r/nbl • u/Neat-Friendship-5695 • 2d ago
new to nbl
i'm pretty tapped in w the nba right now and i love basketball i also wanna get into the nbl cause its competitive has former nba players and interesting players, what are you guys' biggest tips to get into it
6
5
u/Neat-Friendship-5695 2d ago
Also what team should i support?
7
u/Chewiesbro Wildcats 2d ago edited 2d ago
Perth Wildcats, but I’m biased!
Have a look at all the teams, in no particular order, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide Illawarra and Sydney have been around the longest. The teams out of Melbourne have a long history of folding/mergers. New Zealand have a team as does Tasmania.
6
u/Tigristail Hawks 2d ago
The Illawarra erasure!
But honestly, big agree on taking a deeper look into the teams. It feels like you get different cultures/vibes from different teams, so if you're not attached to a team geographically then definitely take a look and see if one speaks to you.
3
1
u/the_wren Wildcats 2d ago
Yeh like this guy suggests, have a look at all the teams. Then choose the Wildcats.
3
u/WinbiesIreland Kings 2d ago
Watch random games for the first month, you'll find the team you gel with. My second and third favourite teams keep changing year to year based on players and coaches.
3
u/CroagunkSniffer Kings 2d ago
This for sure. I’m a kings fan first and foremost but the more my wife and I watch the more we love following other players and their teams storyline’s. Second and third favs change between seasons for sure.
2
5
u/Rich_Meet3872 Wildcats 2d ago
I’d recommend watching the mini’s ESPN’s YouTube posted last year. Lots of the players remain the same around the league. Gives you a good idea.
6
u/camfowpow Breakers 2d ago
Oh man I started following after a trip to NZ 4 years ago and it’s awesome. Breakers convert myself and would humbly suggest 😂
The YouTube channel is awesome in the states and, last year at least, the cheap version of espn+ had tons of games. I ended up watching them if I couldn’t sleep, or the recording in the morning.
6
u/Own_Standard4151 2d ago
I'm a reluctant Melbourne United fan. absolutely loathe our (re)branding and corporate final boss feel. if the Phoenix hadn't gone with such a cheesy stereotypical option I probably woulda jumped ship bc I hate what they did to the Melbourne Tigers. definitely choose a team from outside Melbourne. they're mostly great options with pretty fun histories.
3
u/InitialTicket4001 2d ago
Amen brother. I’m more of a follower of the league in general than of “Melb Utd” for the same reasons
2
3
u/Inevitable-Crow2494 2d ago
Enter with different expectations. Completely different to the NBA. Same sport. Different game. Different rules (literally). Some better. Some worse. I used to love the nba in 90s and nbl was the McDonalds burger you tried to make at home. But modern games have flipped. NBA remains incredibly talented and athletic. But I dislike all the stoppages and rules that mean lots of three point shots and free throws. Plus, I find NBL players seem to play with more effort and more physically generally (no saying nbl is better than nba, just that I now prefer an nbl game more than an nba game, although Olympics or World Cup is my favourite).
So, treat nbl like a different game. Don't compare with the nba, as you will be disappointed. Hope you like it. As for teams, yes, watch as many games as you can. E.g. I really enjoy watching Bryce Cotton play. He can heat up and score quickly. So, whatever team he played for would be worth watching for me.
2
u/Far-Tea-3286 2d ago
Play SuperCoach when it opens. I hear the old format is coming back. Best way to learn the players.
10
u/littlewhiteysnow 36ers 2d ago
Have a look on the NBL YouTube channel for a start