List of defunct National Basketball League (Australia) teams
Encyclopedia
| Club | Years in NBL | History |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide City Eagles | 1982 | Originally known as the Forrestville Eagles for the 1981 season. Became the Adelaide 36ers for the 1983 season and took several players from the West Adelaide Bearcats in 1984 when that club left the NBL to allow for a single, full-strength Adelaide team to compete. |
| Bankstown Bruins | 1979–1985 | Became the West Sydney Westars for the seasons, 1986–1987. Currently play in the ABA Australian Basketball Association The Australian Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the ABA, is the second-tiered semi-professional men's and women's basketball minor leagues in Australia which sit under the professional National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League .The ABA is representative of the... . |
| Brisbane Bullets Brisbane Bullets The Brisbane Bullets were, until 2008, a professional basketball team competing in Australia's National Basketball League. The Bullets were one of only two teams that survived since the NBL's inception in 1979; the only surviving team is now the Wollongong Hawks. The team played in Midnight Navy... |
1979–2008 | Handed back licence to the NBL, due to financial and ownership reasons. |
| Canberra Cannons Canberra Cannons The Canberra Cannons were a basketball team competing in the Australian National Basketball League. They went into financial administration in 2003 and were relocated to Newcastle, where they became the Hunter Pirates... |
1979–2003 | Celebrated their 20th Anniversary in 1998 as one of only four foundation clubs left in the league. Unfortunately the club only last a few more years becoming the Hunter Pirates for the 2003/04 season moving from Canberra to Newcastle. |
| City of Sydney Astronauts | 1979–1981 | Became the Sydney Supersonics for the seasons, 1982–1987. |
| Coburg Giants | 1980–1986 | Became the North Melbourne Giants for the seasons, 1987–1998. |
| Devonport Warriors | 1983–1984 | |
| Eastside Spectres | 1987–1991 | Originally known as the Nunawading Spectres, from 1979–1986. Merged with the Southern Melbourne Saints to form the South East Melbourne Magic for the seasons, 1992–1998. |
| Forrestville Eagles | 1981 | Became the Adelaide City Eagles for the 1982 season. Currently play in the ABA Australian Basketball Association The Australian Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the ABA, is the second-tiered semi-professional men's and women's basketball minor leagues in Australia which sit under the professional National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League .The ABA is representative of the... . |
| Frankston Bears | 1983–1984 | |
| Geelong Cats / Supercats Geelong Supercats The Geelong Supercats are an Australian basketball team, based in the Victorian City of Geelong, that currently plays in the Australian Basketball Association and previously played in the National Basketball League.-NBL History:... |
1982–1996 | Became the Geelong Supercats for the seasons, 1988–1996. Currently play in the ABA Australian Basketball Association The Australian Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the ABA, is the second-tiered semi-professional men's and women's basketball minor leagues in Australia which sit under the professional National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League .The ABA is representative of the... . |
| Glenelg Tigers Glenelg Tigers (NBL) The Glenelg Tigers were a foundation club in the NBL that formed in 1979. The club was based in South Australia in the Adelaide suburb of Glenelg. The Tigers lasted only one season before folding due to financial difficulties... |
1979 | Finished last in the inaugural season and never competed in the NBL again. |
| Gold Coast Rollers Gold Coast Rollers The Gold Coast Rollers were an Australian basketball team, that played in Gold Coast, Queensland, in the National Basketball League. The team was originally named the Gold Coast Cougars before being renamed the Rollers in 1992. The team was one of only two teams from the state of Queensland when it... |
1990–1996 | Originally known as the Gold Coast Cougars and competed in the NBL as the Rollers. |
| Hobart (Tassie) Devils Hobart Devils The Hobart Devils were an Australian basketball team that played in Hobart, Tasmania, in the National Basketball League. The team was the only representative from the state of Tasmania for the majority of its tenure, but was one of three teams that had their NBL licenses revoked by the league... |
1983–1996 | Became the Hobart Tassie Devils for the seasons, 1988–1996. |
| Hunter Pirates Hunter Pirates The Hunter Pirates were an Australian basketball team, based in the city of Newcastle, that competed in the National Basketball League.-Team history:... |
2003–2006 | Acquired the licence from the Canberra Cannons and competed for several seasons before once again being relocated. |
| Launceston Casino City | 1980–1982 | Joined the NBL in 1980. Won a championship in 1981. Finished 5-21 in 1983 and left the NBL. |
| Newcastle Falcons Newcastle Falcons (Australia) Newcastle Falcons were an Australian basketball team, that played in Newcastle, in the National Basketball League. The team played in the NBL's inaugural season in 1979, and left the league in the late 1990s, after new owners based in Albury couldn't resolve the club's ongoing financial... |
1979–1999 | One of the foundation clubs in the NBL that celebrated their 20th Anniversary in 1998. Unfortunately the club only lasted one more year in the league afterwards. |
| North Melbourne Giants North Melbourne Giants The North Melbourne Giants were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League.-History :The team was formed in 1980 as the Coburg Giants and were renamed in 1987 as the North Melbourne Giants... |
1987–1998 | Originally known as the Coburg Giants for the seasons, 1980–1986. Merged with the South East Melbourne Magic to form the Victoria Titans for the seasons, 1998–2002. |
| Nunawading Spectres | 1979–1986 | Became the Eastside Spectres for the seasons, 1987–1991. Currently play in the ABA Australian Basketball Association The Australian Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the ABA, is the second-tiered semi-professional men's and women's basketball minor leagues in Australia which sit under the professional National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League .The ABA is representative of the... . |
| Singapore Slingers Singapore Slingers The Singapore Slingers are an Asian basketball team that formerly competed in the Australian National Basketball League. They were the first - and so far the only - Asia-based club to compete in the NBL when they joined at the start of the 2006/07 season.... |
2006–2008 | Becoming the first Asian team to enter the NBL they chose to withdraw form the competition due to the dramatic international flight costs to Australia and New Zealand. |
| South Dragons South Dragons The South Dragons is a former team in the Australasian National Basketball League . They made their début in the 2006/07 season and played their final season in 2008/09... |
2006–2009 | Took up the vacant licence after the demise of Victoria Giants, South Dragons were season champions in 2008/2009 but elected to not enter a team in season 2009/10, citing dissatisfaction with the management of the league. |
| South East Melbourne Magic South East Melbourne Magic The South East Melbourne Magic were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League. The team was the result of a merger of two Melbourne clubs for the 1992 season... |
1992–1998 | Formed from a merger between the Eastside Spectres and the South Melbourne Saints. Merged with North Melbourne to form the Victoria Titans for the seasons, 1998–2002. |
| Southern Melbourne Saints Southern Melbourne Saints The Southern Melbourne Saints, previously known as the St Kilda Saints and the Westside Melbourne Saints, were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League.... |
1991 | Originally known as the Westside Saints for the seasons 1987–1990. Merged with the Eastside Spectres to form the South East Melbourne Magic for the seasons, 1992–1998. |
| St Kilda Saints | 1979–1986 | Became the Westside Saints for the seasons, 1987–1990. |
| Sydney Supersonics | 1982–1987 | Originally known as the City of Sydney Astronauts for the seasons, 1979–1981. Merged with the West Sydney Westars to become the Sydney Kings for the 1988 season. |
| Victoria Giants | 2002–2004 | Created after the Victoria Titans went into financial administration. |
| Victoria Titans Victoria Titans The Victoria Titans were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League. The team was the result of a merger of two Melbourne clubs for the inaugural NBL summer season of 1998/99... |
1998–2002 | Formed from a merger between the South East Melbourne Magic and the North Melbourne Giants. Became the Victoria Giants for the seasons, 2002–2004. |
| West Adelaide Bearcats West Adelaide Bearcats The West Adelaide Bearcats are a semi-professional basketball team competing in the Australian Basketball Association.-NBL:The West Adelaide Bearcats was a foundation club in the NBL which merged with the Adelaide 36ers in 1985. Founded in 1946, it won the NBL championship 80–74 against the Geelong... |
1979–1984 | Left the NBL in 1984 with several players joining the Adelaide 36ers. Currently play in the ABA Australian Basketball Association The Australian Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the ABA, is the second-tiered semi-professional men's and women's basketball minor leagues in Australia which sit under the professional National Basketball League and Women's National Basketball League .The ABA is representative of the... . |
| West Sydney Razorbacks | 1998–2008 | Became known as the Sydney Spirit after the demise of the Sydney Kings in 2008. |
| West Sydney Westars | 1986–1987 | Originally known as the Bankstown Bruins from 1979–1985. Merged with the Sydney Supersonics to form the Sydney Kings for the 1988 season. |
| West Torrens Eagles | 1980 | |
| Westside Saints | 1987–1990 | Originally known as the St Kilda Saints for the seasons, 1979–1986. Became the South Melbourne Saints for the 1991 season. |
Defunct teams by relations
| 1979–1985 | 1986–1987 | 1988–2008 |
| Bankstown Bruins | West Sydney Westars | Sydney Kings Sydney Kings The Sydney Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. They are the only team to date to win three consecutive championships in the NBL and currently sit third behind the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers two away from the record five wins... |
| 1979–1981 | 1982–1987 | |
| City of Sydney Astronauts | Sydney Supersonics |
| 1981 | 1982 | 1983–Present |
| Forrestville Eagles | Adelaide City Eagles | Adelaide 36ers Adelaide 36ers The Adelaide 36ers are Adelaide's men's professional basketball team, established as the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the National Basketball League in 1982. The Adelaide 36ers tally of four championships is equal with the Melbourne Tigers and second behind the Perth Wildcats as the most... |
| 1979–2003 | 2003–2006 | 2006/07-2007/08 |
| Canberra Cannons Canberra Cannons The Canberra Cannons were a basketball team competing in the Australian National Basketball League. They went into financial administration in 2003 and were relocated to Newcastle, where they became the Hunter Pirates... |
Hunter Pirates Hunter Pirates The Hunter Pirates were an Australian basketball team, based in the city of Newcastle, that competed in the National Basketball League.-Team history:... |
Singapore Slingers Singapore Slingers The Singapore Slingers are an Asian basketball team that formerly competed in the Australian National Basketball League. They were the first - and so far the only - Asia-based club to compete in the NBL when they joined at the start of the 2006/07 season.... |
| 1980–1986 | 1987–1998 | 1998–2002 | 2002–2004 | ||
| Coburg Giants | North Melbourne Giants North Melbourne Giants The North Melbourne Giants were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League.-History :The team was formed in 1980 as the Coburg Giants and were renamed in 1987 as the North Melbourne Giants... |
Victoria Titans Victoria Titans The Victoria Titans were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League. The team was the result of a merger of two Melbourne clubs for the inaugural NBL summer season of 1998/99... |
Victoria Giants | ||
| 1979–1986 | 1987–1990 | 1991 | 1992–1998 | ||
| St Kilda Saints | Westside Saints | Southern Melbourne Saints Southern Melbourne Saints The Southern Melbourne Saints, previously known as the St Kilda Saints and the Westside Melbourne Saints, were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League.... |
South East Melbourne Magic South East Melbourne Magic The South East Melbourne Magic were an Australian basketball team, that played in Melbourne, Victoria, in the National Basketball League. The team was the result of a merger of two Melbourne clubs for the 1992 season... |
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| 1979–1986 | 1987–1991 | ||||
| Nunawading Spectres | Eastside Spectres | ||||