The 2026 NBL season was the 45th season of the National Basketball League. The league fielded 11 teams.
The 2026 regular season commenced on 9 April, with the finals taking place from 29 July to 9 August.
Team information Team City Arena Colours Head coach Import Import Import Auckland Tuatara Auckland Eventfinda Stadium Cameron Gliddon Sean Bairstow Josh Dilling Chris Johnson Canterbury Rams Christchurch Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre Quinn Clinton Tamenang Choh René Rougeau Todd Withers Franklin Bulls Pukekohe Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre Dan Ryan Derrin Boyd Jace Carter Carter Whitt Hawke's Bay Hawks Napier Pettigrew Green Arena Will Lopez Daniel Grida Chase Jeter Jeremy McLaughlin Manawatu Jets Palmerston North Arena Manawatu Tony Webster Isiah Small Kaden Sand Nelson Giants Nelson Trafalgar Centre Michael Fitchett Eemi Luukkonen Shane Gatling Daniel Saylor Otago Nuggets Dunedin Edgar Centre Jeff Sparrow Alain Louis Craig Moller Buay Tuach Southland Sharks Invercargill Stadium Southland Jonathan Yim Caleb Asberry Keylan Boone Rylan Jones Taranaki Airs New Plymouth TSB Stadium John White Aaron Cook Jr. Xavier Green Brandon Stroud Tauranga Whai Tauranga Mercury Baypark Matt Lacey Nicholas Stoddart Nicolas Tata Wellington Saints Wellington TSB Bank Arena Aaron Young Akech Aliir Donte Ingram Elijah Pepper
Summary Regular season standings
Finals
Awards
Statistics leaders Stats as of the end of the regular season Category Player Team Stat Points per game Elijah Pepper Wellington Saints 28.7 Rebounds per game Jace CarterSam Timmins Franklin BullsSouthland Sharks 11.0 Assists per game Carter Whitt Franklin Bulls 9.5 Steals per game Rylan Jones Southland Sharks 2.9 Blocks per game Sam Timmins Southland Sharks 2.1
Regular season Most Valuable Player: Elijah Pepper (Wellington Saints) Most Outstanding Guard: Elijah Pepper (Wellington Saints) Most Outstanding NZ Guard: Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams) Most Outstanding Forward: Sam Timmins (Southland Sharks) Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre: Sam Timmins (Southland Sharks) Scoring Champion: Elijah Pepper (Wellington Saints) Rebounding Champion: Jace Carter (Franklin Bulls) & Sam Timmins (Southland Sharks) Assist Champion: Carter Whitt (Franklin Bulls) Most Improved Player: Walter Brown (Canterbury Rams) Defensive Player of the Year: Sam Timmins (Southland Sharks) Youth Player of the Year: Jake Holmes (Canterbury Rams) Sixth Man of the Year: Tom Vodanovich (Auckland Tuatara) Fan MVP: Rylan Jones (Southland Sharks) Coach of the Year: Quinn Clinton (Canterbury Rams) All-Star Five: G: Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams) G: Elijah Pepper (Wellington Saints) F: Tamenang Choh (Canterbury Rams) F: Reuben Te Rangi (Tauranga Whai) C: Sam Timmins (Southland Sharks)
Finals Grand Final MVP: Sam Timmins (Southland Sharks)
References
External links 2026 schedule