Aussie Hoopla Nbl & Nba Podcast

Rising star Malique Lewis joins the podcast to discuss his incredible journey from Trinidad & Tobago to professional basketball. At just 16, Lewis left home for Spain, where he developed his game with Fuenlabrada, before making the leap to the G League with Mexico City Capitanes. Now, as a Next Star with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, he’s one step closer to his NBA dream. Lewis opens up about the challenges of leaving his family behind, why he chose the NBL over the G League and Europe, and what he’s learned from playing in different basketball systems worldwide. He also shares his thoughts on NBA draft projections, the misconceptions around his game and what to expect in the NBL playoffs. Topics include: His journey from Trinidad to the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne (2:00) His thoughts on the NBL's Next Star Program (4:00) Acclimatising to Australian life and its various deadly animals (8:00) Adjusting to different coaching styles under Mike Kelly, Sam Mackinnon & Josh

Former Razorbacks coach Mark Watkins joins the podcast to reflect on the team's journey from expansion squad to Grand Final contenders before financial struggles led to their downfall. A key figure from the club’s inception in 1998, Watkins shares insights on recruiting NBL stars like Simon Dwight and John Rillie, the Razorbacks' 2002 and 2004 Grand Final runs, and the challenges of coaching on a budget. He also discusses the departures of key players, the franchise’s collapse, and the lessons he’s carried into his coaching career today. Topics include: Building the Kilsyth Basketball program and the differences between coaching men and women (2:00) The early days of the Razorbacks – How the team was built from scratch (10:30) The first NBL season and how the club improved in Year Two (17:30, 29:00) Losing and gaining Sam MacKinnon in the same season (35:00) The 2002 Grand Final run against Adelaide (43:00) Moving on from foundation stars Derek Rucker and Bruce Bolden (57:00) Ano

Former Perth Wildcats star and 2014 NBL Grand Final MVP, Jermaine Beal, joins the podcast to reflect on his basketball journey—from his standout college days at Vanderbilt, to his championship-winning years in the NBL, and beyond. We dive into his time playing alongside future NBA and NBL talent like Festus Ezeli and AJ Ogilvy, his experiences in the NBA Summer League, and his journey through professional leagues in Europe and South America before landing in Australia. Beal shares his insights on playing for the Wildcats under Trevor Gleeson, winning two NBL championships, and setting records—including becoming the first player in the NBL's 40-minute era to hit 10 three-pointers in a single game, a feat that’s since been matched by Chris Goulding, Bryce Cotton, and Dejan Vasiljevic. Beal also opens up about his short-lived stint with the Brisbane Bullets, the challenges of being released mid-season, and his final years playing in Belgium and Israel before transitioning into coaching. Topics Include: What

Former Tall Blacks head coach and New Zealand Breakers legend Paul Henare joins the podcast to reflect on his illustrious basketball journey. From being a cornerstone of the New Zealand Breakers’ early days to coaching in Japan’s rapidly growing B.League, Henare shares his unique insights into the game across multiple continents. We dive into the 2002 Tall Blacks squad that stunned the basketball world with a fourth-place finish at the FIBA World Championships, the evolution of the New Zealand Breakers from their beginnings to championship glory, and Henare's transition into coaching. Now leading the Shimane Susanoo Magic, Henare discusses the explosive growth of Japanese basketball, the challenges of coaching in a foreign league, and the exciting prospects of the upcoming Premier League competition in Japan. Topics Include: The NBL coaching contingent in Japan: Henare, Trevor Gleeson, Aaron Fearne, Shawn Dennis, Kevin Braswell, and Mody Maor (2:00) The explosive growth of Japan’s basketball scene and the up

Former Perth Wildcats and Cairns Taipans assistant Jamie O'Loughlin joins the podcast to share his insights into the NBL's elite coaching landscape. With a career spanning back-to-back NBL championships with the Wildcats and navigating the unique challenges of coaching less-resourced teams like the Taipans, O'Loughlin provides a deep dive into what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of Australian basketball. Jamie reflects on the Wildcats’ championship runs, the arrival of Bryce Cotton, and how Gregg Popovich’s “pounding the rock” philosophy influenced their success. He also discusses the current trends shaping NBL coaching, the influx of foreign coaches, and whether they bring the same benefits to the league that foreign players did in the early years. Topics Include: Jamie's take on the elite coaching scene across Australia and the NBL right now (2:00) Are foreign coaches delivering the same advantages to the league as foreign players did in the early years? (6:00) Coaching trends emerging across th

Head coach of Japan's Nagoya Dolphins, Shawn Dennis, joins the podcast to discuss the evolution of Japanese basketball and its strong connection with Australian players and coaches. Since its launch in 2016, the B.League has become one of the highest-paying leagues worldwide, attracting both seasoned Australian coaches and NBL talent. Dennis, going into his sixth season in Japan, joins host Dan Boyce to shed some light on how the NBL and B.League could benefit from closer collaboration, Japanese players who should be playing in the NBL and vice versa, and the rapid growth of basketball in Japan. They also discuss in depth the current NBL trend of teams overlooking many top Australian coaches in preference for foreign options and the impact that could have on the game. Topics Include: How basketball is improving in Japan and the rise of the B.League (2:00) Why numerous Australian coaches are heading to Japan instead of staying in the NBL (10:00) Whether the movement of Australian coaches to Asian basketba

New Perth Wildcats owner Mark Arena joins the podcast to break down the intricate details behind purchasing an NBL team and his vision for the club's future. As a lifelong Wildcats fan and successful tech entrepreneur, Arena shares insights into the business side of sports ownership and how he plans to elevate the Wildcats' brand, both locally and internationally. In this episode, Mark discusses: What makes owning a sports team financially advantageous (2:30) The complex process of buying the Wildcats and how NBL approvals work (12:00) Why his focus is on winning championships rather than purely on financial gain (19:00) Why expanding into Asia, including partnerships with Japan’s B.League, is a priority for the Wildcats (24:00) His views on the NBLxNBA format and why he prefers hosting an international preseason tournament annually instead (26:00) How he sees a potential second NBL team in Perth impacting the Wildcats (28:00) Plans for rebranding the Wildcats (39:00) The long-term vision for the Wildcat

NBL legend Mark Dalton, who played 17 seasons across five NBL teams, joins host Dan Boyce on the podcast to review the early performances of all ten NBL teams. Together, they explore each team's potential ceiling for the season and discuss the key challenges that could prevent them from reaching their full potential. With a career that included stints with the Canberra Cannons, Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets, and Wollongong Hawks, Dalton brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. His unique perspective highlights the adjustments teams need to make and the issues they face on the court. Dalton’s analysis and reflections offer a deep dive into the current NBL season, providing fans with expert insights from one of the league’s most experienced players. Adelaide 36ers (2:00) Brisbane Bullets (15:00) Cairns Taipans (23:00) Illawarra Hawks (28:00) Melbourne United (35:00) New Zealand Breakers (43:00) Perth Wildcats (48:00) South East Melbourne Phoenix (54:00) Sydney Kings (101:00) Tasmania Jac

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian returns to the podcast to provide an inside look at how he prepared the Australian Boomers for the Paris Olympics. Despite being in a tough group with Spain, Greece, and Canada, the Boomers managed to reach the quarter-finals. However, they were knocked out after a hard-fought crossover game against Serbia, a team widely regarded as one of the top contenders in the tournament. Goorjian reflects on re-tooling the roster after the FIBA World Cup, the brutal decisions involved in player selection, and how the team is focused on building toward future Olympic success. In this episode, Brian discusses: How he views the Boomers' sixth-place finish at the Paris Olympics (2:00) Re-tooling the roster after the FIBA World Cup (5:00) Why this year's training camp was the most grueling in Boomers history (11:00) Addressing the rumors about Matisse Thybulle being cut for Joe Ingles (18:00) Bringing in new faces Jack McVeigh and Will Magnay (25:00) Delly's omission from the World Cup and how h

Jeremy Loeliger served as the NBL’s CEO from 2015 to 2019 before transitioning to Commissioner from 2019 to 2024. Loeliger was instrumental in launching the NBL Next Stars program, driving the NBLxNBA preseason games, expanding the league’s reach with international tours, and building strong global partnerships. His leadership also led to groundbreaking CBA agreements with the Players’ Association and introduced new audiences to the game through NBL Oz Gaming. In this episode, Dan Boyce sits down with Jeremy to explore a decade of shaping the NBL.  Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... How Jeremy and Larry Kestelman took control of the NBL in 2015 (2:00) The first year of the ‘Kestelman Era’ and how it all began (9:00) The growth and success of the Australian Basketball Players’ Association (16:00) Early difficulties in running the NBL (19:00) How the NBL Next Stars program came to be (25:00) and its future (32:00) How close Bronny James came to playing for an

Keli Leaupepe carved his own path to the NBL after being unable to earn a scholarship to Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence. The versatile forward spent four years at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), delivering a solid performance in his junior season, where he averaged 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. As he prepares to take the court for the Sydney Kings this season, Dan Boyce caught up with him to find out what he's working on, why he chose to play for the Kings and what motivates him. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... How he’s preparing for his debut NBL season (2:00) Playing junior basketball for Australia (5:00) His experiences playing in college (10:00) How he first gained the attention of NBL coaches (13:00) Choosing between playing for the Kings or the Taipans (14:00) What Keli gets up to off the court (19:00) The art of the screen as a big man (25:00) Thoughts on being coached by Brian Goorjian (27:00) What he expec

Growing up the son of Kiwi basketball legend Pero Cameron, Flynn Cameron followed in his father's footsteps, making his mark in the NBL as a rookie last season. Currently on a three-year deal with Melbourne, the talented young guard spent five years in college, playing two seasons at DePaul University and then moving to the University of California, Riverside. Coming off a strong showing at the FIBA Olympic Qualifing tournament where New Zealand fell short against Luka Doncic and Slovenia, he joins Dan on the podcast to update us on how he's preparing for his second NBL season. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... Falling short of his first Olympics after New Zealand lost to Slovenia (2:00) Playing in the NZNBL and using it as a platform to improve his game for the NBL (6:00) How he rates his rookie season in the NBL (8:00) What he's learned from playing with Shea Ili, Chris Goulding and Matthew Dellavedova (11:00) What it's like playing for his father on the

Patrick Ewing Jr joins Dan Boyce on the Aussie Hoopla podcast to discuss why he's come to Australia to coach in the NBL1, his time playing in the NBA and of course, growing up with an NBA legend as a father. As part of the coaching staff at South West Metro, he's also helping to develop Aussie NBA prospect Roman Siulepa. He gives his thoughts on what he can bring to the NBL this season as Next Star and his potential NBA future. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... How did Patrick end up coaching in Australia (2:00) Thoughts on the NBA chances of NBL Next Star Roman Siulepa (4:00) Learning from coach Aja Parham-Ammar, former professional WNBA player and the first woman to coach a men’s NBL1 team (10:00) Growing up as the son of NBA legend Patrick Ewing and how it shaped him as a person (13:00) The relationship between Michael Jordan and Patrick’s dad (17:00) Stories from how all of the kids of the 1992 Dream Team spent their time at the Olympics (19:00) Ho

Scott Ninnis joins Dan Boyce on the Aussie Hoopla podcast to talk about taking over as head coach of the 36ers, how he is a different coach to the man who lasted two seasons at the helm of the Sixers from 2008-2010 and much more. As a player, Scott played thirteen seasons in the NBL. He averaged 9.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 318 NBL games. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... How Scott is going about recruiting the final roster spots for the Adelaide 36ers (2:00) Thoughts on Adelaide being in the NBL’s top spenders over the past few seasons but repeatedly finishing at the bottom of the ladder (14:00) Why did Scott think he could do a better or different job than CJ Bruton (16:00) Beating out names like Brian Goorjian and Trevor Gleeson to get the head coaching role (20:00) Differences between Scott and the Adelaide 36ers now, compared to his first stint as head coach in 2008 (24:00) Why does Adelaide seem more on court and player issues than

Andrew Bogut, one of the greatest basketballers Australia has ever produced, is renowned for his open and honest approach to whatever topics he is given. He joins Dan Boyce on the Aussie Hoopla podcast to discuss many of the topics mainstream NBL media give a biased view of or fail to cover at all. He's the most influential person in Aussie Hoops outside of Larry Kestelman and we get to hear his take on some of the hottest topics going around the league right now. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... Often controversial, Bogut shares his approach to social media and why he uses it like he does. He also talks about those within the NBL who have asked him to change his ways (2:00) Thoughts on the current state of NBL media and whether topics are getting a balanced view thanks to most NBL reporting coming from the league itself (8:00) What do those within the Sydney Kings think about the highly likely scenario of a second Sydney team entering the NBL within the next

Cam Oliver joins the podcast to discuss his time playing for the Cairns Taipans, how it shaped him as a player and a person, and how it helped him reach the NBA. Since leaving Australia, Cam has played in Spain, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, France and China, and he shares some of the highs and lows from each of these stops. Currently looking for a team to play with in 2024/25, he confirms that he'd love to return to the NBL. During his first NBL season, Oliver averaged 17.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 54 percent from the field. This earned him a spot on the All-NBL Second Team. In his second NBL season, Oliver had to cut his season short due to complications with his wife's pregnancy but averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds across the 24 games he played. Over his two seasons in the NBL, Oliver averaged 17.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 52 NBL games. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... Experiences playing in China (2:00) Wher

Harry Froling joins the podcast to give an update on his health after suffering a fractured skull and bleeding to the brain following an alleged assault outside a popular Wollongong nightclub. A year into his recovery he also talks about his brother Sam's chances of making the Boomers Olympic squad, the issues the NBL faces with poor refereeing and the issues that arise from Larry Kestleman owning the league and NBL teams at the same time. Harry Froling won the NBL rookie of the year award in 2019 and went on to play six seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Townsville Crocodiles, Illawarra Hawks, Adelaide 36ers and Brisbane Bullets. He averaged 6.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 154 NBL games. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... Harry provides an update on his health after receiving a vicious blow to the head in an ugly incident off the court 12 months ago (2:00) The development of Sam Froling and his chances of being a part of the Boomers Olymp

Sam MacKinnon played sixteen seasons across five NBL teams. This included the South East Melbourne Magic, West Sydney Razorbacks, Townsville Crocodiles, Brisbane Bullets and Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 14.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 459 NBL games. Injuries forced him to retire at only 33 years of age but despite that, he still etched out a Hall Of Fame career where he sits in the top 10 all-time for rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. The all-round talent also represented Australia at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. He joins host Dan Boyce to talk about some of the highs and lows of his NBL career and experiences from playing with the Australian Boomers. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... Coaching the South East Melbourne Phoenix (2:00) Parallels between the career of Mitch Creek and Sam MacKinnon (5:30) Sam gives his side of the roller-coaster season with Brisbane where Sam acted as a GM, assistant and head coach (7:30) Should head coaches or

Michael Hill played seven seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Canberra Cannons and the Brisbane Bullets. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 235 NBL games and was a key part of Brisbane’s 2007 championship, where he averaged 20 minutes per game coming off the bench. After winning an NBL championship in 2007 his NBL career was cut short thanks to the ineffective salary cap solution which was the NBL Points System. A system that was initially developed to create parity among the league and protect NBL teams from exiting the league aligned with one of the darkest periods of NBL history. He joins host Dan Boyce to give his first hand account of how the points system forced him to retire at age 29 despite being one of the country's best players off the bench and how it shunted the development of Aussie hoops for a decade. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... Memories from Michael’s seven seasons in the NBL (2:00) That time Magic Johnson suited

Demitrius Conger signed with the Illawarra Hawks for the 2017–18 NBL season. In 27 games for the Hawks, he averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals with the Hawks, who narrowly missed out on making the playoffs, finishing in fifth place (12-16). Conger went on to finish second in league MVP voting and earned All-NBL First Team honours. He spent the following season playing in Adelaide, where he saw a drop in his production, but was a vital part of a team who narrowly missed the NBL playoffs. He joins host Dan Boyce to also discuss his 11 year career as a pro, playing in war torn Israel and goal of returning to Australia to play in the NBL1 to finish his career. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Topics include... Getting the update from Demitrius on where he’s been playing since leaving Australia (2:00) Breaking down different European basketball leagues (5:00) How he found himself playing in Australia back in 2017 (7:00) His first season in the NBL, play