10 reasons to watch NBL Round 1 LIVE on SBS

A look at the first Round of the 2020-21 NBL season ahead of season's tip off on Friday, including the key match-ups and how you can watch LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS On Demand and SBS VICELAND.

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Casper Ware, Jock Landale and Brian Goorjian are going to play a big part in the NBL21 season Source: Getty

Every game of the upcoming 2020-21 NBL season will again be LIVE, FREE and in HD via , with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.

Season Opener - Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United

1. New look 36ers 

Long-term head coach Joey Wright parted ways with the club after seven years at the helm and Conner Henry will be the man to replace him.

They're bringing in new stars as well, with experienced NBA player Donald Sloan, Isaac Humphries and Josh Giddey all looking to make a big impact on debut for the 36ers. 

2. Jock Landale leads pre-season favourites Melbourne United

Melbourne’s signing of Boomers big man Jock Landale was arguably the biggest move of a long and eventful NBL off-season. 

Returning to Australia from the Euroleague, Landale was a key member of the Boomer's 2019 World Cup team and looks set to be one of the most influential players in the NBL.

January 15 - Friday 7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT) Streamed LIVE via SBS On Demand

Brisbane Bullets vs The Hawks

3. Hawks welcome return of the GOAT

Brian Goorjian 6-time NBL Champion, 6-time Coach of the Year is back in Australia after 11 seasons coaching in China.

The Hawks underwent major changes over the off-season, with a new ownership group taking charge of the club, a new coach and sweeping changes to the playing roster.

Top Aussie Deng Adel, exciting new imports Tyler Harvey and Justin Simon and Next Star Justinian Jessup will lead the way for the Hawks in 2021.
4. Bullets not going to give up their shot

The Bullets are also coming off an off-season overhaul, with former NBA forwards Vic Law and Orlando Johnson joining the team alongside former Adelaide pair Anthony Drmic and Harry Froling.

January 16 - Saturday - 5:30pm - 7:30pm (AEDT) LIVE on SBS VICELAND and streamed LIVE via SBS On Demand

Cairns Taipans vs Sydney Kings

5. Taipans reload after finals appearance last year

Cairns were the underdogs heading into last season but top contributions from imports and Coach of the Year Mike Kelly saw them secure a spot in the finals, going down 2-1 in the series against Perth.

Scott Machado and Cam Oliver return after showng that they're two of the best players in the league.
6. Heavy lies the crown as Kings look to new stars

2019-20 minor champions Sydney Kings ultimately came up short in the NBL grand final playoffs, and won't get a chance for revenge with that old roster.

Coach Will Weaver has jetted off to take up an assistant role with the Houston Rockets, and Sydney have lost key players Andrew Bogut (retired), Jae’Sean Tate (Houston) and Kevin Lisch (retired).

Star point guard Casper Ware will lead the way with former NBA big man Jarell Martin and Aussie youngster Dejan Vasiljevic.

January 16 - Saturday - 8:00pm - 10:00pm (AEDT) Streamed LIVE via SBS On Demand

Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix

7. All about that Bass Strait

After enduring the long, hard lockdowns in Melbourne last year, the Phoenix were forced to relocate to Tasmania on New Year’s Day to dodge recent coronavirus outbreaks in Victoria.

The team has been based in Hobart for the past couple of weeks where they have continued their preparations for NBL21.

South East Melbourne’s duo of talented Americans, Keifer Sykes and Ben Moore, will be making their NBL debuts in this game and will be looking to make a splash in their first regular-season appearance.
8. Sloan guard

Donald Sloan will be one for the 36ers to watch as he brings elite point-scoring ability from the NBA to the NBL.

January 17 - Sunday - 3:00pm - 5:00pm (AEDT) LIVE on SBS VICELAND and streamed LIVE via SBS On Demand

Cairns Taipans vs The Hawks

9. Taipans plot revenge

Last season the Taipans lost three times to the Hawks, the league’s wooden-spooners, and those losses cost them home court advantage in the playoffs. In Round 1 of the new season, they’ll be out for revenge.

10. Deng Adel has Noi and Deng on his 'kill list'

The Hawks star recruit told media during the off-season that Noi and Deng, who are both fellow South-Sudanese ballers, are on his NBL21 ‘Kill List’.

January 18 - Monday - 7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT) Streamed LIVE via SBS On Demand


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Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service.
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4 min read
Published 13 January 2021 1:20pm
By SBS Sport
Source: SBS


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