The NBL has become one of Australia and New Zealand’s favourite basketball leagues. Yes, alongside the AFL, NRL and A-League, the NBL has become a true fan favourite, with over one million avid ballers attending matches across the two countries in the 23/24 season. After all, basketball has always been one of AUS/NZ’s favourite sports to play, so it’s only natural that the game’s national league would eventually catch up!
So, why is the NBL becoming so popular from Auckland across the Tassie Sea and all the way to Perth on the Indian Ocean? What is it about this legendary game – a classic in both Australia and New Zealand – that has seen its popularity skyrocket in recent years?
We think we can point out a few reasons why:
- There are so many talented players
Grab the best 36 basketball Adelaide has in stock because we are going to discuss why the NBL has become so popular with Aussie and New Zealand fans. Naturally, one of the main reasons is because of the talent of both local and international players in the league. And, sure, the NBL has always been home to great players, but today’s league is seeing an increase in frequency with the amount of ballers who are playing at an absolute world class level.
This, naturally, makes watching the league that much more exciting, especially when our league is home to myriad players that could easily hold their own in the giant clubs of The States and Europe. This massive increase in talent has seen the NBL become of the most popular leagues in the world (perhaps only after the obvious i.e. NBA and the Euro League). Watching some of the world’s best players come through the ranks is one of the most exciting things about being a basketball fan and we are blessed to enjoy this privilege in our very own league!
- Young players want to make the league
Let’s face it: the dream of past ballers was to bypass the NBL for the NBA. Or, if necessary, play in the domestic league until a talent scout picks them up and flies them off to the big league. However, this is not the case anymore, as young players from across Australia and New Zealand are vying to be a part of our national clubs and not just as a means of flying out to The States or Europe.
In 2025, the NBL truly holds its own alongside these world-renowned leagues, making young players proud of the sport on a domestic level and wanting to play for their local clubs. Yes, the NBL can be looked at alongside the likes of the AFL or NRL, homegrown heroes have always wanted to be picked up by their childhood teams. This provides a great sense of pride for NBL fans and further increases its already-booming popularity.
- It’s a great sport to watch live
Watching the NBL live has always been great fun and it’s only getting better the more popular it becomes. Because, after all, watching your favourite team in a packed-out arena is always going to be an awesome, incredibly-exciting experience, and this is especially so when you consider that the league is only getting better in terms of fanfare and match quality.
So, it’s easy to see why the NBL is becoming (if not already) one of the world’s go-to basketball leagues. It’s a fun and fast-paced sport full of talented players who are sure to take the world’s courts by storm!
