NBL1 Central

NBL1 Central
FormerlySA State League
1957–1997
CBA Central
1998
ABA Central
1999–2001
Central Australian Basketball League
2002–2014
Premier League
2015–2019
SportBasketball
Founded1957
First season1957
No. of teamsM: 10
W: 10
CountryAustralia
ContinentFIBA Oceania (Oceania)
Most recent
champion(s)		M: Forestville Eagles (9th title)
W: Central Districts Lions (1st title)
Most titlesM: West Adelaide Bearcats (16 titles)
W: North Adelaide Rockets (21 titles)
Official websiteNBL1.com.au/Central

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

History

The South Australian Metropolitan Basketball Association was founded in 1936. All games were played at Duncan Buildings, Franklin Street, Adelaide, with 16 teams competing. After World War II, basketball resumed at the Our Boys Institute in the city and at suburban drill halls, with 27 teams. In 1951, the District Association was formed, and by 1954, there were 57 teams competing in all grades.[1]

The first official State League season was in 1957.[2][3] During its time, the league was known as State Bank League and BankSA League.[4] In 1998, the SA State League joined the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) as the association's Central Conference.[5] In 1999, the CBA was restructured as the Australian Basketball Association (ABA).[6] The Central Australian Basketball League (Central ABL) name was in place until 2014.[4] The league was rebranded as Premier League in 2015.[7]

In February 2020, Basketball South Australia and the National Basketball League (NBL) announced a new partnership to bring NBL1 to South Australia, with the Premier League being renamed NBL1 Central and becoming the central conference of the NBL1.[8][9] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was cancelled.[10]

Current clubs

Club City State Arena Joined NBL1 NBL1 National Championships Most recent
Central Districts Lions* Adelaide South Australia South Australia STARplex 2020 0 N/A
Eastern Mavericks* Mount Barker South Australia South Australia St Francis de Sales Community Sports Centre 2020 0 N/A
Forestville Eagles* Adelaide South Australia South Australia Wayville Sports Centre 2020 0 N/A
North Adelaide Rockets* Adelaide South Australia South Australia The Lights Community and Sports Centre 2020 0 N/A
Norwood Flames* Adelaide South Australia South Australia The ARC 2020 0 N/A
South Adelaide Panthers* Adelaide South Australia South Australia Marion Basketball Centre 2020 0 N/A
Southern Tigers* Adelaide South Australia South Australia Morphett Vale Stadium 2020 0 N/A
Sturt Sabres* Adelaide South Australia South Australia Springbank Sports Centre 2020 0 N/A
West Adelaide Bearcats* Adelaide South Australia South Australia Port Adelaide Recreation Centre 2020 0 N/A
Woodville Warriors* Adelaide South Australia South Australia St Clair Recreation Centre 2020 0 N/A

* Teams that transferred from the Premier League.

List of champions

Main article: List of NBL1 Central champions
Team Total Titles Men's Women's Notes
Titles Winning Seasons Titles Winning Seasons
North Adelaide Rockets 27 6 1957, 1958, 1959, 1983, 2007, 2021 21 1957, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2014, 2018 Won both inaugural titles in 1957.
West Adelaide Bearcats 24 16 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1994, 1996, 2017, 2023 8 1968, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1993, 2007, 2022
West Torrens / Forestville Eagles 18 9 1974, 1990, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2024 9 1975, 1976, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019
Norwood Flames 13 4 1999, 2008, 2009, 2015 9 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023
South Adelaide Panthers 12 11 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2022 1 1958
Sturt Sabres 10 5 1985, 1986, 2001, 2002, 2010 5 1974, 1981, 2002, 2006, 2008
Noarlunga City Tigers 7 3 1992, 1993, 1998 4 1984, 1985, 1986, 1996
Glenelg Tigers 4 2 1976, 1977 2 1978, 1979
Vikings 4 0 4 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963
Southern Tigers 4 2 2016, 2018 2 2017, 2021
Adelaide Sports Klub 3 3 1950, 1964 0
Woodville Warriors 3 3 2000, 2005, 2014 0
Budapest 2 2 1961, 1962 0
Central Districts Lions 2 1 1984 1 2024
Adelaide Giants 1 0 1 1966
Eastern Mavericks 1 1 2004 0

References

  1. ^ "HISTORY OF THE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA". basketballsa.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Men's Premiers". NBL1 Central. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Women's Premiers". NBL1 Central. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "State League needs a boost from within". botinagy.com. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  5. ^ "History of the ABA". ABABasketball.net.au. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Basketball Australia Annual Report 1998" (PDF). Basketball Australia. p. 28 (36). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Introducing Premier League 2015". Premier League. 10 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. ^ "NBL1 Central To Tip Off In 2020". NBL1.com.au. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  9. ^ Keam, Patrick (14 February 2020). "Basketball SA and Adelaide Premier League clubs agree to join NBL1 competition in 2020". The Advertiser. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  10. ^ "NBL1 Season Cancelled". NBL.com.au. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.