ESPN's big NBL team-by-team 2024-25 season preview

It feels like NBL teams are going for it.

We've seen the return of high-profile Australians, the acquisition of imports right on the fringe of the NBA, and teams being completely willing to make bold, against-the-grain decisions as they hunt for success.

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For the teams at the top, continuity seems to be the name of the game. The Perth Wildcats, Melbourne United, and Tasmania JackJumpers are largely sticking with what worked, while the Sydney Kings have retooled in a substantial, terrifying way. Then, there are those in the middle of the pack, who've brought new import talent to the league that very well could make or break their season.

With the NBL Blitz done and dusted, HoopsFest is right around the corner, setting the stage for a unique Round 1 of what should be a competitive 2024-25 regular season. Here's your team-by-team breakdown: what rotations look like, what to like, and where some of the questions lie.

Adelaide 36ers

Depth chart

Three of these starters -- Davis, Vasiljevic, and Humphries -- feel locked in. Mayen was an offseason acquisition and probably slots into that starting three-spot, but there'll be consideration into what Dech brings as a three-and-D option. Things could change once Martin returns from injury, but starting with a frontcourt of Harrell and Humphries will be a given when the 36ers open their regular season.

What to like

If things click, the top-end talent of this group could carry them. The most important thing the 36ers did this offseason -- and over the last half-decade, to be fair -- is re-sign both Humphries and Vasiljevic to long-term deals. That's a pair of high-level, proven NBL players locked in for the next few years, in positions that are easy to build around. Humphries is coming off his best NBL season to date, while Vasiljevic looks primed to take another leap as a primary guy. That's where this team's core begins. Davis is an extremely talented offensive player, so his dynamic scoring punch will be part of the identity of this team, while the late addition of Harrell brings a talented veteran presence in the frontcourt, and a much-needed big option for a team that looked like it was lacking it even before Martin went down with his injury.

Where are the question marks?

There are a few. The first is Mike Wells -- while extremely experienced as an NBA assistant -- stepping into his first head coaching job. Any rookie head coach would come with an expectation of some sort of teething, so we'll see what that looks like early on. Davis is supremely talented but completely inexperienced in the FIBA game, so whether the production he had in the G-League can translate to an NBL floor -- while also leading to team success -- is still up in the air. Then, there are some depth concerns. Is there enough of a scoring punch coming off the bench for this team and, with Martin likely to miss around two months to open the season, will the depth at the five-spot be an issue?

What's worth tracking?

Let's see what happens once Martin returns to the lineup. The extra big and added perimeter threat will be a valuable addition, but it would also mean the team would have to cut a local player if they want to keep Harrell on board. In that case, which of Martin or Harrell would come off the bench?

Who wins the minutes at the three? There's a need for someone who can be the primary point-of-attack defender, so that'll likely be the determinant here.

Brisbane Bullets

Depth chart

This is one that absolutely doesn't feel locked in. Bannan will miss the start of the season, so Prather will likely come in and start at the four-spot. Adel has been extremely impressive in the preseason, so he's earned a starting spot, but the team understands the value of Sam McDaniel being on the floor to open games. With that in mind, keep an eye on the potential of someone like Cook being moved to the bench to go into his more natural role of a gunner, scoring type.

What to like

Tyrell Harrison has clearly used his injury-free season to make a substantial leap in his development, to the point where he's this team's best player. As a post target and anchor on both ends, Harrison has the potential to be the Bullets' most important player. Adel was a gamble as a signing, but already looks like the best creator on this team and has earned himself a starting spot. There's a local core that exists on this Bullets team -- stretching from Harrison, to Josh Bannan, Mitch Norton, Sam McDaniel, and Isaac White -- that makes us trust the baseline of what this group can be, so that'll continue to be the identity here.

Where are the question marks?

While the Bullets were the most active team over the preseason, there are still questions about how good their imports will be. Batemon has shown flashes as a high-level ball-carrier, but doesn't project as an obvious All-NBL type of guy, while Cook has been inconsistent with the jumper that's supposed to be his calling card. Add in some general volatility around Prather's health -- though, he's looked effective during his time on the floor -- and it feels like the Bullets will need at least two of those imports firing on any given night in order to get over the line.

What's worth tracking?

How much of an impact will Rocco Zikarsky make? We've seen some incremental improvements from last season, but he's behind a high-output guy in Harrison who the Bullets will be hoping to put bulk minutes into, so let's see if Zikarsky can be effective in what could be a volatile opportunity.

General shot creation was an issue for this team last season. Batemon is a very solid off-the-bounce scorer, but doesn't project as a high-level distributor. Where will this team's advantage creation come from outside of Harrison in the low block?

Harrison is in a contract year, and other teams are circling. The Bullets are engaged in extension talks with him, sources said, but it's a situation worth keeping an eye on.

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Cairns Taipans

Depth chart

This will be interrupted to start the season because of Armstrong's injury, but it feels like one of the safer starting lineups to decipher. Armstrong is the head of the snake, surrounded by imports he can maximise -- and who can maximise him -- and Adam Forde's self-professed obsession with rangy bigs. The Taipans can play five out at all times, including when they open games.

What to like

It can't be stressed how much better the balance of this team is compared to last season. Armstrong is the lead guard, and he's surrounded by four shooters at all times. Groves projects as a solid roll/pop guy alongside Armstrong, while we've seen glimpses of scoring and shooting from both Edwards and Bradshaw. Galloway will likely get a consistent opportunity to produce, so we finally get to see what his ceiling could be, and the same goes for Akoldah Gak and Jonah Antonio. Forde clearly focused on fit and balance when building this roster, and it should lead to positive outcomes.

Where are the question marks?

There could be some teething to start the season, with Armstrong and Adnam out with injuries, and Makoi suspended for the first two games, so we won't see this group hit the floor with proven a point guard early on. Even then, the non-Armstrong minutes may be a concern; Makoi is still green as a lead guard in the NBL, and the glimpses of ball-carrying from the two wing imports weren't outstanding. Like every Taipans team these days, the group is relatively young, so, as always, don't be surprised to see some inconsistencies; not with effort, but in general execution at times.

What's worth tracking?

Sam Waardenburg signed a one-year extension midway through last season, despite being in the midst of a down year. This is a contract year for the Kiwi, and it's been a while since we've seen the best of him; how he performs could determine the ceiling of this group.

Forde is in the final year of his contract, so that's also worth keeping an eye on.

Edwards is projecting as an All-NBL level talent, based on his preseason returns.

Illawarra Hawks

Depth chart

The only real question in this starting lineup is who starts at the three. There are much better shooting options, but the defensive capacity of Swaka Lo Buluk probably gives him the nod, because of the personnel of those who are locks. Blanchfield, Lee, and Grida can all effectively play minutes at the three and the four, so there'll be some moving and shaking with those positions. Olbrich will likely get all of the non-Froling minutes and some of the minutes at the back-up four spot, too.

What to like

Darius Days isn't the same type of complete player Gary Clark was, but he's a talented offensive piece that fits well next to Froling. Like last season, that front line is what Justin Tatum will be leaning on. The bulk of the Hawks' bench -- they're one of the deepest teams in the league -- was already contracted, and they have some versatile wings who can play multiple positions out there. As for who should make a substantial leap, Olbrich is looking like someone who can provide a real impact, especially on the offensive end, for this group; he rounds out a really funky, versatile big-man trio for these Hawks.

Where are the question marks?

Kell is a talented offensive player, but will he bring the requisite creation for a team that doesn't have much of it? Let's wait and see. There's a lot of firepower on this roster, and one would generally trust a seasoned point guard and demonstrated head coach to maximise them; Kell is a scoring combo guard, and Tatum is going into his first full season as a professional head coach. Everything may fall into place, but also don't be surprised if it takes some time to click.

What's worth tracking?

Sam Froling has only ever played for the Hawks in the NBL, but is in a contract year, with an opportunity to go and get his first substantial professional deal.

Let's see which direction Tatum goes for those backup wing minutes. There's a lot of talent there -- and a ton of shooting -- so who gets the bulk of them will be intriguing.

Betting on an Olbrich leap is easy, but will Hickey join him? If he does, that could be a useful ball-carrying, creation punch for this team.

Melbourne United

Depth chart

Dean Vickerman could get creative with how he starts games, but the extra defensive intensity and creation of Dellavedova is probably what sees him open the season. Of course, they could ultimately opt for the shooting of Clark. Ili, Goulding, and White are the absolute locks here, while it's not unreasonable to thing that Lee and Loe will effectively just split the minutes at the five-spot.

What to like

You'll probably hear a lot of this, but continuity will be United's big strength, especially early in the season. Ili is coming off an impressive stretch of games with the New Zealand Tall Blacks and looks primed to carry that over to this NBL season, while White has returned to United after getting a ton of reps in the G-League. United lost some significant pieces, but there's an argument that, with the addition of White, Lee, and Loe, the balance of this group is better than last season.

Where are the question marks?

Father time is undefeated. It's probably not smart to bet on Goulding and Dellavedova taking backwards steps as players, but it's inevitable at some point, right? Goulding is about to turn 36, and Dellavedova is 34; again, you trust them to play up to the level until they don't, but it's worth noting going into the new season. It's the reason Vickerman wants to get more minutes into the likes of Krebs, Cameron, and Bowen, so how that trio of players fare could determine how sustainable United can be over the course of a now-29-game regular season.

What's worth tracking?

The guard rotation will be fascinating. Would you rather Dellavedova's creation off the bench, or Clark's shooting?

White has long been a high-level role player in the NBL; is this the year he breaks out into a star? He'll have the opportunity to do it.

This team went slightly against the grain and signed Aliir to their final roster spot. He's been impressive in practice over the preseason, and Vickerman really likes him, so don't be surprised if he actually sees meaningful minutes at some point in the season.

New Zealand Breakers

Depth chart

From an offensive standpoint, Jackson-Cartwright, Mooney, and Bolden are the centrepieces here. Gillespie is the starting centre, with the three-big rotation that includes Bolden and Mennenga, meaning they could potentially share minutes at the five-spot. Who starts at the three still feels like an open question; Lopez probably isn't ready to provide meaningful minutes at an NBL level, while King has shown improved scoring chops over the preseason, so the latter likely opens in that spot.

What to like

Jackson-Cartwright is one of the known commodities in the NBL; he's one of the best initiators in the league and can seemingly get anywhere he likes on the floor. The speedy point guard was a top-three MVP candidate last season, and is expected to be at that level once again. He'll be flanked by Mooney, who showed real promise over the preseason as a scorer and secondary playmaker. The early returns from King have also been really promising, to the point where he's exhibiting some of the potential that made him a second round draft pick a few years ago. Jonah Bolden and Mitch McCarron also look primed to have expanded roles this season, so tracking some of the individual talent on this roster should be a lot of fun.

Where are the question marks?

Things haven't been completely smooth for the Breakers ahead of the season, and there's real potential for it to get even worse. The team had to go through a surprise coaching change after signing the bulk of their roster, and proceeded to hire a first-time head coach; they get points for creativity, but that decision naturally increases the volatility on the court. They're a team already experiencing teething issues, and they'll be without Gillespie due to suspension for their first game, with a stretch of NBA preseason matchups to come. They're already not the most talented team on paper, and have a rookie head coach; the brutal start of their schedule only makes things tougher early on.

What's worth tracking?

Mooney's contract is only partially guaranteed, so there'll be a decision to be made there. Right now, he's looking like someone worth keeping, but we'll see if the Breakers find someone during their time in the US.

It's probably worth tempering expectations on Lopez. He's still 17 and not even draft-eligible until 2026; and playing like it right now. There'll be a development curve for him to overcome -- and there's trust from the Breakers and NBA personnel that he will -- but it'll take time.

The Breakers are rolling with an all-European coaching staff. It's not often we see that in the NBL, so it'll be interesting to track how their style of play differs. It's worth noting, of course, that the Breakers have played a Euro brand of basketball for the past few seasons.

Perth Wildcats

Depth chart

Windler came off the bench for all of preseason, but it does feel inevitable that someone of his calibre would end up starting. In that scenario, Doolittle will slide to the four, while Hyrum Harris heads to the bench. How this team treats the four spot will be fascinating -- Windler may end up being their most effective option there -- while a John Rillie team is usually tight from a rotational perspective, so what minutes are available for the likes of Henshall and Pepper will also be worth watching.

What to like

Here's another team that has a lot of continuity. John Rillie has nine players returning from last season, including the entirety of the local core. Cotton is back for his eighth season with the Wildcats, while the re-signing of Doolittle flew under the radar but was one of the best offseason decisions from the team. The preseason glimpses from both Henshall and Pepper were really promising, so they have the potential to break out if there's room in Rillie's rotation for them. The Wildcats capped off what was a quiet offseason for them with the signing of Dylan Windler and, while we haven't seen the best of him just yet, his playstyle projects as one that'll fit seamlessly next to Cotton.

Where are the question marks?

For all the proven talent on this Wildcats roster, they still enter this season with a relatively young bench, with a propensity to only give those guys limited minutes at the best of times. When you look at Henshall (20), Pepper (23), and Almansa (19), there isn't a whole lot of professional experience, and they'll all likely be part of this rotation; it's not often that relying on that sort of youth is conducive to winning a title. This will also be Pinder's second season in Perth, in what's a contract year. At his best, Pinder is one of the NBL's elite local players, but he had some inconsistencies over his first season. If he can clean that up and be more consistent from game to game, that obviously bodes extremely well for the Wildcats' championship prospects, and for how big the number is on his next contract.

What's worth tracking?

Rillie just signed a three-year extension, keeping him in Perth through the 2027-28 NBL season.

Cotton is on the final year of his deal. An extension for Cotton in Perth is not imminent, source said.

South East Melbourne Phoenix

Depth chart

Here's another starting group that feels locked in. There's potential for things to shift if there's the defensive drop-off some around the league expect, but there's balance in what they have. Glover has consistently been the first guard/wing off the bench, while Foxwell has won the backup one minutes over Ayre to start the season. When Hunter isn't on the floor, Mike Kelly plans to opt for Hurt at the five, so it's worth tracking how effective the team is during those stretches.

What to like

Over the past few years, the Phoenix have had issues with shooting and depth. Well, they've seemingly remedied that. Wieskamp and Hurt are the modern forwards that team was crying out for, while the signing of Glover and Vodanovich absolutely fill that need. Overall, this team has added more talent, especially offensively: Walton Jr. is a one-time Grand Final MVP and one of the best signings of the off-season, while Hunter and Sobey provide Mike Kelly's team with some high-level local talent. Throw in a win-now Next Star in Lewis, and there's a whole lot more reason to trust that this Phoenix team can consistently string wins together compared to previous seasons.

Where are the question marks?

Until they demonstrate otherwise, there'll be big question marks around how the Phoenix can stop other teams from scoring. A perimeter trio of Walton Jr., Sobey, and Wieskamp doesn't really have the point-of-attack defensive talent to adequately stifle a high-level scoring threat, and there'll be a big hole in the middle any time Hunter heads to the bench. Scoring won't be an issue for this team, but guarding may be. How the Walton Jr. and Sobey backcourt functions will also be fascinating to track; both are ball-dominant, and neither are elite shooters, so there's a chance we see their minutes staggered to an extent.

What's worth tracking?

If there are ongoing defensive issues, do we see a starting lineup change? One idea would be Glover or Lewis becoming a starter, with Sobey or Wieskamp headed to the bench.

Sydney Kings

Depth chart

This is the rotation that feels the most malleable from game to game. We have Oliver as a starter because he's the most talented option at the five, but we've seen instances in the preseason of Brian Goorjian starting Leaupepe because of his defensive versatility, and how it affects the balance of the floor next to Cooks. Everything else feels like a lock, but won't necessarily be indicative of minutes. Galloway and Le'Afa will warrant substantial minutes, so don't be surprised to see Goorjian make the most of Cooks' creation and connectivity by mixing and matching the pieces around him in a largely positionless way.

What to like

A lot. The Kings are the deepest team in the NBL, while also possessing some pretty impressive high-end talent. Goorjian's team will hang its hat on defence, thanks to that positional versatility, size, length, and just general individual defensive talent of the roster, and they'll be able to throw so many bodies at the best perimeter threat on opposing teams. And, still, for whatever their ceiling is defensively, they also have the potential to be the most high-powered offence we've seen in some time. Cooks as an elite connector should glue a lot of the talent together, which includes a returning Adams, an invigorated Oliver, what's looking like an inspired Toohey, and that's not even mentioning one of the biggest signings of the offseason in Kuol, or Galloway, or Le'Afa. At the very least, these Kings will be extremely fun, and it's difficult to see it not translating to wins.

Where are the question marks?

There are two things here that caught the eye over the preseason. The first is the lack of big depth. The Kings will roll with Oliver, Leaupepe, and Cooks at the five, but that lack of height could be an issue at times. There aren't many high-level post threats in the NBL these days, but a matchup against someone like Isaac Humphries or Tyrell Harrison could cause some issues. The other slight concern is that this is looking like a very three-ball happy group, which is natural for a team in 2024, but does create some level of volatility offensively. There's trust that this won't be a team that just jacks 40 threes and hopes for the best, but that's an easy trap to fall into, at times; let's see if they do.

What's worth tracking?

Toohey's draft stock has undoubtedly received a bump, thanks to his stellar Blitz, so it'll be interesting to see how much more it can grow.

Who's the preference on this team when it comes to guarding primary perimeter threats? Kuol? Toohey? Le'Afa? Galloway? It's an embarrassment of riches on that end for Goorjian.

Tasmania JackJumpers

Depth chart

The departure of Jack McVeigh sure has thrown a spanner in the JackJumpers' preparation for this season. Krslovic started at the four in the team's final Intercontinental Cup game, so it wouldn't be a surprise if that's the direction they turn to start the season. For what was the most consistent starting lineup all of last season, we've already seen signs that it may be the complete opposite this campaign. There's a nonzero chance Scott Roth dabbles in Crawford or Magnay coming off the bench, purely in an attempt to maximise both players, while Macdonald could well be in and out of the starting lineup.

What to like

This is another team that will benefit from continuity. While they lost McVeigh and Lee from last season's title-winning group, the bulk of the roster has remained. Crawford and Doyle having that one more year of NBL experience bodes well for how they may continue to develop -- both individually, and as a duo -- into effective players in the league, and you also have Magnay coming off an Olympic campaign. Macdonald is the one to keep an eye on; he was empowered last season, particularly in the postseason, and will have more opportunities, so let's see if he grabs them.

Where are the question marks?

The McVeigh loss is a big one, and there's no telling where they may replace that production. Deng fits that role positionally, but he's not the same team defender as McVeigh, while Sword, Krslovic, and Te Rangi don't bring dynamic scoring to that spot either. Doyle has leant into being more of a creator through his time in Tasmania, and we've seen more of that this preseason, but the nature of this roster and some of its deficiencies means he should perhaps focus more on being that elite three-level scorer we know he is.

What's worth tracking?

The JackJumpers are dealing with injuries to start the season -- Macdonald's ankle seems particularly concerning -- and will play their opener coming off a busy preseason schedule. Do they have the legs to come out firing, and sustain it over the first few rounds?

People around the league see some offensive concerns with this team, and there are already whispers Sword may end up as a sacrificial lamb to bring in an import that fills a more pressing need.

What does Magnay look like with an expanded opportunity? He'll get more touches this season, and we've never really seen the entirety of the big-man's skillset because he's often resigned to being a team's best role player; being complementary may well be where he's most effective, but this is as good a chance as any to see some sort of leap.