The 2024 NBL playoff schedule and bracket is out. The Hungry Jack’s NBL24 Finals Series kicks off play on February 28th, 2024. There are six teams remaining on the “Ladder” for the popular Australasian (Australia + New Zealand + surrounding areas) basketball league. All the playoff games will be shown live on ESPN via Kayo. The NBL Championship series (Grand Final) takes place in mid-late March.
****Last updated 6 March 2024 (US Pacific Time) with semifinals time and location confirmation. The first 2024 NBL Semifinal match takes place on Thursday, March 7th, 2024.
****Last updated 7 March 2024 with first semifinals game result.
****Last updated 8 March 2024 with all semifinals NBL playoff results to date and confirmed game times.
*****Last updated March 10, 2024.
****Last updated March 11, 2024
****Last updated March 13, 2024
****Last updated March 17, 2024
**** Last updated March 22, 2024
****Last Updated March 24, 2024
****FInal Update 1 April. Series Complete
How Does the 2024 NBL Playoff Schedule Work?
The NBL playoffs have undergone some changes since league establishment in 1979. For the 2023-24 basketball season, there were 10 teams. Of the 10, six earned their way on the Ladder to compete in the postseason. The top two teams earn byes until the semi-finals round of the single-elimination contest. The semifinal round is in series format.
The bottom four teams play a total of three play-in games. The #3 seed plays the #4 seed for the overall #3 seed. The #5 and #6 seeds play for the right to take on the loser of the #3/#4 seed game. The winner of that match goes on to be the overall #4 seed in the semifinals.
The NBL semifinals are a best-of-three game format. The winners of those series play each other in the 2024 NBL Championship that is a best-of-five format in the Grand Final Series.
Didn’t the NBL Join the NBA?
The National Basketball League (NBL) was also a professional league in the United States back in the day. The American NBL was established in 1937. At the conclusion of the 1948-49 season, the league merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) to create what we know as the National Basketball Association (NBA) today. The five modern-era teams that trace their history to the American NBL are: 1 – Atlanta Hawks, 2 – Detroit Pistons, 3 – Los Angeles Lakers, 4 – Philadelphia 76ers, and 5 – Sacramento Kings.
NBL (Australasian) Playoff History
The 2023-34 NBL season was the 46th for the league since its establishment in 1979. Fans enjoyed 10 teams competing this year that have seen six earn spots in the 2024 NBL Playoffs. The first NBL Grand Final occurred on June 10th, 1979 in Melbourne, Australia. The St. Kilda Saints won the inaugural championship over the Canberra Cannons, 94-93. Since then, the championship has evolved from a single game Grand Final, to a best of five series, to the current multi-team play-in + single elimination series format we enjoy today.
Which NBL Team has Won the Most Grand Finals?
The Perth Wildcats hold the league record for most Grand Finals victories with 10. The team also holds the record for most Grand Finals appearances with 15. The MVP of the Grand Finals is awarded the Larry Sengstock Medial. The award is named in honor of Larry Sengstock who won the first Grand Final MVP in 1979.
Who has Broadcast Rights for NBL Games?
For the 2023-24 NBL season, ESPN holds the broadcast rights in Australia. All games are shown live on ESPN and Kayo Sports. Network 10 showed afternoon games on Sunday on 10 Play and 10 Peach. Sky Sport is the official NBL broadcaster in New Zealand. The 2024 NBL finals TV schedule will air via ESPN on Kayo.
Does the NBL Have a Playoff App?
The NBL has an app fans can download to their mobile devices for the 2024 NBL Playoffs and Grand Final. The NBL app for Apple devices can be found at the app store here. The Google Play download link is here. The app is free to download and follow the game action.
2024 NBL Playoff Schedule
The 2024 NBL Playoff Schedule kicks off on Wednesday, February 28th. The games will be played at MyState Bank Arena. If you are planning to watch the games or follow them in the United States, don’t forget the time zone difference and plan ahead. Updated game matchups and times are posted by the league first at the Grand Finals Hub.
2024 NBL Playoff Seeding Qualifier and Play-in
Seeding Qualifier: Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Matchup: Tasmania JackJumpers 92 v Illawarra Hawks 76, MyState Bank Arena, 5:30pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
Play-In Qualifier: Wednesday, February 28
Matchup: Sydney Kings 76 v New Zealand Breakers 83, Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
2024 NBL Play-In Game: Monday, March 4
Matchup: Illawarra Hawks 88 vs New Zealand Breakers 85, 7:30pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
2024 NBL Playoff Schedule – Semifinals
The 2024 NBL Playoff scores are updated in context for you below to follow the action. The results of the opening game between Melbourne and Illawarra are updated now. Stay tuned for more exciting games and NBL fixture results. Last updated March 11, 2024.
(Best of three games)
Melbourne United Bracket
***Melbourne wins series 2-1
Game 1: Thursday, March 7
Matchup: Melbourne United 115 vs Illawarra Hawks 106 , John Cain Arena, 7:30pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
Game 2: Saturday, March 9
Matchup: Illawarra Hawks 113 vs Melbourne United 108, WIN Entertainment Centre, 3:00 pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
Game 3: Wednesday, March 13 (if required)
Matchup: Melbourne United 100 v Illawarra Hawks 94, John Cain Arena, 7:30pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
Perth Wildcats Bracket
*** Tasmania wins 2 games to 1.
Game 1: Friday, March 8
Matchup: Perth Wildcats 89 v Tasmania JackJumpers 81, RAC Arena, 9:30pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
Game 2: Monday, March 11
Matchup: Tasmania JackJumpers 102 v Perth Wildcats 94, MyState Bank Arena, 7:30 PM AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
Game 3: Wednesday, March 13 (if required)
Matchup:Perth Wildcats 84 v Tasmania JackJumpers 100, RAC Arena, 9:30pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel
2024 NBL Grand Final Schedule
The 2024 Grand Final is a best-of-five matchup between the winners of each semi-final series. The game dates and times will be confirmed by the NBL closer to the series start, but we can expect game 1 to be on or around March 14th or 15th, 2024. The TV broadcast will be the same. We’ll have additional details for you when available.
****Update, March 13, 2024, 2024 NBL Grand Final Schedule is set. Details are below.
****Update, March 17, 2024. Melbourne United leads series 1-0.
****Update March 22, 2024. Tasmania Wins! 3-2
Game 1: Sunday, March 17
Matchup: Melbourne United 104 vs Tasmania JackJumpers 81 , John Cain Arena, 4:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo, 10 Peach
Game 2: Friday, March 22
Matchup: Tasmania JackJumpers 82 vs Melbourne United 77, MyState Bank Arena, 7:30 pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo, 10 Peach
Game 3: Sunday, March 24
Matchup: Melbourne United 91 vs Tasmania JackJumpers 93 , John Cain Arena, 4:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo, 10 Peach
Game 4: Thursday, March 28
Matchup: Tasmania JackJumpers 86 vs Melbourne United 88, MyState Bank Arena, 7:30 pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo
Game 5: Sunday, March 31 (if required)
Matchup: Melbourne United 81 vs Tasmania JackJumpers 83 , John Cain Arena, 4:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: ESPN via Kayo, 10 Peach
2024 NBL Playoff Bracket
The best, blank NBL Playoff bracket is at the NBL Playoff Hub that you can download and print in image format. The play-in format will be familiar to NBA fans who are waiting for the 2024 NBA Playoffs to kick off approximately one month after the NBL Grand Final. You can also check out a high-level overview of the NBL bracket here. Enjoy the games as March Madness stretches from Australia to the North East United States this March!
