NBL1

NBL1 is a semi-professional basketball league in Australia created to provide a pathway between local leagues and the National Basketball League (NBL) as well as the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). It brings together men’s and women’s competitions under a unified structure intended to raise competition standards, develop players, and support regional clubs.

The league is organized into five regional conferences: NBL1 North, NBL1 South, NBL1 East, NBL1 West, and NBL1 Central. Member clubs field senior men’s and women’s teams that compete within their conference during the regular season. Seasons generally run during the Australian winter, with conference schedules followed by playoffs to determine conference champions.

A national finals event brings together the conference champions, and in some seasons additional entrants, to decide overall NBL1 champions for both the men’s and women’s divisions. The finals are hosted at rotating venues, providing exposure for players and clubs on a larger stage.

Governance and role: NBL1 is a collaborative initiative involving the National Basketball League and state and regional basketball associations. The league acts as a development pathway for players aiming to progress to the NBL or WNBL, as well as for coaches, officials, and clubs. It emphasizes regional participation, high-level competition, and community engagement, with clubs often rooted in their local communities and aligned with broader basketball development goals.

Overall, NBL1 serves as a key second-tier competition in Australian basketball, linking grassroots programs to the sport’s professional levels and supporting broader player and capacity development across the country.