The 2016–17 NBL season was the 39th season of the National Basketball League since its establishment in 1979. A total of eight teams contested the league. The regular season was played between October 2016 and February 2017, followed by a post-season featuring the top four in late February and March 2017.
During the off-season Townsville Crocodiles folded with Brisbane Bullets returning.
Australian broadcast rights to the season were held by Fox Sports, in the second year of a five-year deal, with one game per week simulcast on SBS. In New Zealand, Sky Sport are the official league broadcaster.
Pre-season
2016 NBL All-Australian Tour of China
NBL All-Australian Team won the series 2–1.
2016 Australian Basketball Challenge A pre-season tournament featuring all eight teams and two invited CBA teams was held on 23–26 September 2016 at Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane. The winner will receive the fourth annual Loggins–Bruton Cup.
Illawarra Hawks are pre-season champions.
Regular season
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Ladder
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.
13-way Head-to-Head between Cairns Taipans (5-3), Perth Wildcats (4-4) and Illawarra Hawks (3-5).
2Melbourne United won Head-to-Head (3-1).
Finals
The 2016–17 National Basketball League finals were played in late February and March 2017, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final series and the 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 hosted the first, third and fifth games.
Playoff Seedings Adelaide 36ers Cairns Taipans Perth Wildcats Illawarra Hawks
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.
Playoff bracket
Semi-finals
Adelaide 36ers (1) vs. Illawarra Hawks (4)
Cairns Taipans (2) vs. Perth Wildcats (3)
Grand final
Perth Wildcats (3) vs. Illawarra Hawks (4)
Awards
Player of the Month Month Player Team October Chris Goulding Melbourne United November Brad Newley Sydney Kings December Kevin Lisch Sydney Kings January Jerome Randle Adelaide 36ers
Coach of the Month Month Player Team October Andrew Gaze Sydney Kings November Joey Wright Adelaide 36ers December Joey Wright Adelaide 36ers January Joey Wright Adelaide 36ers
Pre-season Most Valuable Player (Ray Borner Medal): Cameron Gliddon, Cairns Taipans
Season Most Valuable Player (Andrew Gaze Trophy): Jerome Randle, Adelaide 36ers Rookie of the Year: Anthony Drmic, Adelaide 36ers Best Defensive Player: Torrey Craig, Brisbane Bullets Best Sixth Man: Rotnei Clarke, Illawarra Hawks2016/17 Best Sixth Man: Rontei Clarke Most Improved Player: Nathan Sobey, Adelaide 36ers Coach of the Year (Lindsay Gaze Trophy): Joey Wright, Adelaide 36ers Referee of the Year: Vaughan Mayberry2016/17 Referee of the Year: Vaughan Mayberry All-NBL First Team: Jerome Randle – Adelaide 36ers Casper Ware – Melbourne United Casey Prather – Perth Wildcats Daniel Johnson – Adelaide 36ers Andrew Ogilvy – Illawarra Hawks All-NBL Second Team: Kevin Lisch – Sydney Kings Nathan Sobey – Adelaide 36ers Brad Newley – Sydney Kings Torrey Craig – Brisbane Bullets Daniel Kickert – Brisbane Bullets
Finals Grand Final Series MVP (Larry Sengstock Medal): Bryce Cotton, Perth Wildcats
References