NBL1 West

NBL1 West
Most recent season or competition:
2024 NBL1 West season
FormerlyState Basketball League
1989–2020
SportBasketball
Founded1989
First season1989
General ManagerBrighton Pass
No. of teamsW: 13
M: 14
CountryAustralia
ContinentFIBA Oceania (Oceania)
Most recent
champion(s)
W: Rockingham Flames (4th title)
M: Mandurah Magic (1st title)
Most titlesW: Willetton Tigers (9 titles)
M: Perry Lakes Hawks (7 titles)
Official websiteNBL1.com.au/West

NBL1 West, formerly the State Basketball League (SBL), is a semi-professional basketball league in Western Australia, comprising both a men's and women's competition. In 2020, Basketball Western Australia partnered with the National Basketball League (NBL) to bring NBL1 to Western Australia. NBL1 replaced the former SBL to create more professional pathways and opportunities for males and females playing basketball in Western Australia. As a result, the SBL became the west conference of NBL1.

History

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The State Basketball League originated in 1972 as the District Competition. The District Competition was introduced by the Western Australian Basketball Federation (WABF) as an 'elite' competition held on Friday nights, featuring eight Perth-based associations from the prominent districts of Perth, Swan Districts, Tangney/Willetton, Subiaco, East Perth, Cockburn, Stirling, and Claremont.[1] In 1986, the competition was rebranded as the "State League". This name continued in 1987, but 1987 was something of a watershed year for the WABF, as the entire structure of the game in Western Australia was being reconsidered.[2]

A census in 1987 showed that 61 percent of WABF members were from country areas, so it was decided to try to include several country teams in the state's premier basketball league. The Perth Wildcats had a hugely successful season in 1987—reaching the NBL Grand Final in their first trip to the finals—attracting much television coverage, which saw basketball's popularity soar. In 1988, it was decided to form a State Basketball League for both men and women, and to develop it into an elite, statewide competition as soon as possible. This meant seeking out private owners and attracting corporate sponsorship, so as to not burden the association. As part of basketball's development, the Western Australian Institute of Sport men's team was included in the SBL under Warren Kuhn.[2]

Simon Leunig, who had been the WABF's development officer, was appointed general manager of the SBL, and set about organising an expanded league for 1989. His marketing strategy paid off, and three new franchises were established in country areas: the Rainbow Coast Raiders from Albany were the first, followed by the Batavia Buccaneers from Geraldton[3] and the Souwest Slammers from Bunbury.[2]

The expanded SBL, which was limited to men's teams in 1989, was sponsored by McDonald's and Skywest, with a $65,000 grant from the State Government to help with travel costs.[2]

In 2017, the SBL shifted to the 40-minute game format in-line with FIBA, with games consisting of ten minute quarters as opposed to the twelve minute quarters under the previous 48-minute format.[4]

In October 2020, Basketball Western Australia and the National Basketball League (NBL) announced a new partnership to bring NBL1 to Western Australia in 2021, with NBL1 replacing the SBL. The SBL was officially renamed NBL1 West and became the west conference of NBL1.[5][6]

Current clubs

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Women's teams

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Team Location Arena Debut season
Cockburn Cougars Hamilton Hill, City of Cockburn Wally Hagan Stadium 1989
East Perth Eagles Morley, City of Bayswater Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 1989
Goldfields Giants Kalgoorlie Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium 2022
Joondalup Wolves Joondalup, City of Joondalup HBF Arena 1989
Kalamunda Eastern Suns Lesmurdie, City of Kalamunda Ray Owen Sports Centre 2008
Lakeside Lightning North Lake, City of Cockburn Lakeside Recreation Centre 2001
Mandurah Magic Mandurah Mandurah Aquatic & Recreation Centre 1996
Perry Lakes Hawks Floreat, Town of Cambridge Bendat Basketball Centre 1989
Perth Redbacks Belmont, City of Belmont Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre 1989
Rockingham Flames Rockingham, City of Rockingham Mike Barnett Sports Complex 1992
South West Slammers Bunbury Eaton Recreation Centre 1992
Warwick Senators Warwick, City of Joondalup Warwick Stadium 1989
Willetton Tigers Willetton, City of Canning Willetton Basketball Stadium 1989

Men's teams

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Team Location Arena Debut season
Cockburn Cougars Hamilton Hill, City of Cockburn Wally Hagan Stadium 1989
East Perth Eagles Morley, City of Bayswater Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 1989
Geraldton Buccaneers Geraldton Activewest Stadium 1989
Goldfields Giants Kalgoorlie Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium 1990
Joondalup Wolves Joondalup, City of Joondalup HBF Arena 1989
Kalamunda Eastern Suns Lesmurdie, City of Kalamunda Ray Owen Sports Centre 2008
Lakeside Lightning North Lake, City of Cockburn Lakeside Recreation Centre 2000
Mandurah Magic Mandurah Mandurah Aquatic & Recreation Centre 1990
Perry Lakes Hawks Floreat, Town of Cambridge Bendat Basketball Centre 1989
Perth Redbacks Belmont, City of Belmont Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre 1989
Rockingham Flames Rockingham, City of Rockingham Mike Barnett Sports Complex 1994
South West Slammers Bunbury Eaton Recreation Centre 1989
Warwick Senators Warwick, City of Joondalup Warwick Stadium 1989
Willetton Tigers Willetton, City of Canning Willetton Basketball Stadium 1989


League championships

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The Hawks' 14 championship banners (July 2024)

The Willetton Tigers have won the most championships in the women's competition with 9 Grand Final wins, while the Perry Lakes Hawks have won the most championships in the men's competition with 7 Grand Final wins. The Hawks women have also amassed seven titles, making Perry Lakes the most successful club in league history with a total of 14 championships.

Women Men
Teams Year(s) won Teams Year(s) won
Willetton Tigers 9 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2021 Perry Lakes Hawks 7 1994, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2018, 2021
Perry Lakes Hawks 7 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2017 Perth Redbacks 4 1989, 1990, 1997, 2017
Joondalup Wolves 4 1990, 1992, 1995, 2013 South West Slammers 4 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
Rockingham Flames 4 2014, 2015, 2019, 2024 Lakeside Lightning 4 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013
Swan City Mustangs 3 1991, 1993, 1996 Cockburn Cougars 3 1992, 2012, 2016
Perth Redbacks 2 1989, 2000 Joondalup Wolves 3 1993, 2011, 2015
Warwick Senators 2 1994, 2022 Geraldton Buccaneers 3 2000, 2019, 2023
Lakeside Lightning 2 2006, 2018 Goldfields Giants 2 2007, 2008
South West Slammers 1 2012 Swan City Mustangs 1 1991
Cockburn Cougars 1 2023 Willetton Tigers 1 2010
East Perth Eagles 1 2014
Rockingham Flames 1 2022
Mandurah Magic 1 2024
indicates club is not a current member of NBL1 West

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pekin, Lyndsay (2009). "Time-out for Perry Lakes Stadium". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d McDonald's State Basketball League Handbook 1989. Western Australian Basketball Federation (Inc.). 1989. pp. 7–9.
  3. ^ "History of the Buccs". GeraldtonBuccaneers.com.au. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  4. ^ "SBL Moves to 40 Minute Game Format". SBL.asn.au. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020.
  5. ^ "NBL1 West to tip off in 2021". NBL1.com.au. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. ^ Garlepp, Josh (30 October 2020). "State Basketball League to become NBL 1 West as WA clubs agree to unite under national second-tier banner". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
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