# 1989 NBL season

The 1989 NBL season was the 11th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 13 teams contest the league.

## Clubs

| Club | Location | Home Venue | Capacity | Founded | Head Coach |
| Adelaide 36ers | Adelaide, South Australia | Apollo Stadium | 3,000 | 1982 | Gary Fox |
| Brisbane Bullets | Brisbane, Queensland | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | 13,500 | 1979 | Brian Kerle |
| Canberra Cannons | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | AIS Arena | 5,200 | 1979 | Steve Breheny* |
| Eastside Spectres | Melbourne, Victoria | Burwood Stadium | 2,000 | 1979 | Brian Goorjian |
| Geelong Supercats | Geelong, Victoria | Geelong Arena | 2,000 | 1982 | Barry Barnes |
| Hobart Tassie Devils | Hobart, Tasmania | Derwent Entertainment Centre | 5,400 | 1983 | Tom Maher |
| Illawarra Hawks | Wollongong, New South Wales | Illawarra Basketball Stadium | 2,000 | 1979 | Dave Lindstrom |
| Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne, Victoria | The Glass House | 7,200 | 1931 | Lindsay Gaze |
| Newcastle Falcons | Newcastle, New South Wales | Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium | 2,200 | 1979 | Ken Cole |
| North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne, Victoria | The Glass House | 7,200 | 1980 | Bruce Palmer |
| Perth Wildcats | Perth, Western Australia | Perth Superdome | 4,500 | 1982 | Alan Black |
| Sydney Kings | Sydney, New South Wales | State Sports Centre | 5,006 | 1988 | Bob Turner |
| Westside Saints | Melbourne, Victoria | Keilor Stadium | 2,000 | 1979 | Colin Cadee |

### NOTES

* Steve Breheny was suspended by the league following the semi-finals series between Canberra and Sydney for allegedly headbutting Kings player Damian Keogh. Assistant Coach Andy Campbell was in charge of the team for the Grand Final Series.

## Regular season

The 1989 regular season took place over 22 rounds between 20 April 1989 and 16 September 1989.

### Round 1

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 20/04/1989 | Westside Saints | 102–112 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 21/04/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 99–106 | Geelong Supercats | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 21/04/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 93–109 | Brisbane Bullets | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 21/04/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 98–115 | Melbourne Tigers | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 21/04/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 131–118 | Westside Saints | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/04/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 132–93 | Perth Wildcats | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/04/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 114–105 | Geelong Supercats | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/04/1989 | Sydney Kings | 82–79 | Brisbane Bullets | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/04/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 109–111 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 2

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 28/04/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 117–97 | Sydney Kings | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/04/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 105–96 | Brisbane Bullets | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/04/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 125–121 | Newcastle Falcons | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/04/1989 | Westside Saints | 111–105 | Eastside Spectres | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/04/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 104–113 | Sydney Kings | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/04/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 102–109 | Brisbane Bullets | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/04/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 122–116 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/04/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 97–131 | North Melbourne Giants | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 3

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 5/05/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 100–97 | Geelong Supercats | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/05/1989 | Sydney Kings | 67–92 | Eastside Spectres | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/05/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 129–132 | Melbourne Tigers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/05/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 125–116 | Geelong Supercats | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/05/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 104–101 | Westside Saints | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/05/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 76–81 | Eastside Spectres | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/05/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 82–112 | Brisbane Bullets | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 4

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 11/05/1989 | Westside Saints | 102–124 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/05/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 136–124 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/05/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 91–96 | Canberra Cannons | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/05/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 112–97 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/05/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 95–107 | Perth Wildcats | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/05/1989 | Sydney Kings | 115–112 | Newcastle Falcons | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/05/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 170–127 | Illawarra Hawks | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 14/05/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 118–138 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 5

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 19/05/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 113–100 | Eastside Spectres | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/05/1989 | Sydney Kings | 82–77 | Hobart Tassie Devils | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/05/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 135–119 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 100–99 | Eastside Spectres | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 125–110 | Illawarra Hawks | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 128–111 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/05/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 115–116 | Geelong Supercats | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 6

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 26/05/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 134–129 | Newcastle Falcons | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/05/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 124–123 | North Melbourne Giants | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/05/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 125–128 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/05/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 148–123 | Newcastle Falcons | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/05/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 109–108 | North Melbourne Giants | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/05/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 90–95 | Sydney Kings | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/05/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 100–99 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 7

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 2/06/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 128–113 | Adelaide 36ers | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/06/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 95–108 | Westside Saints | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/06/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 125–120 | North Melbourne Giants | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/06/1989 | Sydney Kings | 110–107 | North Melbourne Giants | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/06/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 112–89 | Westside Saints | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/06/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 86–106 | Melbourne Tigers | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/06/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 110–103 | Perth Wildcats | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/06/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 104–117 | Adelaide 36ers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 8

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 8/06/1989 | Westside Saints | 102–103 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/06/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 130–109 | Geelong Supercats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/06/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 123–120 | Illawarra Hawks | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 10/06/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 108–137 | Melbourne Tigers | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 10/06/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 116–113 | Illawarra Hawks | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 10/06/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 126–124 | Canberra Cannons | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 9

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 15/06/1989 | Westside Saints | 110–114 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/06/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 105–114 | Canberra Cannons | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/06/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 121–102 | Brisbane Bullets | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/06/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 142–112 | Eastside Spectres | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/06/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 105–104 | Brisbane Bullets | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/06/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 141–125 | Westside Saints | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/06/1989 | Sydney Kings | 119–108 | Canberra Cannons | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/06/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 112–121 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/06/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 115–105 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 10

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 22/06/1989 | Westside Saints | 98–93 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/06/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 92–79 | Eastside Spectres | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/06/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 104–116 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/06/1989 | Sydney Kings | 110–106 | Illawarra Hawks | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/06/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 91–94 | Eastside Spectres | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/06/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 113–105 | Newcastle Falcons | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/06/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 91–114 | Adelaide 36ers | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/06/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 113–112 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 11

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 29/06/1989 | Westside Saints | 93–118 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 30/06/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 128–113 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/07/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 77–78 | Westside Saints | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/07/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 116–106 | Adelaide 36ers | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/07/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 95–98 | Sydney Kings | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/07/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 132–141 | Illawarra Hawks | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/07/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 112–131 | Canberra Cannons | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/07/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 105–114 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 13

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 14/07/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 130–115 | Perth Wildcats | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 14/07/1989 | Sydney Kings | 112–115 | Melbourne Tigers | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 14/07/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 139–117 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/07/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 123–125 | Perth Wildcats | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/07/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 109–135 | Melbourne Tigers | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/07/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 104–124 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/07/1989 | Westside Saints | 102–107 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 14

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 21/07/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 109–114 | Canberra Cannons | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/07/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 98–89 | Newcastle Falcons | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/07/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 152–131 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/07/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 103–86 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/07/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 125–111 | Westside Saints | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/07/1989 | Sydney Kings | 94–96 | Adelaide 36ers | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/07/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 121–99 | Westside Saints | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 15

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 28/07/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 110–111 | Eastside Spectres | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/07/1989 | Sydney Kings | 109–92 | Geelong Supercats | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/07/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 109–98 | Newcastle Falcons | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/07/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 127–100 | Adelaide 36ers | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 16

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 3/08/1989 | Westside Saints | 98–106 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/08/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 94–89 | Sydney Kings | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/08/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 115–136 | North Melbourne Giants | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/08/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 122–109 | Illawarra Hawks | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/08/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 102–100 | North Melbourne Giants | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/08/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 100–105 | Westside Saints | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/08/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 110–97 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/08/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 97–100 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/08/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 97–115 | Illawarra Hawks | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 17

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 11/08/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 116–111 | Melbourne Tigers | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/08/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 107–103 | Melbourne Tigers | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/08/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 131–120 | Sydney Kings | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/08/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 98–91 | Geelong Supercats | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/08/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 104–119 | North Melbourne Giants | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/08/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 105–103 | Eastside Spectres | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 18

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 18/08/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 120–105 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/08/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 100–102 | Newcastle Falcons | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/08/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 124–120 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/08/1989 | Sydney Kings | 104–96 | Westside Saints | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/08/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 130–127 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/08/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 133–113 | Hobart Tassie Devils | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/08/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 91–87 | Brisbane Bullets | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/08/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 116–103 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 19

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 25/08/1989 | Sydney Kings | 111–108 | Perth Wildcats | State Sports Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/08/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 134–116 | Illawarra Hawks | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/08/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 96–100 | Perth Wildcats | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/08/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 103–105 | Canberra Cannons | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/08/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 107–100 | Adelaide 36ers | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/08/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 112–95 | Eastside Spectres | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/08/1989 | Westside Saints | 128–108 | Illawarra Hawks | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 20

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 31/08/1989 | Westside Saints | 110–89 | Geelong Supercats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/09/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 127–118 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/09/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 134–123 | Perth Wildcats | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/09/1989 | Illawarra Hawks | 115–145 | Canberra Cannons | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/09/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 121–116 | Adelaide 36ers | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/09/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 120–81 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/09/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 112–87 | Geelong Supercats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 21

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 6/09/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 104–112 | Eastside Spectres | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 8/09/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 120–107 | Westside Saints | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 8/09/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 148–114 | Hobart Tassie Devils | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 8/09/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 119–129 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/09/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 112–98 | Westside Saints | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/09/1989 | Newcastle Falcons | 102–97 | Sydney Kings | Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/09/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 113–107 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/09/1989 | Geelong Supercats | 103–132 | North Melbourne Giants | Geelong Arena | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 22

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 14/09/1989 | Westside Saints | 131–127 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/09/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 113–105 | Illawarra Hawks | Apollo Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/09/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 154–115 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/09/1989 | Hobart Tassie Devils | 130–109 | Geelong Supercats | Derwent Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/09/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 123–119 | Illawarra Hawks | Challenge Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/09/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 106–104 | Melbourne Tigers | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/09/1989 | Brisbane Bullets | 116–103 | Sydney Kings | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/09/1989 | Eastside Spectres | 128–97 | Geelong Supercats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

## Ladder

This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. The top 6 teams qualified for the finals series.
| Pos | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte | 1989 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | Canberra Cannons | 24 | 18 | 6 | 75.00% | 4–1 | W4 | 10–2 | 8–4 | 2736 | 2580 | 106.05% |
| 2 | North Melbourne Giants | 24 | 17 | 7 | 70.33% | 5–0 | W7 | 11–1 | 6–6 | 2993 | 2701 | 110.81% |
| 3 | Perth Wildcats$^1$ | 24 | 16 | 8 | 66.67% | 3–2 | W2 | 11–1 | 5–7 | 2681 | 2660 | 100.79% |
| 4 | Melbourne Tigers$^1$ | 24 | 16 | 8 | 66.67% | 3–2 | L2 | 8–4 | 8–4 | 2802 | 2660 | 105.34% |
| 5 | Sydney Kings$^2$ | 24 | 15 | 9 | 62.50% | 2–3 | L2 | 9–3 | 6–6 | 2471 | 2489 | 99.28% |
| 6 | Adelaide 36ers$^2$ | 24 | 15 | 9 | 62.50% | 3–2 | W2 | 10–2 | 5–7 | 2778 | 2668 | 104.12% |
| 7 | Eastside Spectres | 24 | 14 | 10 | 53.85% | 4–1 | W4 | 9–3 | 5–7 | 2527 | 2454 | 102.97% |
| 8 | Brisbane Bullets | 24 | 11 | 13 | 45.83% | 1–4 | W1 | 7–5 | 4–8 | 2563 | 2492 | 102.85% |
| 9 | Westside Saints$^3$ | 24 | 8 | 16 | 33.33% | 3–2 | W1 | 5–7 | 3–9 | 2522 | 2648 | 95.24% |
| 10 | Hobart Tassie Devils$^3$ | 24 | 8 | 16 | 33.33% | 3–2 | W1 | 6–6 | 2–10 | 2566 | 2757 | 93.07% |
| 11 | Illawarra Hawks | 24 | 7 | 17 | 29.17% | 0–5 | L6 | 5–7 | 2–10 | 2826 | 2929 | 96.48% |
| 12 | Newcastle Falcons | 24 | 6 | 18 | 25.00% | 2–3 | L2 | 5–7 | 1–11 | 2649 | 2799 | 94.64% |
| 13 | Geelong Supercats | 24 | 5 | 19 | 20.83% | 0–5 | L6 | 3–9 | 2–10 | 2445 | 2722 | 89.82% |
Updated to match(es) played on 16 September 1989. 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.
$^1$Perth Wildcats won Head-to-Head (2-0).
$^2$Head-to-Head between Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers (1-1). Sydney Kings won For and Against (+7).
$^3$Head-to-Head between Westside Saints and Hobart Tassie Devils (1-1). Westside Saints won For and Against (+5).

## Finals
### Playoff bracket

| Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| | | | | | 1 | Canberra Cannons | 108 | 92 | 142 | | | | | |
| 4 | Melbourne Tigers | 105 | 112 | 83 | 5 | Sydney Kings | 98 | 100 | 82 | | | | | |
| 5 | Sydney Kings | 117 | 89 | 85 | | | | | | 1 | Canberra Cannons | 105 | 97 | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | North Melbourne Giants | 111 | 111 | X |
| | | | | | 2 | North Melbourne Giants | 129 | 108 | 165 | | | | | |
| 3 | Perth Wildcats | 122 | 114 | 112 | 3 | Perth Wildcats | 108 | 111 | 110 | | | | | |
| 6 | Adelaide 36ers | 124 | 94 | 108 | | | | | | | | | | |
There were two best of three Elimination finals, four best of three Semifinals, and then best of three grand final series.

### Elimination Finals

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 20/09/1989 | Sydney Kings | 117–105 | Melbourne Tigers | State Sports Centre | 5,006 | boxscore |
| 20/09/1989 | Adelaide 36ers | 124–122 | Perth Wildcats | Apollo Entertainment Centre | 3,000 | boxscore |
| 22/09/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 112–89 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | 7,200 | boxscore |
| 22/09/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 114–94 | Adelaide 36ers | Challenge Stadium | 4,500 | boxscore |
| 24/09/1989 | Melbourne Tigers | 83–85 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | 7,200 | boxscore |
| 24/09/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 112–108 | Adelaide 36ers | Challenge Stadium | 4,500 | boxscore |

### Semifinals

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 29/09/1989 | Sydney Kings | 98–108 | Canberra Cannons | State Sports Centre | 5,006 | boxscore |
| 30/09/1989 | Perth Wildcats | 108–129 | North Melbourne Giants | Challenge Stadium | 4,500 | boxscore |
| 6/10/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 92–100 | Sydney Kings | AIS Arena | 5,200 | boxscore |
| 6/10/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 108–111 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | 7,200 | boxscore |
| 8/10/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 142–82 | Sydney Kings | AIS Arena | 5,200 | boxscore |
| 8/10/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 165–110 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | 7,200 | boxscore |

### Grand Final

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Box Score |
| 14/10/1989 | Canberra Cannons | 105–111 | North Melbourne Giants | AIS Arena | 5,200 | boxscore |
| 20/10/1989 | North Melbourne Giants | 111–97 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | 7,200 | boxscore |

## 1989 NBL statistics leaders

| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
| Points per game | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers | 34.5 |
| Rebounds per game | Dean Uthoff | Eastside Spectres | 17.0 |
| Assists per game | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers | 7.2 |
| Steals per game | Phil Smyth | Canberra Cannons | 3.3 |
| Blocks per game | Willie Simmons | Canberra Cannons | 3.2 |
| Free throw percentage | Scott Fisher | North Melbourne Giants | 87.5% |

## NBL awards

* Most Valuable Player: Scott Fisher, North Melbourne Giants
* Most Valuable Player Grand Final: Scott Fisher, North Melbourne Giants
* Best Defensive Player: Phil Smyth, Canberra Cannons
* Most Improved Player: Mark Bradtke, Adelaide 36ers
* Rookie of the Year: Justin Withers, Illawarra Hawks
* Coach of the Year: Lindsay Gaze, Melbourne Tigers

## All NBL Team

| # | Player | Team |
| PG | Phil Smyth | Canberra Cannons |
| SG | Kent Lockhart | Eastside Spectres |
| SF | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers |
| PF | Scott Fisher | North Melbourne Giants |
| C | Mark Davis | Adelaide 36ers |