# NBL Grand Final

The NBL Grand Final is the annual championship series of the National Basketball League (NBL). The entrants are determined by the victors of the two Semi Finals series, who engage in a best-of-five game series to determine the league champion. The winners of the Grand Final series are awarded the Dr John Raschke Trophy.

## History

Prior to 1986, the NBL Grand Final was decided by a single game. From 2004 until 2009, the series was expanded to a best-of-five games.
The first NBL Grand Final was played on 10 June 1979 at the Albert Park Basketball Stadium in Melbourne. The St. Kilda Saints defeated the Canberra Cannons 94-93 to become the inaugural NBL Champions.
The Perth Wildcats hold the record for most Grand Final appearances with 15 between 1987 and 2019/20. They have also won a record 10 NBL Championships. The Wildcats have not missed the NBL Finals since 1987, a record of 35 consecutive years.
No Grand Final MVP was awarded between 1981 and 1985. The NBL Grand Final Most Valuable Player Award winner receives the Larry Sengstock Medal, which is named in honour of Larry Sengstock, the winner of the league's first Grand Final MVP award in 1986.
Rocky Smith (1980), Leroy Loggins (1987), Scott Fisher (1989), Chris Williams (2002/03), Chris Anstey (2005/06) and Cedric Jackson (2012/13) all won the Grand Final MVP and the regular season MVP awards in the same season.

## Results

| Year | Date | Champions | Score | Runners-up | MVP | Arena |
| 1979 | 10 June 1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 94–93 | Canberra Cannons | Larry Sengstock | Albert Park Basketball Stadium |
| 1980 | 15 June 1980 | St. Kilda Saints | 113–88 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Rocky Smith | Dowling Street Stadium |
| 1981 | 28 June 1981 | Launceston Casino City | 75–54 | Nunawading Spectres | N/A | Apollo Stadium |
| 1982 | 18 July 1982 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 80–74 | Geelong Cats | N/A | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre |
| 1983 | 4 July 1983 | Canberra Cannons | 75–73 | West Adelaide Bearcats | N/A | Kilsyth Stadium |
| 1984 | 1 July 1984 | Canberra Cannons | 84–82 | Brisbane Bullets | N/A | The Glass House |
| 1985 | 7 September 1985 | Brisbane Bullets | 121–95 | Adelaide 36ers | N/A | Sleeman Sports Centre |
| 1986 | 11 October 1986 | Adelaide 36ers | 122–119 (OT) | Brisbane Bullets | Mark Davis | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 1986 | 17 October 1986 | Brisbane Bullets | 104–83 | Adelaide 36ers | Mark Davis | Apollo Stadium |
| 1986 | 19 October 1986 | Adelaide 36ers | 113–91 | Brisbane Bullets | Mark Davis | Apollo Stadium |
| 1987 | 10 October 1987 | Brisbane Bullets | 80–79 | Perth Wildcats | Leroy Loggins | Challenge Stadium |
| 1987 | 16 October 1987 | Brisbane Bullets | 106–87 | Perth Wildcats | Leroy Loggins | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 1988 | 30 July 1988 | Canberra Cannons | 120–95 | North Melbourne Giants | Phil Smyth | AIS Arena |
| 1988 | 5 August 1988 | North Melbourne Giants | 117–101 | Canberra Cannons | Phil Smyth | The Glass House |
| 1988 | 7 August 1988 | Canberra Cannons | 108–101 | North Melbourne Giants | Phil Smyth | The Glass House |
| 1989 | 14 October 1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 111–105 | Canberra Cannons | Scott Fisher | AIS Arena |
| 1989 | 20 October 1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 111–97 | Canberra Cannons | Scott Fisher | The Glass House |
| 1990 | 19 October 1990 | Perth Wildcats | 112–106 | Brisbane Bullets | Ricky Grace | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| 1990 | 26 October 1990 | Brisbane Bullets | 106–90 | Perth Wildcats | Ricky Grace | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 1990 | 28 October 1990 | Perth Wildcats | 109–86 | Brisbane Bullets | Ricky Grace | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 1991 | 19 October 1991 | Perth Wildcats | 109–83 | Eastside Spectres | Pete Hansen | The Glass House |
| 1991 | 25 October 1991 | Eastside Spectres | 86–81 | Perth Wildcats | Pete Hansen | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| 1991 | 27 October 1991 | Perth Wildcats | 90–80 | Eastside Spectres | Pete Hansen | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| 1992 | 24 October 1992 | Melbourne Tigers | 116–98 | South East Melbourne Magic | Bruce Bolden | Melbourne Park |
| 1992 | 30 October 1992 | South East Melbourne Magic | 115–93 | Melbourne Tigers | Bruce Bolden | Melbourne Park |
| 1992 | 1 November 1992 | South East Melbourne Magic | 95–88 | Melbourne Tigers | Bruce Bolden | Melbourne Park |
| 1993 | 23 October 1993 | Melbourne Tigers | 117–113 | Perth Wildcats | Ricky Grace | Melbourne Park |
| 1993 | 29 October 1993 | Perth Wildcats | 112–105 | Melbourne Tigers | Ricky Grace | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| 1993 | 31 October 1993 | Melbourne Tigers | 104–102 | Perth Wildcats | Ricky Grace | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| 1994 | 22 October 1994 | North Melbourne Giants | 95–93 (OT) | Adelaide 36ers | Paul Rees | Clipsal Powerhouse |
| 1994 | 28 October 1994 | North Melbourne Giants | 117–97 | Adelaide 36ers | Paul Rees | The Glass House |
| 1995 | 7 October 1995 | North Melbourne Giants | 104–97 | Perth Wildcats | Andrew Vlahov | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| 1995 | 13 October 1995 | Perth Wildcats | 97–88 | North Melbourne Giants | Andrew Vlahov | The Glass House |
| 1995 | 15 October 1995 | Perth Wildcats | 108–88 | North Melbourne Giants | Andrew Vlahov | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| 1996 | 25 October 1996 | Melbourne Tigers | 100–89 | South East Melbourne Magic | Mike Kelly | Melbourne Park |
| 1996 | 1 November 1996 | South East Melbourne Magic | 88–84 | Melbourne Tigers | Mike Kelly | Melbourne Park |
| 1996 | 3 November 1996 | South East Melbourne Magic | 107–70 | Melbourne Tigers | Mike Kelly | Melbourne Park |
| 1997 | 25 October 1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 111–74 | South East Melbourne Magic | Lanard Copeland | Melbourne Park |
| 1997 | 29 October 1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 84–78 | Melbourne Tigers | Lanard Copeland | Melbourne Park |
| 1997 | 1 November 1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 93–83 | South East Melbourne Magic | Lanard Copeland | Melbourne Park |
| 1998 | 28 June 1998 | Adelaide 36ers | 100–93 | South East Melbourne Magic | Kevin Brooks | Clipsal Powerhouse |
| 1998 | 1 July 1998 | Adelaide 36ers | 90–62 | South East Melbourne Magic | Kevin Brooks | Melbourne Park |
| 1999 | 16 April 1999 | Adelaide 36ers | 104–94 | Victoria Titans | Brett Maher | Melbourne Park |
| 1999 | 21 April 1999 | Victoria Titans | 88–82 | Adelaide 36ers | Brett Maher | Clipsal Powerhouse |
| 1999 | 23 April 1999 | Adelaide 36ers | 80–63 | Victoria Titans | Brett Maher | Clipsal Powerhouse |
| 2000 | 7 April 2000 | Perth Wildcats | 84–78 | Victoria Titans | Marcus Timmons | Melbourne Park |
| 2000 | 12 April 2000 | Perth Wildcats | 83–76 | Victoria Titans | Marcus Timmons | Perth Entertainment Centre |
| 2001 | 22 April 2001 | Wollongong Hawks | 104–101 | Townsville Crocodiles | Glen Saville | WIN Entertainment Centre |
| 2001 | 28 April 2001 | Townsville Crocodiles | 114–97 | Wollongong Hawks | Glen Saville | Townsville Entertainment Centre |
| 2001 | 29 April 2001 | Wollongong Hawks | 97–94 | Townsville Crocodiles | Glen Saville | WIN Entertainment Centre |
| 2002 | 12 April 2002 | Adelaide 36ers | 106–97 | West Sydney Razorbacks | Brett Maher | Clipsal Powerhouse |
| 2002 | 14 April 2002 | West Sydney Razorbacks | 103–100 | Adelaide 36ers | Brett Maher | State Sports Centre |
| 2002 | 19 April 2002 | Adelaide 36ers | 125–107 | West Sydney Razorbacks | Brett Maher | Clipsal Powerhouse |
| 2003 | 3 April 2003 | Sydney Kings | 98–94 | Perth Wildcats | Chris Williams | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2003 | 6 April 2003 | Sydney Kings | 117–101 | Perth Wildcats | Chris Williams | Challenge Stadium |
| 2004 | 24 March 2004 | Sydney Kings | 96–76 | West Sydney Razorbacks | Matthew Nielsen | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2004 | 26 March 2004 | West Sydney Razorbacks | 87–72 | Sydney Kings | Matthew Nielsen | State Sports Centre |
| 2004 | 31 March 2004 | West Sydney Razorbacks | 106–97 | Sydney Kings | Matthew Nielsen | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2004 | 4 April 2004 | Sydney Kings | 82–77 | West Sydney Razorbacks | Matthew Nielsen | State Sports Centre |
| 2004 | 6 April 2004 | Sydney Kings | 90–79 | West Sydney Razorbacks | Matthew Nielsen | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2005 | 12 March 2005 | Sydney Kings | 96–73 | Wollongong Hawks | Jason Smith | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2005 | 14 March 2005 | Sydney Kings | 105–80 | Wollongong Hawks | Jason Smith | WIN Entertainment Centre |
| 2005 | 19 March 2005 | Sydney Kings | 112–85 | Wollongong Hawks | Jason Smith | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2006 | 24 February 2006 | Melbourne Tigers | 100–93 | Sydney Kings | Chris Anstey | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2006 | 26 February 2006 | Melbourne Tigers | 103–99 | Sydney Kings | Chris Anstey | State Netball Hockey Centre |
| 2006 | 28 February 2006 | Melbourne Tigers | 88–83 | Sydney Kings | Chris Anstey | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2007 | 2 March 2007 | Brisbane Bullets | 98–95 | Melbourne Tigers | Sam Mackinnon | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 2007 | 4 March 2007 | Melbourne Tigers | 105–91 | Brisbane Bullets | Sam Mackinnon | State Netball Hockey Centre |
| 2007 | 7 March 2007 | Brisbane Bullets | 113–93 | Melbourne Tigers | Sam Mackinnon | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 2007 | 9 March 2007 | Brisbane Bullets | 103–94 | Melbourne Tigers | Sam Mackinnon | State Netball Hockey Centre |
| 2008 | 5 March 2008 | Sydney Kings | 95–74 | Melbourne Tigers | Chris Anstey | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2008 | 7 March 2008 | Melbourne Tigers | 104–93 | Sydney Kings | Chris Anstey | State Netball Hockey Centre |
| 2008 | 9 March 2008 | Melbourne Tigers | 89–87 | Sydney Kings | Chris Anstey | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2008 | 12 March 2008 | Sydney Kings | 90–87 | Melbourne Tigers | Chris Anstey | State Netball Hockey Centre |
| 2008 | 14 March 2008 | Melbourne Tigers | 85–73 | Sydney Kings | Chris Anstey | Sydney Entertainment Centre |
| 2009 | 4 March 2009 | South Dragons | 93–81 | Melbourne Tigers | Donta Smith | Hisense Arena |
| 2009 | 6 March 2009 | Melbourne Tigers | 88–83 | South Dragons | Donta Smith | State Netball Hockey Centre |
| 2009 | 8 March 2009 | South Dragons | 84–67 | Melbourne Tigers | Donta Smith | Hisense Arena |
| 2009 | 11 March 2009 | Melbourne Tigers | 108–95 | South Dragons | Donta Smith | State Netball Hockey Centre |
| 2009 | 13 March 2009 | South Dragons | 102–91 | Melbourne Tigers | Donta Smith | Hisense Arena |
| 2010 | 5 March 2010 | Perth Wildcats | 75–64 | Wollongong Hawks | Kevin Lisch | Challenge Stadium |
| 2010 | 9 March 2010 | Wollongong Hawks | 75–63 | Perth Wildcats | Kevin Lisch | WIN Entertainment Centre |
| 2010 | 12 March 2010 | Perth Wildcats | 96–72 | Wollongong Hawks | Kevin Lisch | Challenge Stadium |
| 2011 | 20 April 2011 | New Zealand Breakers | 85–67 | Cairns Taipans | Thomas Abercrombie | North Shore Events Centre |
| 2011 | 24 April 2011 | Cairns Taipans | 85–81 (2OT) | New Zealand Breakers | Thomas Abercrombie | Cairns Convention Centre |
| 2011 | 29 April 2011 | New Zealand Breakers | 71–53 | Cairns Taipans | Thomas Abercrombie | North Shore Events Centre |
| 2012 | 12 April 2012 | New Zealand Breakers | 104–98 (OT) | Perth Wildcats | C.J. Bruton | Vector Arena |
| 2012 | 20 April 2012 | Perth Wildcats | 87–86 | New Zealand Breakers | C.J. Bruton | Challenge Stadium |
| 2012 | 24 April 2012 | New Zealand Breakers | 79–73 | Perth Wildcats | C.J. Bruton | Vector Arena |
| 2013 | 7 April 2013 | New Zealand Breakers | 79–67 | Perth Wildcats | Cedric Jackson | Vector Arena |
| 2013 | 12 April 2013 | New Zealand Breakers | 70–66 | Perth Wildcats | Cedric Jackson | Perth Arena |
| 2014 | 7 April 2014 | Perth Wildcats | 92–85 (OT) | Adelaide 36ers | Jermaine Beal | Perth Arena |
| 2014 | 11 April 2014 | Adelaide 36ers | 89–84 | Perth Wildcats | Jermaine Beal | Adelaide Arena |
| 2014 | 13 April 2014 | Perth Wildcats | 93–59 | Adelaide 36ers | Jermaine Beal | Perth Arena |
| 2015 | 6 March 2015 | New Zealand Breakers | 86–71 | Cairns Taipans | Cedric Jackson | Cairns Convention Centre |
| 2015 | 8 March 2015 | New Zealand Breakers | 83–81 | Cairns Taipans | Cedric Jackson | North Shore Events Centre |
| 2016 | 2 March 2016 | Perth Wildcats | 82–76 | New Zealand Breakers | Damian Martin | Perth Arena |
| 2016 | 4 March 2016 | New Zealand Breakers | 71–68 | Perth Wildcats | Damian Martin | North Shore Events Centre |
| 2016 | 6 March 2016 | Perth Wildcats | 75–52 | New Zealand Breakers | Damian Martin | Perth Arena |
| 2017 | 26 February 2017 | Perth Wildcats | 89–77 | Illawarra Hawks | Bryce Cotton | Perth Arena |
| 2017 | 1 March 2017 | Perth Wildcats | 89–77 | Illawarra Hawks | Bryce Cotton | WIN Entertainment Centre |
| 2017 | 5 March 2017 | Perth Wildcats | 95–86 | Illawarra Hawks | Bryce Cotton | Perth Arena |
| 2018 | 16 March 2018 | Melbourne United | 107–96 | Adelaide 36ers | Chris Goulding | Hisense Arena |
| 2018 | 18 March 2018 | Adelaide 36ers | 110–95 | Melbourne United | Chris Goulding | Titanium Security Arena |
| 2018 | 23 March 2018 | Melbourne United | 101–98 | Adelaide 36ers | Chris Goulding | Hisense Arena |
| 2018 | 25 March 2018 | Adelaide 36ers | 90–81 | Melbourne United | Chris Goulding | Titanium Security Arena |
| 2018 | 31 March 2018 | Melbourne United | 100–82 | Adelaide 36ers | Chris Goulding | Hisense Arena |
| 2019 | 8 March 2019 | Perth Wildcats | 81–71 | Melbourne United | Terrico White | RAC Arena |
| 2019 | 10 March 2019 | Melbourne United | 92–74 | Perth Wildcats | Terrico White | Melbourne Arena |
| 2019 | 15 March 2019 | Perth Wildcats | 96–67 | Melbourne United | Terrico White | RAC Arena |
| 2019 | 17 March 2019 | Melbourne United | 84–97 | Perth Wildcats | Terrico White | Melbourne Arena |
| 2020 | 8 March 2020 | Sydney Kings | 86–88 | Perth Wildcats | Bryce Cotton | Qudos Bank Arena |
| 2020 | 13 March 2020 | Perth Wildcats | 85–97 | Sydney Kings | Bryce Cotton | RAC Arena |
| 2020 | 15 March 2020 | Sydney Kings | 96–111 | Perth Wildcats | Bryce Cotton | Qudos Bank Arena |
| 2021 | 18 June 2021 | Perth Wildcats | 70–73 | Melbourne United | Jock Landale | RAC Arena |
| 2021 | 20 June 2021 | Perth Wildcats | 74–83 | Melbourne United | Jock Landale | RAC Arena |
| 2021 | 25 June 2021 | Melbourne United | 81–76 | Perth Wildcats | Jock Landale | John Cain Arena |
| 2022 | 6 May 2022 | Sydney Kings | 95–78 | Tasmania JackJumpers | Xavier Cooks | Qudos Bank Arena |
| 2022 | 8 May 2022 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 86–90 | Sydney Kings | Xavier Cooks | MyState Bank Arena |
| 2022 | 11 May 2022 | Sydney Kings | 97–88 | Tasmania JackJumpers | Xavier Cooks | Qudos Bank Arena |
| 2023 | 3 March 2023 | New Zealand Breakers | 95–87 | Sydney Kings | Derrick Walton | Qudos Bank Arena |
| 2023 | 5 March 2023 | Sydney Kings | 81–74 | New Zealand Breakers | Derrick Walton | Spark Arena |
| 2023 | 10 March 2023 | Sydney Kings | 91–68 | New Zealand Breakers | Derrick Walton | Qudos Bank Arena |
| 2023 | 12 March 2023 | New Zealand Breakers | 80–70 | Sydney Kings | Derrick Walton | Spark Arena |
| 2023 | 15 March 2023 | Sydney Kings | 77–69 | New Zealand Breakers | Derrick Walton | Qudos Bank Arena |
| 2024 | 17 March 2024 | Melbourne United | 104–81 | Tasmania JackJumpers | Jack McVeigh | John Cain Arena |
| 2024 | 22 March 2024 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 82–77 | Melbourne United | Jack McVeigh | MyState Bank Arena |
| 2024 | 24 March 2024 | Melbourne United | 91–93 | Tasmania JackJumpers | Jack McVeigh | John Cain Arena |
| 2024 | 28 March 2024 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 86–88 | Melbourne United | Jack McVeigh | MyState Bank Arena |
| 2024 | 31 March 2024 | Melbourne United | 81–83 | Tasmania JackJumpers | Jack McVeigh | John Cain Arena |
| 2025 | 8 March 2025 | Melbourne United | 96–88 | Illawarra Hawks | TBA | WIN Entertainment Centre |
| 2025 | 12 March 2025 | Illawarra Hawks | 102–100 | Melbourne United | TBA | John Cain Arena |
| 2025 | 16 March 2025 | Melbourne United | 83–77 | Illawarra Hawks | TBA | WIN Entertainment Centre |
| 2025 | 19 March 2025 | Melbourne United | 0–0 | Illawarra Hawks | TBA | John Cain Arena |
| 2025 | 23 March 2025 | Illawarra Hawks | 0–0 | Melbourne United | TBA | WIN Entertainment Centre |

## Grand Final Record

| Finals | Team | Win | Loss | % | Note |
| 16 | Perth Wildcats | 10 | 6 | .625 | Have made every playoffs since 1986 to 2021. |
| 12 | Melbourne United | 6 | 6 | .500 | Four championships won as the Tigers. Rebranded as Melbourne United in 2014. |
| 8 | Sydney Kings | 5 | 3 | .625 | Team folded in 2008, returned in 2010. |
| 8 | Adelaide 36ers | 4 | 4 | .500 | Won the first 3-game Grand Final series in 1986. |
| 6 | New Zealand Breakers | 4 | 2 | .667 | Became the first non-Australian NBL champions in 2011. |
| 6 | Brisbane Bullets | 3 | 3 | .500 | Team folded in 2008, won the last stand alone GF in 1985, returned in 2016–17. |
| 5 | Canberra Cannons | 3 | 2 | .600 | Became the Hunter Pirates in 2003. |
| 4 | North Melbourne Giants | 2 | 2 | .500 | Merged to form the Victoria Titans in 1998–99. |
| 4 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 2 | 2 | .500 | Merged to form the Victoria Titans in 1998–99. |
| 2 | St. Kilda Saints | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | Inaugural NBL champions in 1979. Became the Westside Saints in 1987. |
| 4 | Illawarra Hawks | 1 | 3 | .250 | Won their only title as the Wollongong Hawks in 2001. |
| 3 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 1 | 2 | .333 | Left the NBL in 1984, now in the NBL1 Central. |
| 2 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 1 | 1 | .500 | Runners-up in 2022. Champions 2024. |
| 1 | Launceston Casino City | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Played only 3 NBL seasons, team folded in 1983. |
| 1 | South Dragons | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Quit the NBL after their 2009 title win. |
| 2 | Cairns Taipans | 0 | 2 | .000 | Runners-up in 2011, 2015. |
| 2 | Victoria Titans | 0 | 2 | .000 | Became the Victoria Giants in 2002. |
| 2 | West Sydney Razorbacks | 0 | 2 | .000 | Became the Sydney Spirit in 2008, folded in 2009. |
| 1 | Eastside Spectres | 0 | 1 | .000 | Merged to form the S.E. Melbourne Magic in 1991. |
| 1 | Geelong Cats | 0 | 1 | .000 | Became the Geelong Supercats in 1988, now in NBL1 South. |
| 1 | Nunawading Spectres | 0 | 1 | .000 | Became the Eastside Spectres in 1987, now in NBL1 South. |
| 1 | Townsville Crocodiles | 0 | 1 | .000 | Runners-up in 2001. |
* Teams in bold are currently in the NBL.