Basketball fans flocked to Canberra last week for the NBL’s first return to the nation’s capital in over two decades.
The five day long basketball showcase featured all 10 NBL teams in the one venue for a pre-season showdown before the championship begins on the 18th of September.
Since its successful debut in 2015, the NBL Blitz has grown into a highlight of the Australian basketball calendar. After consecutive tournaments on the Gold Coast in 2023 and 2024, this year’s Blitz was moved to Canberra, despite the city not having its own team.
NBL Group chief executive David Stevenson said that the Blitz doubled as a trial run for Canberra to see if it could become the home to the 11th NBL team, following the successful introduction of the Tasmanian JackJumpers in 2023.
“We want to make sure that when we do expand, and I’d like to think that it’s not too far away, that that team is going to enter the competition, be competitive, have strong attendance, and then ultimately add and grow the value of the NBL,” he said in an appearance on the NBL Now podcast.
Echoing this, NBL CEO Vince Crivelli added in a press conference in June that: “We (the NBL) think that Canberra has an incredible basketball history, and we would love to see that history resurrected and we’d love to see in future years the opportunity for an NBL team to be based in Canberra again”.
But while Canberra may not currently have an NBL franchise, the city has a proud basketball history, once home to one of the NBL’s original teams, the Canberra Cannons.
The Canons won three championships and built a devoted fanbase between 1979 and 2003. The club’s folding, due to financial reasons, left the ACT without a team to cheer for.
Last year, the ACT government expressed support for a return of top tier basketball to the region, pledging to develop a new venue and entertainment precinct.
Thousands of fans cheer for their favourite players at the Blitz on Friday night. Photo: Banjo Tucker.
Fans at the event were enthusiastic about the possibility of Canberra returning to the NBL, sharing their excitement with Central News.
Canberran Alex Moisescu, who had bought tickets for all five days, reflected on the city’s long absence from the league.
“I’m very excited about it coming back. I’ve wondered for 10 years why Canberra doesn’t have a team in the NBL because smaller cities like Cairns have a team – we should have one too… Hopefully they bring one in soon and I will go every time,” he said.
Kristen Twomey, 44, added: “It’s great, it’s really accessible for us and it’s been super exciting,” while 16-year-old Tain Padman said: “The atmosphere is really great and it’s amazing to see them back here again”.
In the end, the New Zealand Breakers were crowned Blitz champions, with Izaiah Brockington high-fiving fans, selected as MVP of the event.
New Zealand Breakers player Izaiah Brockington gave fans high-fives after the team were crowned Blitz champions. Photo: Banjo Tucker.
While several teams used the Blitz to trial new line-ups and strategies ahead of the 2025 NBL season, organisers monitored logistics and fan engagement to gauge Canberra’s readiness for a full time franchise.
With packed stands and strong community interest, the tournament offered an indication that the city could support professional basketball once again very soon.
Main image of NBL Blitz by Banjo Tucker.
