NBL 2025-26 Season Preview: Illawarra Defend as Cotton Shakes Up

The NBL title race just got a whole lot more interesting. Here is where things stand.

The Illawarra Hawks are defending champions after claiming the 2024-25 title in dramatic fashion. Bryce Cotton’s shock move from Perth to the Adelaide 36ers has reshuffled the contender landscape completely. And the Tasmania JackJumpers are hungry — missed the playoffs last season after winning the championship in 2023-24. This season is loaded.

Defending Champions: Illawarra Hawks

The Hawks’ championship capped a remarkable rise for the Wollongong-based franchise. Quality imports blended with talented Australians — a unit greater than the sum of its parts. Sources confirm Illawarra have retained core pieces from their title-winning roster and added depth for the defence. Backing up a championship is the hardest thing in this league. But the coaching staff and culture give them every chance.

Tasmania JackJumpers: Redemption Season

The Tasmania JackJumpers won the championship in 2023-24, then finished seventh and missed the playoffs entirely. That stings. The hunger to bounce back makes Tasmania dangerous in 2025-26. Roster retooled. The passionate fan base at MyState Bank Arena provides a formidable home-court edge. The JackJumpers want back in the finals, and they have the pieces to get there.

Perth Wildcats: The Perennial Powerhouse

The Perth Wildcats lost five-time MVP Bryce Cotton to Adelaide. They reloaded anyway. Ten championships. The most successful franchise in NBL history. Perth’s depth, coaching, and culture mean they remain formidable regardless of personnel changes. RAC Arena is historically dominant, and the travel burden for visiting clubs remains a genuine competitive factor.

Adelaide 36ers: The Cotton Factor

The signing of the off-season. The Adelaide 36ers lured five-time MVP Bryce Cotton from Perth. That is a generational scoring talent added to a roster that already had quality pieces. If Cotton replicates even a fraction of his Perth form, Adelaide is a legitimate championship contender. Per sources, he has looked sharp in the preseason.

Contenders Across the Board

Melbourne United have assembled a roster built to contend now — veteran leadership mixed with athletic imports, versatility on both ends. Sydney Kings are building around their young core with key personnel returning. New Zealand Breakers made aggressive off-season moves signalling they are done rebuilding.

Brisbane Bullets, Illawarra Hawks, South East Melbourne Phoenix, and Cairns Taipans all present varying degrees of danger. Several boast import lineups that could rank among the league’s best if chemistry clicks early.

Key Imports and Rivalries

What to Expect

This shapes as one of the most competitive NBL seasons in years. Illawarra defending. Adelaide armed with Cotton. Tasmania hungry. Perth driven by championship expectation. Those weighing up championship futures can check the NBL championship odds before the race to the grand final heats up from tip-off to final buzzer. For full coverage, visit the Australia Football NBL section.

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LF — Breaking news correspondent, australiafootball.com