NBL Grand Final

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NBL Grand Final

Dr John Raschke Trophy

Status| Active
Genre| Sporting event
Date(s)| February – March
Frequency| Annual
Country|  Australia
New Zealand
Inaugurated| 1979 (1979)
Organised by| National Basketball League
Sponsor| Hungry Jack's (2018–present)
Most titles| Perth Wildcats
(10 titles)
Website| NBL.com.au
2024 NBL Finals

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

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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

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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

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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

[edit]

* Australia portal
* Basketball portal

* NBL Finals
* WNBL Grand Final

## References

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## External links

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