From strength to strength: NBL’s record run

On the back of another strong regular season and now Hungry Jack’s 2025-26 Finals, the NBL has posted record crowd numbers for the third straight year.

The competition recently announced that more than 1.1 million fans have attended games this season, representing a six per cent increase year-on-year.

The high engagement figures are also applicable to the competition’s huge broadcast numbers, with streamed matches on ESPN jumping 20 per cent, while average audiences on Network 10 grew 22 per cent season on season.

In a recent interview with The Australian, NBL Group CEO David Stevenson explained the growth was a culmination of increased interest in the game, which is now the second most-participated sport in the country behind soccer, and the ­elevation of the league’s credibility globally.

“We’re always looking at how we can grow. How we do things bigger and faster and better,” Stevenson said in The Australian.

“We’re really proud of the growth, but I feel like we’re still just scratching the surface. We want to get into that tier one sport level in terms of broadcast audiences.”

>> Championship Series schedule, tickets & how to watch

Stevenson continued by saying that “innovation and year-round engagement” were key pillars for the NBL, WNBL and NBL1 competitions.

“We want to find more reasons to mean more to more people. We’re always trying to create the best sports entertainment experience in the country. We’re on the way there,” he said.

The NBL26 Championship Series, between Sydney and Adelaide, continues on Friday from 7.23pm AEDT on Friday, live on ESPN and 10 Drama.

Read the full story here >> NBL’s breakout season fuels top tier ambitions