# 1979 NBL season

The 1979 NBL season was the inaugural season of the National Basketball League (NBL). The championship was decided by a sudden death Grand Final between first (St. Kilda Saints) and second (Canberra Cannons).

## Teams

Ten teams competed in the 1979 Season.
* Bruins
* Bullets
* Cannons
* Astronauts
* Tigers
* Hawks
* Falcons
* Spectres
* Saints
* Bearcats
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Founded | Head Coach |
| Bankstown Bruins | Sydney | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | 2,500 | 1979 | Shaun O'Connell |
| Brisbane Bullets | Brisbane | Auchenflower Stadium | 2,000 | 1979 | Robert Young |
| Canberra Cannons | Canberra | Canberra Showgrounds | Unknown | 1979 | Cal Stamp |
| City of Sydney Astronauts | Sydney | Alexandria Stadium | Unknown | 1979 | Charlie Ammit |
| Glenelg Tigers | Glenelg | Apollo Entertainment Centre | 3,000 | 1979 | Alan Dawe |
| Illawarra Hawks | Wollongong | Beaton Park Stadium | 2,000 | 1979 | Joe Farrugia |
| Newcastle Falcons | Newcastle | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | 2,200 | 1979 | Bob Turner |
| Nunawading Spectres | Melbourne | Burwood Stadium | 2,000 | 1979 | Barry Barnes |
| St. Kilda Saints | Melbourne | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | 2,000 | 1979 | Brian Kerle |
| West Adelaide Bearcats | Port Adelaide | Apollo Entertainment Centre | 3,000 | 1979 | Ken Richardson |

## Regular season

The 1979 regular season took place over 15 rounds between 24 February 1979 and 3 June 1979.
Every team played 18 games, against each opponent twice.

### Round 1

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 24/02/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 78–62 | Newcastle Falcons | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/02/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 68–65 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/02/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 70–77 | Canberra Cannons | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/02/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 79–82 | Canberra Cannons | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/02/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 107–81 | Newcastle Falcons | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/02/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 101–77 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 2

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 3/03/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 86–91 | Canberra Cannons | Alexandria Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/03/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 91–88 | St. Kilda Saints | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/03/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 97–69 | Brisbane Bullets | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/03/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 73–66 | Nunawading Spectres | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/03/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 74–101 | St. Kilda Saints | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/03/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 83-81 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/03/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 74–78 | Canberra Cannons | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/03/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 68–74 | Nunawading Spectres | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 3

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 10/03/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 75–65 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |
| 10/03/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 74–71 | Bankstown Bruins | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 10/03/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 99–87 | Glenelg Tigers | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 11/03/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 75–72 | St. Kilda Saints | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 11/03/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 81–80 | Glenelg Tigers | Alexandria Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 11/03/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 68–78 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 4

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 17/03/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 62–78 | Brisbane Bullets | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/03/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 68–65 | St. Kilda Saints | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/03/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 70–77 | Illawarra Hawks | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/03/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 79–82 | Nunawading Spectres | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/03/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 107–81 | Nunawading Spectres | Alexandria Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/03/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 101–77 | Brisbane Bullets | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/03/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 101–77 | St. Kilda Saints | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 5

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 24/03/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 64–73 | Bankstown Bruins | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/03/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 88–70 | Canberra Cannons | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/03/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 79–77 | Illawarra Hawks | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/03/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 92–82 | Illawarra Hawks | Alexandria Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/03/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 71–59 | Canberra Cannons | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/03/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 91–88 | Bankstown Bruins | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 31/03/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 72–91 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 6

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 31/03/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 86–80 | Brisbane Bullets | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |
| 31/03/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 90–76 | Bankstown Bruins | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 31/03/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 86–54 | Glenelg Tigers | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/04/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 77–53 | Glenelg Tigers | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/04/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 107–95 | Brisbane Bullets | Alexandria Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/04/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 70–92 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 7

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 7/04/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 75–77 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/04/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 101–86 | Bankstown Bruins | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/04/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 76–83 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/04/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 77–47 | Illawarra Hawks | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 8/04/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 89–81 | Illawarra Hawks | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 8/04/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 99–80 | Newcastle Falcons | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 8

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 19/04/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 71–80 | Canberra Cannons | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 9

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 21/04/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 107–86 | Bankstown Bruins | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/04/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 93–81 | Bankstown Bruins | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/04/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 64–65 | Canberra Cannons | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 10

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 28/04/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 94–89 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/04/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 91–86 | Illawarra Hawks | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/04/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 95–76 | Nunawading Spectres | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/04/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 91–74 | Glenelg Tigers | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/04/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 90–100 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/04/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 86–84 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Alexandria Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/04/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 80–75 | Glenelg Tigers | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 11

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 5/05/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 96–103 | Bankstown Bruins | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/05/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 117–92 | Brisbane Bullets | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/05/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 94–85 | Newcastle Falcons | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/05/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 84–97 | Brisbane Bullets | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 12

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 12/05/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 110–83 | Glenelg Tigers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/05/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 72–58 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/05/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 84–77 | Canberra Cannons | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/05/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 99–119 | Newcastle Falcons | Alexandria Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/05/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 84–100 | Glenelg Tigers | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/05/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 92–85 | West Adelaide Bearcats | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/05/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 91–85 | Illawarra Hawks | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 13

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 19/05/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 108–85 | Newcastle Falcons | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/05/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 68–74 | Illawarra Hawks | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/05/1979 | City of Sydney Astronauts | 78–103 | St. Kilda Saints | Alexandria Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/05/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 105–85 | Nunawading Spectres | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 81–98 | St. Kilda Saints | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 84–70 | Nunawading Spectres | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 83–87 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 74–71 | Illawarra Hawks | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 79–77 | Newcastle Falcons | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 14

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 26/05/1979 | Newcastle Falcons | 79–92 | St. Kilda Saints | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/05/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 92–93 | Nunawading Spectres | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/05/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 97–76 | Glenelg Tigers | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/05/1979 | Brisbane Bullets | 104–88 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Auchenflower Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/05/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 84–93 | Nunawading Spectres | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/05/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 93–98 | St. Kilda Saints | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 15

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 2/06/1979 | Illawarra Hawks | 81–80 | Newcastle Falcons | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/06/1979 | Canberra Cannons | 101–86 | Bankstown Bruins | Canberra Showgrounds | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/06/1979 | Nunawading Spectres | 81–61 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Burwood Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/06/1979 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 120–93 | Brisbane Bullets | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/06/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 97–86 | City of Sydney Astronauts | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/06/1979 | Bankstown Bruins | 84–93 | Newcastle Falcons | Bankstown Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/06/1979 | Glenelg Tigers | 92–112 | Brisbane Bullets | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

## Ladder

| Pos | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte | 1979 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | St. Kilda Saints | 18 | 15 | 3 | 83.33% | 5–0 | W13 | 9–0 | 6–3 | 1689 | 1431 | 118.03% |
| 2 | Canberra Cannons$^1$ | 18 | 13 | 5 | 72.22% | 3–2 | W1 | 7–2 | 6–3 | 1448 | 1398 | 103.58% |
| 3 | Nunawading Spectres$^1$ | 18 | 13 | 5 | 72.22% | 3–2 | W3 | 8–1 | 5–4 | 1439 | 1349 | 106.67% |
| 4 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 18 | 12 | 6 | 66.67% | 4–1 | W4 | 8–1 | 4–5 | 1523 | 1397 | 109.02% |
| 5 | Brisbane Bullets | 18 | 10 | 8 | 55.56% | 3–2 | W1 | 6–3 | 4–5 | 1628 | 1625 | 100.18% |
| 6 | Newcastle Falcons$^2$ | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44.44% | 1-4 | W1 | 6–3 | 2–7 | 1550 | 1582 | 97.98% |
| 7 | City of Sydney Astronauts$^2$ | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44.44% | 1–4 | L3 | 5–4 | 3–6 | 1528 | 1609 | 94.97% |
| 8 | Illawarra Hawks | 18 | 5 | 13 | 27.78% | 2–3 | W1 | 4–5 | 1–8 | 1442 | 1521 | 94.81% |
| 9 | Glenelg Tigers$^3$ | 18 | 3 | 15 | 16.67% | 2–3 | L2 | 2–7 | 1–8 | 1340 | 1524 | 87.93% |
| 10 | Bankstown Bruins$^3$ | 18 | 3 | 15 | 16.67% | 0–5 | L5 | 1–8 | 2–7 | 1484 | 1635 | 90.76% |
Updated to match(es) played on 3 June 1979. 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 Canberra Cannons and Nunawading Spectres (1-1). Canberra Cannons won For and Against (+2).
$^2$Newcastle Falcons won Head-to-Head (2-0).
$^3$Head-to-Head between Glenelg Tigers and Bankstown Bruins (1-1). Glenelg Tigers won For and Against (+7).

## Grand Final

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 10/06/1979 | St. Kilda Saints | 94–93 | Canberra Cannons | Albert Park Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

## Coaches

| Coach | Team | Games Coached | Won | Lost | Win% | Comments |
| Brian Kerle | St. Kilda Saints | 19 | 16 | 3 | 84.21% | 1979 Championship Coach (1st title) |
| Cal Stamp | Canberra Cannons | 19 | 13 | 6 | 68.42% | |
| Barry Barnes | Nunawading Spectres | 18 | 13 | 5 | 72.22% | |
| Ken Richardson | West Adelaide Bearcats | 18 | 12 | 6 | 66.67% | |
| Robert Young | Brisbane Bullets | 18 | 10 | 8 | 55.56% | |
| Bob Turner | Newcastle Falcons | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44.44% | |
| Charlie Ammit | City of Sydney Astronauts | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44.44% | |
| Joe Farrugia | Illawarra Hawks | 18 | 5 | 13 | 27.78% | |
| Alan Dawe | Glenelg Tigers | 18 | 3 | 15 | 16.67% | |
| Shaun O'Connell | Bankstown Bruins | 18 | 3 | 15 | 16.67% | |

## Awards
### Statistics leaders

| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
| Points | Cal Bruton | Brisbane Bullets | 597 pts / 18 games |
| Free throw percentage | Robbie Cadee | St. Kilda Saints | 89.7% (35/39) |

### Regular season

* Most Valuable Player: Ken Richardson (West Adelaide Bearcats)

### Grand Final

* Grand Final MVP: Larry Sengstock (St. Kilda Saints)