# 2012–13 NBL season

The 2012–13 NBL season was the 35th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of eight teams contested the league. The regular season was played between 5 October 2012 and 24 March 2013, followed by a post-season which involved the top four in April 2013. The schedule was announced on 4 June 2012. The New Zealand Breakers successfully defended their 2011–12 title for a third consecutive championship.
Broadcast rights were held by free-to-air network Channel Ten and its digital sports sister station One, in the third year of a five-year deal, through to the 2014–15 season. In New Zealand, Sky Sport were the official league broadcaster, with a three-year exclusive deal being signed.
Sponsorship included iiNet entering its third season as league naming rights sponsor and Spalding providing equipment including the official game ball.
The NBL All-Star Game was reintroduced to the fixture list after a four-year absence and was played on 22 December 2012 at the Adelaide Arena.
The league reverted to an eight-team competition when Gold Coast Blaze withdrew on 18 July 2012. A new schedule was released on 25 July 2012.

## Pre-season
### Adelaide 36ers pre-season
#### 2012 Longgang International Men’s Basketball Challenge

Adelaide 36ers win 2012 Longgang International Men’s Basketball Challenge.

### 2012 NBL pre-season tournament
#### Finals

Perth Wildcats are pre-season champions.

## Ladder

| Pos | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte | 2012–13 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | New Zealand Breakers | 28 | 24 | 4 | 85.71% | 4–1 | L1 | 13–1 | 11–3 | 2296 | 2070 | 110.92% |
| 2 | Perth Wildcats | 28 | 22 | 6 | 78.57% | 4–1 | W3 | 13–1 | 9–5 | 2195 | 1885 | 116.45% |
| 3 | Wollongong Hawks | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46.43% | 3–2 | W2 | 8–6 | 5–9 | 2104 | 2087 | 100.82% |
| 4 | Sydney Kings$^1$ | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 2–3 | W1 | 7–7 | 5–9 | 2102 | 2222 | 94.60% |
| 5 | Melbourne Tigers$^1$ | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 2–3 | W2 | 7–7 | 5–9 | 2092 | 2163 | 96.72% |
| 6 | Cairns Taipans | 28 | 11 | 17 | 39.29% | 2–3 | L2 | 6–8 | 5–9 | 2074 | 2137 | 97.05% |
| 7 | Townsville Crocodiles | 28 | 10 | 18 | 35.71% | 2–3 | L2 | 8–6 | 2–12 | 2063 | 2242 | 92.02% |
| 8 | Adelaide 36ers | 28 | 8 | 20 | 28.57% | 1–4 | L4 | 4–10 | 4–10 | 2091 | 2211 | 94.57% |
Updated to match(es) played on 24 March 2013. Source: NBL.com.au
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.
$^1$Head-to-Head between Sydney Kings and Melbourne Tigers (2-2). Sydney Kings won For and Against (+2).

### Ladder Progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top four.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
2012–13 NBL season vte :
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Adelaide 36ers | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Cairns Taipans | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Melbourne Tigers | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| New Zealand Breakers | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Perth Wildcats | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Sydney Kings | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Townsville Crocodiles | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Wollongong Hawks | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |

## Finals

The 2012–13 National Basketball League Finals will be played in March and April 2013, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final and final series, where the higher seed hosts the first and third games.

### Playoff Seedings

* New Zealand Breakers
* Perth Wildcats
* Wollongong Hawks
* Sydney Kings
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.
Under this system, Melbourne did not qualify for the playoffs by equalling Sydney's win–loss record, as the latter held advantage in the tiebreaker (2-2, +2 points).

### Playoff bracket

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| 1 | New Zealand Breakers | 81 | 99 | X | | | | | |
| 4 | Sydney Kings | 64 | 88 | X | | | | | |
| 4 | Sydney Kings | 64 | 88 | X | 1 | New Zealand Breakers | 79 | 70 | X |
| | | | | | 2 | Perth Wildcats | 67 | 66 | X |
| 2 | Perth Wildcats | 93 | 85 | X | 2 | Perth Wildcats | 67 | 66 | X |
| 3 | Wollongong Hawks | 65 | 81 | X | | | | | |

### Grand Final
## Season statistics
### Statistics leaders

| Category | Player | Games played | Totals | Average |
| Points per game | Ben Madgen (Sydney Kings) | 28 | 502 | 17.9 |
| Rebounds per game | Daniel Johnson (Adelaide 36ers) | 28 | 227 | 8.1 |
| Assists per game | Cedric Jackson (New Zealand Breakers) | 28 | 200 | 7.1 |
| Steals per game | Cedric Jackson (New Zealand Breakers) | 28 | 79 | 2.8 |
| Blocks per game | Alex Pledger (New Zealand Breakers) | 27 | 38 | 1.4 |
| Field goal percentage | Jeremiah Trueman (Perth Wildcats) | 28 | 45-71 | 63.4% |
| Three-point field goal percentage | Oscar Forman (Wollongong Hawks) | 28 | 73-153 | 47.7% |
| Free throw percentage | Ben Madgen (Sydney Kings) | 28 | 95-111 | 85.6% |
Note: regular season only (minimum 14 games)

### Attendances

| Team | Hosted | Average | Highest | Lowest | Total |
| Adelaide 36ers | 14 | 4,327 | 5,309 | 3,485 | 60,576 |
| Cairns Taipans | 14 | 4,227 | 5,217 | 3,754 | 59,181 |
| Melbourne Tigers | 14 | 4,191 | 5,810 | 2,774 | 58,667 |
| New Zealand Breakers | 14 | 5,278 | 9,200 | 3,653 | 73,893 |
| Perth Wildcats | 14 | 11,292 | 12,381 | 10,447 | 158,082 |
| Sydney Kings | 14 | 5,241 | 7,124 | 4,082 | 73,375 |
| Townsville Crocodiles | 14 | 3,597 | 4,329 | 3,244 | 50,359 |
| Wollongong Hawks | 14 | 3,763 | 4,976 | 3,006 | 52,678 |
| Totals | 112 | 5,239 | 12,381 | 2,774 | 586,811 |
Note: regular season only

### Top 10 Attendances

| Attendance | Round | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Weekday | Time of Day |
| 13,527 | GF | 12 April 2013 | Perth Wildcats | 66-70 | New Zealand Breakers | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
| 12,381 | 24 | 22 March 2013 | Perth Wildcats | 73-58 | New Zealand Breakers | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
| 12,336 | 14 | 13 January 2013 | Perth Wildcats | 73-58 | Melbourne Tigers | Perth Arena | Sunday | Afternoon |
| 11,808 | 15 | 18 January 2013 | Perth Wildcats | 86-64 | Cairns Taipans | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
| 11,562 | 7 | 16 November 2012 | Perth Wildcats | 65-69 | Adelaide 36ers | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
| 11,509 | 17 | 3 February 2013 | Perth Wildcats | 80-52 | Wollongong Hawks | Perth Arena | Sunday | Afternoon |
| 11,343 | 22 | 8 March 2013 | Perth Wildcats | 83-56 | Sydney Kings | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
| 11,239 | 10 | 7 December 2012 | Perth Wildcats | 80-68 | Wollongong Hawks | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
| 11,172 | 9 | 30 November 2012 | Perth Wildcats | 75-56 | Sydney Kings | Perth Arena | Friday | Night |
| 11,086 | 8 | 22 November 2012 | Perth Wildcats | 89-64 | New Zealand Breakers | Perth Arena | Thursday | Night |

## Awards
### Player of the Week

| Round | Player | Team |
| 1 | Matthew Knight | Perth Wildcats |
| 2 | Corin Henry | Sydney Kings |
| 3 | Mika Vukona | New Zealand Breakers |
| 4 | Ben Madgen | Sydney Kings |
| 5 | Adris Deleon | Wollongong Hawks |
| 6 | Cedric Jackson | New Zealand Breakers |
| 7 | Daniel Johnson | Adelaide 36ers |
| 8 | Kevin Lisch | Perth Wildcats |
| 9 | Cedric Jackson | New Zealand Breakers |
| 10 | Corin Henry | Sydney Kings |
| 11 | Cedric Jackson | New Zealand Breakers |
| 12 | Lucas Walker | Melbourne Tigers |
| 13 | Gary Ervin | Townsville Crocodiles |
| 14 | Daniel Johnson | Adelaide 36ers |
| 15 | Ian Crosswhite | Sydney Kings |
| 16 | Daryl Corletto | New Zealand Breakers |
| 17 | Cedric Jackson | New Zealand Breakers |
| 18 | Peter Crawford | Townsville Crocodiles |
| 19 | Adris Deleon | Wollongong Hawks |
| 20 | Shawn Redhage | Perth Wildcats |
| 21 | Adris Deleon | Wollongong Hawks |
| 22 | Alex Pledger | New Zealand Breakers |
| 23 | Alex Pledger | New Zealand Breakers |
| 24 | Larry Davidson | Wollongong Hawks |

### Player of the Month

| Month | Player | Team |
| October | Ben Madgen | Sydney Kings |
| November | Cedric Jackson | New Zealand Breakers |
| December | Gary Ervin | Townsville Crocodiles |
| January | Gary Ervin | Townsville Crocodiles |
| February | Cedric Jackson | New Zealand Breakers |
| March | Adris Deleon | Wollongong Hawks |
| March | Chris Goulding | Melbourne Tigers |

### Coach of the Month

| Month | Player | Team |
| October | Gordie McLeod | Wollongong Hawks |
| November | Andrej Lemanis | New Zealand Breakers |
| December | Paul Woolpert | Townsville Crocodiles |
| January | Andrej Lemanis | New Zealand Breakers |
| February | Rob Beveridge | Perth Wildcats |
| March | Gordie McLeod | Wollongong Hawks |

### Season

The end-of-season awards ceremony was held in the Palladium Room at Crown Casino, Melbourne on Sunday, 24 March 2013.
* Most Valuable Player (Andrew Gaze Trophy): Cedric Jackson, New Zealand Breakers
* Rookie of the Year: Cameron Gliddon, Cairns Taipans
* Best Defensive Player: Damian Martin, Perth Wildcats
* Best Sixth Man: Adris Deleon, Wollongong Hawks
* Most Improved Player: Ben Madgen, Sydney Kings
* Coach of the Year (Lindsay Gaze Trophy): Andrej Lemanis, New Zealand Breakers
* Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen
* All-NBL First Team:
** Cedric Jackson - New Zealand Breakers
** Kevin Lisch - Perth Wildcats
** Ben Madgen - Sydney Kings
** Seth Scott - Melbourne Tigers
** Matthew Knight - Perth Wildcats
* All-NBL Second Team:
** Gary Ervin - Townsville Crocodiles
** Jonny Flynn - Melbourne Tigers
** Damian Martin - Perth Wildcats
** Mika Vukona - New Zealand Breakers
** Daniel Johnson - Adelaide 36ers
* All-NBL Third Team:
** Jamar Wilson - Cairns Taipans
** Adam Gibson - Adelaide 36ers
** Thomas Abercrombie - New Zealand Breakers
** Shawn Redhage - Perth Wildcats
** Ian Crosswhite - Sydney Kings

### Finals

* Grand Final Series MVP (Larry Sengstock Medal): Cedric Jackson, New Zealand Breakers