Crystal ball: Our experts make bold predictions

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• 2025-26 NBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker
• Magnificent 7: Biggest must-see games of NBL26

We're on the brink of the most anticipated NBL season in the league's history.

From superstar talents coming to Australia, to big-name players switching uniforms and other teams cashing in and revamping their whole franchise - the NBL offseason has been one to remember. But now it's time for action with Tasmania and Melbourne to tip things off on Thursday night in the season opener.

Our basketball.com.au team, including NBL legend Jason Cadee, gives their predictions for the season ahead. Who will be right? Time will tell.

15-YEAR NBL VET, FORMER BOOMERS GUARD, BASKETBALL.COM.AU CONTRIBUTOR JASON CADEE

• Champions: Melbourne United. Most balanced roster in the competition.
• MVP: Bryce Cotton. Different uniform but same old Bryce Cotton takes home a sixth MVP award.
• Most Improved: Jaylin Galloway. A huge Asia Cup, on NBA radars, JG is set for a huge year with the Kings.
• DPOY: Javale McGee. I don't think this needs reasoning considering his history and resume.
• Coach of the Year: Mike Wells. Turns it around with the 36ers this year in his second season at the helm.
• NBL 26 Surprise: With two rounds to go, all 10 teams will still be in the running to make the playoffs.

CONTRIBUTOR JACKSON MACDONALD

• Champions: Perth Wildcats. A team that is stacked and everyone fills a role without overlapping.
• MVP: Mason Jones, Perth Wildcats. Bryce Cotton should be the answer however, I don’t want to be boring so I’m going with his replacement. “Basketball" Jones will be top three in scoring and top five in assists so if the Wildcats go well this year he should be up there for MVP.
• Most Improved: Owen Foxwell, SEM Phoenix. From an impressive Asia Cup campaign to a great pre-season, Owen Foxwell looks to be South-East Melbourne’s starting point guard this year after being in the guard logjam off the bench for years. Get ready for those numbers to skyrocket.
• DPOY: John Brown III, SEM Phoenix. This might just be a biased pick after my run in with Scott Morrison (former Perth HC) years ago around this man, but JB3 is one of the best defenders in EuroLeague history. I don’t care about his age, he can still go and will be a problem for teams’ this season.
• Coach of the Year: Mike Wells Someone has to coach that Adelaide team. Someone has to control all the stars on that roster and Mike Wells is that guy.
• NBL26 Surprise: This season will be the year the Cairns Convention Centre finally doesn’t have any issues with air conditioning, power outages or leaks in the roof. Shocker I know.

SENIOR EDITOR PETER BROWN

• Champions: Illawarra to go back-to-back – JaVale McGee will be the difference maker. He has NBA championship pedigree and 33, 40-minute games in five months will keep his 37-year-old body healthy. There is no substitute for an elite big in the NBL. Championship winning role player in the NBA will translate to wins in the NBL.
• MVP: Mason Jones, Perth Wildcats.
• Most Improved: William “Davo” Hickey will improve his numbers right across his box score and his role will expand significantly for the Hawks.
• DPOY: JaVale McGee. He will lead the league in blocks and rebounds.
• Coach of the Year: Adam Forde will get the Taipans back into the playoffs and that will be enough for him to win the award.
• NBL26 Surprise: I’m terrible at SuperCoach but I will win SuperCoach NBL Beat the Coach.

WEBSITE EDITOR BRAYDEN HESLEHURST

• Champions: Perth Wildcats (beat United 3-2 in GF series). They have the firepower and this year I think they have the defensive talent to hold up on the other end, unlike the last few seasons.
• MVP: Jo Lual-Acuil. The big man returns and dominates, has the shooting and talent around him to give him plenty of space to go to work, has been an MVP contender in the past and I believe this is JLA's year!
• Most Improved: Ben Henshall. I'm all in on the Perth Wildcats this year and after the departure of Bryce Cotton, Henshall will have more responsibility on the offensive end but has also shown some improvements on the defensive end during the preseason as well. With Henshall looking towards the 2026 NBA Draft, I think big improvements and a big year is ahead for the talented guard.
• DPOY: Will Magnay. I know everyone's tipping JaVale McGee but are we forgetting about the original rim protector in the NBL? Who can forget the double block on Kyrin Galloway at the Blitz? After leading the Boomers to Asia Cup gold as skipper, Magnay is set for a big year if he can stay healthy and will take home the DPOY award.
• Coach of the Year: John Rillie. I've tipped them to win the championship, so it's the natural suggestion that JR wins Coach of the Year. SLightly ahead of Dean Vickerman and Scott Roth.
• NBL26 Surprise: Cairns Taipans to miss the play-in. I love what the Taipans have done in the offseason and I love how Adan Forde goes about things, but I think injuries are already starting to hit. Sam Waardenburg missing three months is MASSIVE, losing Ashton Hagans was big and I think in a year where every team has improved, it's going to still be tough for Cairns to make the postseason.

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BASKETBALL.COM.AU CONTRIBUTOR MICHAEL HOUBEN

• Champions: Perth Wildcats - It was a slow burn for the Red Army this off-season, but the final result is a super powered and super balanced roster that should compete at a high level on both ends. Adelaide may be the only team that exceeds them on paper, but the 'Cats have their number on characters and cohesion.
• MVP: Bryce Cotton - Perhaps the production may take a hit on the offensively-stacked 36ers, but until someone knocks him off the throne, it would feel disrespectful to pick anyone but the league's best player for this one.
• Most Improved: Jaylin Galloway - It's been a rough few years, but after what we saw in Boomers colours, Galloway is set for the best season of his career. He's still only 22, and I have high hopes this will be his true breakout year.
• DPOY: Javale McGee - We haven't seen a big like Javale McGee in the NBL before. With his combination of size, length and athleticism, McGee should be an unparalleled paint deterrent that should keep Illawarra afloat this year.
• Coach of the Year: Josh King - I'm not too high on the Phoenix this year, but if there's one coach I think has the chance to make a team greater than the sum of its parts, it's Josh King. Their defence should be rock solid, and King's defensive stance on the sidelines is where it starts.
• NBL26 Surprise: With more budget has come more expectations, but I'm a skeptic that the Taipans can live up to the hype mounted upon them during a season where every team has improved their roster. Add in Waardenburg's absence for the half half of the season and we may see them towards the bottom of the table once again.