The 2023 NBL1 season was the fourth season of the NBL1. The season consisted of five conferences: South, North, Central, West and East.
The second annual National Finals were held in Perth, with both NBL1 National champions coming from the South Conference in the Bendigo Braves women and the Knox Raiders men.
Background
The NBL1 had expanded in 2022 with the East Conference introduced alongside the South, North, Central and West. No further expansion occurred in 2023.
Conference seasons
The season began on 11 March for the East Conference, 24 March for the North Conference, 25 March for the Central Conference, 31 March for the West Conference and 1 April for the North Conference. All conference finals were concluded by 12 August.
South
The women's minor premiers were the Bendigo Braves with a 22–0 record while the men's minor premiers were the Knox Raiders with an 18–4 record. Megan McKay of the Bendigo Braves was named women's MVP while Jack Purchase of the Melbourne Tigers and Daniel Trist of the Frankston Blues were named men's co-MVP.
The women's grand final saw the Bendigo Braves defeat the Waverley Falcons 83–78 while the men's grand final saw the Knox Raiders defeat the Sandringham Sabres 90–86. Amy Atwell of the Bendigo Braves was named women's grand final MVP while Bailey Nunn of the Knox Raiders was named men's grand final MVP.
North
The women's minor premiers were the Northside Wizards with a 16–3 record while the men's minor premiers were the Gold Coast Rollers with a 17–2 record. Courtney Woods of the Northside Wizards was named women's MVP while Jason Cadee of the Gold Coast Rollers was named men's MVP.
The women's grand final series saw the Northside Wizards defeat the Rockhampton Cyclones 2–0, with 87–52 in game one and 70–59 in game two, while the men's grand final series saw the Ipswich Force defeat the Gold Coast Rollers 2–1, with the Rollers winning 100–86 in game one and the Force winning 119–98 in game two and 109–85 in game three. Courtney Woods of the Northside Wizards was named women's grand final MVP while Nathan Sobey of the Ipswich Force was named men's grand final MVP.
Central
The women's minor premiers were the Sturt Sabres with an 18–0 record while the men's minor premiers were the West Adelaide Bearcats with a 15–3 record. Brooke Basham of the Forestville Eagles was named women's MVP while Jordan Forbes of the Sturt Sabres was named men's MVP.
The women's grand final saw the Norwood Flames defeat the Sturt Sabres 80–65 while the men's grand final saw the West Adelaide Bearcats defeat the Forestville Eagles 106–95. Ally Wilson of the Norwood Flames was named women's grand final MVP while Lachlan Olbrich of the West Adelaide Bearcats was named men's grand final MVP.
West
The women's minor premiers were the Cockburn Cougars with an 18–2 record while the men's minor premiers were the Rockingham Flames with a 19–3 record. Alexandra Sharp of the Willetton Tigers was named women's MVP while Devondrick Walker of the Rockingham Flames was named men's MVP.
The women's grand final saw the Cockburn Cougars defeat the Willetton Tigers 68–61 while the men's grand final saw the Geraldton Buccaneers defeat the Joondalup Wolves 86–80. Stephanie Gorman of the Cockburn Cougars was named women's grand final MVP while Johny Narkle of the Geraldton Buccaneers was named men's grand final MVP.
East
The women's minor premiers were the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles with a 20–2 record while the men's minor premiers were the BA Centre of Excellence with a 20–2 record. Nicole Munger of the Newcastle Falcons was named women's MVP while William Cranston-Lown of the Maitland Mustangs was named men's MVP.
The women's grand final saw the Norths Bears defeat the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 71–56 while the men's grand final saw the Sutherland Sharks defeat the Maitland Mustangs 83–80. Jolene Anderson of the Norths Bears was named women's grand final MVP while Lochlan Hutchison of the Sutherland Sharks was named men's grand final MVP.
Champions summary
Women
Men
National Finals
The 2023 NBL1 National Finals took place at HBF Arena in Perth between Friday 18 August and Sunday 20 August. It served as the second annual National Finals after the inaugural event took place in 2022.
The 2022 defending champions, the Warwick Senators women and the Rockingham Flames men, earned automatic qualification into the 2023 NBL1 National Finals. Had either team made their respective 2023 conference grand final, their opponents would have been guaranteed a spot in the National Finals. The Senators women finished the 2023 West season in fifth place and lost in the semi finals while the Flames men finished the 2023 West season in first place and lost in the preliminary finals. Joining them in the tournament were the champions from each of the five conferences.
The six women's and men's teams faced off on Friday and Saturday for a spot in the Championship Games on Sunday. Each team played two preliminary games in which they generated ranking points, with the top two ranked women's and men's teams then playing in the Championship Game.
Ranking points over the first two days included three points for a win, one point for each quarter won, and half a point for tied quarters. Zero points were awarded for winning overtime periods. The schedule for Friday was determined by a random draw. On Saturday, the highest point scorer from Friday played fifth place, the second highest played fourth place, and the third highest played sixth place. On Sunday, the top two point scores over Friday and Saturday played in the Championship Game.
Both South Conference teams were victorious in the Championship Games, with the Bendigo Braves women and the Knox Raiders men being crowned NBL1 National champions.
Day One – Friday
Women
- East vs North
- West vs South
- Defending champion vs Central
Men
- South vs Central
- Defending champion vs North
- West vs East
Day Two – Saturday
Women
- 1st vs 5th
- 3rd vs 6th
- 2nd vs 4th
Men
- 2nd vs 4th
- 1st vs 5th
- 3rd vs 6th
Day Three – Sunday
Championship Games
Women
Rosters
Game summary
Men
Rosters
Game summary
All-Star Five
Women
- Jolene Anderson (Norths Bears)
- Amy Atwell (Bendigo Braves)
- Megan McKay (Bendigo Braves)
- Karly Murphy (Warwick Senators)
- Ally Wilson (Norwood Flames)
Men
- Jeremy Combs (Rockingham Flames)
- Ke'Jhan Feagin (Knox Raiders)
- Johny Narkle (Geraldton Buccaneers)
- Marshall Nelson (Rockingham Flames)
- Wayne Stewart Jr. (Knox Raiders)
References
