 1997 NBL season

* v
* t
* e

|

Team  |  Pld  |  W  |  L  |  PCT  | Last 5  |  Streak  |  Home  |  Away  |  PF  |  PA  |  PP
1  | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 30  | 22  | 8  | 73.33%  | 4–1  | W1  | 12–3  | 10–5  | 2850  | 2662  | 107.06%
2  | Melbourne Tigers | 30  | 19  | 11  | 63.33%  | 5–0  | W13  | 9–6  | 10–5  | 3092  | 3028  | 102.11%
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
3  | North Melbourne Giants | 30  | 18  | 12  | 60.00%  | 3–2  | L1  | 9–6  | 9–6  | 2943  | 2881  | 102.15%
4  | Perth Wildcats | 30  | 17  | 13  | 56.67%  | 3–2  | W2  | 10–5  | 7–8  | 2933  | 2825  | 103.82%
5  | Brisbane Bullets1 | 30  | 15  | 15  | 50.00%  | 2–3  | L3  | 10–5  | 5–10  | 2731  | 2786  | 98.03%
6  | Canberra Cannons1 | 30  | 15  | 15  | 50.00%  | 4–1  | W3  | 11–4  | 4–11  | 2789  | 2773  | 100.58%
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
7  | Adelaide 36ers2 | 30  | 14  | 16  | 46.67%  | 1–4  | L4  | 7–8  | 7–8  | 2973  | 2922  | 101.75%
8  | Townsville Suns2 | 30  | 14  | 16  | 46.67%  | 0–5  | L6  | 9–6  | 5–10  | 3084  | 3015  | 102.29%
9  | Newcastle Falcons3 | 30  | 12  | 18  | 40.00%  | 2–3  | L1  | 7–8  | 5–10  | 2995  | 3173  | 94.39%
10  | Sydney Kings3 | 30  | 12  | 18  | 40.00%  | 1–4  | L3  | 8–7  | 4–11  | 2938  | 2991  | 98.23%
11  | Illawarra Hawks | 30  | 7  | 23  | 23.33%  | 2–3  | W2  | 4–11  | 3–12  | 2906  | 3178  | 91.44%

Updated to match(es) played on 29 September 1997. 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.

1Brisbane Bullets won Head-to-Head (2-1).

2Adelaide 36ers won Head-to-Head (2-1).

3Newcastle Falcons won Head-to-Head (2-1).

## Finals

[edit]

Main article: 1997 NBL Finals

### Playoff bracket

[edit]

| Elimination Finals | | | Semifinals | | | Grand Final |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 1 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 92 | 96 | X | |
| 4 | Perth Wildcats | 81 | 88 | X | | | 4 | Perth Wildcats | 82 | 69 | X |
| 5 | Brisbane Bullets | 79 | 71 | X | | | | | | 1 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 74 | 84 | 83 |
| | | | | | 2 | Melbourne Tigers | 111 | 78 | 93 |
| | | | 2 | Melbourne Tigers | 107 | 112 | X | | | |
| 3 | North Melbourne Giants | 93 | 108 | 102 | | | 3 | North Melbourne Giants | 99 | 105 | X |
| 6 | Canberra Cannons | 104 | 98 | 75 | |

### Elimination Finals

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

|
|
|
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|
|

3/10/1997  | Canberra Cannons | 104–93 | North Melbourne Giants | AIS Arena | N/A  | boxscore
4/10/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 81–79 | Brisbane Bullets | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
5/10/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 108–98 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
7/10/1997  | Brisbane Bullets | 71–88 | Perth Wildcats | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A  | boxscore
7/10/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 102–75 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore

### Semi-finals

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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13/10/1997  | Perth Wildcats | 82–92 | South East Melbourne Magic | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
15/10/1997  | North Melbourne Giants | 99–107 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A  | boxscore
17/10/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 96–69 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
18/10/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 112–105 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

### Grand Final

[edit]

Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore

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25/10/1997  | Melbourne Tigers | 111–74 | South East Melbourne Magic | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
29/10/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 84–78 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore
1/11/1997  | South East Melbourne Magic | 83–93 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Park | N/A  | boxscore

## 1997 NBL statistics leaders

[edit]

Category | Player | Team | Stat

|
|
|

Points per game | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers | 30.9
Rebounds per game | Clarence Tyson | Townsville Suns | 13.7
Assists per game | Darryl McDonald | North Melbourne Giants | 8.9
Steals per game | Darryl McDonald | North Melbourne Giants | 3.3
Blocks per game | Simon Dwight | Canberra Cannons | 4.3
Free throw percentage | Dylan Rigdon | Illawarra Hawks | 88.2%

## NBL awards

[edit]

* Most Valuable Player: Andrew Gaze, Melbourne Tigers
* Most Valuable Player Grand Final: Lanard Copeland, Melbourne Tigers
* Best Defensive Player: Mike Kelly, South East Melbourne Magic
* Most Improved Player: Ben Pepper, Newcastle Falcons
* Rookie of the Year: Matthew Nielsen, Sydney Kings
* Coach of the Year: Lindsay Gaze, Melbourne Tigers & Brian Goorjian, South East Melbourne Magic

## All NBL Team

[edit]

#  | Player  | Team

|
|

PG | Derek Rucker | Townsville Suns
SG | Robert Rose | Canberra Cannons
SF | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers
PF | Clarence Tyson | Townsville Suns
C | Mark Bradtke | Melbourne Tigers

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2010s|

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2020s|

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## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hickey, Matt. "Roar of Redemption: The story of the 1997 NBL Melbourne Tigers". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

*[ Pos ]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[ Pld ]: Played
*[ W ]: Games won
*[ L ]: Games lost
*[ PCT ]: Winning percentage
*[ Streak ]: Current streak
*[ Home ]: Home record
*[ Away ]: Away record
*[ PF ]: Points for
*[ PA ]: Points against
*[ PP ]: Points percentage