| 1996 NBL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball League |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | 12 April – 28 September 1996 3 – 20 October 1996 (Finals) 25 October – 3 November 1996 (Grand Finals) |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| TV partner(s) | Network Ten Fox Sports |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | Melbourne Tigers |
| Season MVP | Andrew Gaze (Melbourne) |
| Top scorer | Andrew Gaze (Melbourne) |
| Finals | |
| Champions | South East Melbourne Magic (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Melbourne Tigers |
| Finals MVP | Mike Kelly (South East Melbourne) |
The 1996 NBL season was the 18th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 14 teams contest the league.
Regular season
The 1996 regular season took place over 24 rounds between 12 April 1996 and 28 September 1996.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Round 19
Round 20
Round 21
Round 22
Round 23
Round 24
Ladder
| Pos | 1996 NBL season | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP | |
| 1 | Melbourne Tigers | 26 | 21 | 5 | 80.77% | 4–1 | W1 | 10–3 | 11–2 | 2834 | 2647 | 107.06% |
| 2 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 26 | 19 | 7 | 73.08% | 5–0 | W7 | 11–2 | 8–5 | 2623 | 2338 | 112.19% |
| 3 | Perth Wildcats1 2 | 26 | 16 | 10 | 61.54% | 2–3 | L1 | 8–5 | 8–5 | 2565 | 2472 | 103.76% |
| 4 | Canberra Cannons1 2 | 26 | 16 | 10 | 61.54% | 3–2 | L1 | 10–3 | 6–7 | 2606 | 2415 | 107.91% |
| 5 | Sydney Kings1 3 | 26 | 16 | 10 | 61.54% | 4-1 | W2 | 11–2 | 5–8 | 2830 | 2775 | 101.98% |
| 6 | Adelaide 36ers1 3 | 26 | 16 | 10 | 61.54% | 3–2 | W1 | 11–2 | 5–8 | 2623 | 2530 | 103.68% |
| 7 | North Melbourne Giants | 26 | 15 | 11 | 57.69% | 2–3 | W1 | 10–3 | 5–8 | 2647 | 2580 | 102.60% |
| 8 | Brisbane Bullets | 26 | 14 | 12 | 53.85% | 2–3 | L1 | 8–5 | 6–7 | 2527 | 2369 | 106.67% |
| 9 | Newcastle Falcons | 26 | 11 | 15 | 42.31% | 2–3 | W1 | 6–7 | 5–8 | 2546 | 2633 | 96.70% |
| 10 | Illawarra Hawks4 | 26 | 9 | 17 | 34.62% | 2–3 | L1 | 6–7 | 3–10 | 2647 | 2704 | 97.89% |
| 11 | Townsville Suns4 | 26 | 9 | 17 | 34.62% | 3–2 | W3 | 6–7 | 3–10 | 2554 | 2797 | 91.31% |
| 12 | Hobart Devils | 26 | 8 | 18 | 30.77% | 0–5 | L6 | 4–9 | 4–9 | 2356 | 2541 | 92.72% |
| 13 | Geelong Supercats5 | 26 | 6 | 20 | 23.08% | 1–4 | L1 | 5–8 | 1–12 | 2536 | 2783 | 91.12% |
| 14 | Gold Coast Rollers5 | 26 | 6 | 20 | 23.08% | 1–4 | L4 | 4–9 | 2–11 | 2538 | 2848 | 89.12% |
Updated to match(es) played on 28 September 1996. Source: NBL.com.au
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.
14-way Head-to-Head between Perth Wildcats (4-2), Canberra Cannons (4-2), Sydney Kings (2-4) and Adelaide 36ers (2-4).
2Head-to-Head between Perth Wildcats and Canberra Cannons (1-1). Perth Wildcats won For and Against (+10).
3Head-to-Head between Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers (1-1). Sydney Kings won For and Against (+15).
4Head-to-Head between Illawarra Hawks and Townsville Suns (1-1). Illawarra Hawks won For and Against (+29).
5Head-to-Head between Geelong Supercats and Gold Coast Rollers (1-1). Geelong Supercats won For and Against (+22).
Finals
Playoff bracket
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Grand Final | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Melbourne Tigers | 97 | 96 | 111 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Brisbane Bullets | 118 | 87 | 93 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Melbourne Tigers | 87 | 100 | 91 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Canberra Cannons | 98 | 82 | 87 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Canberra Cannons | 89 | 146 | 101 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Sydney Kings | 113 | 99 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Melbourne Tigers | 100 | 84 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 89 | 88 | 107 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Perth Wildcats | 93 | 115 | 104 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Adelaide 36ers | 103 | 92 | 114 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 87 | 112 | X | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Adelaide 36ers | 86 | 81 | X | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 96 | 87 | X | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | North Melbourne Giants | 82 | 77 | X | ||||||||||||||||
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Grand Final
The 1996 NBL Grand Final between the Magic and the Tigers drew an NBL Grand Final aggregate attendance record of 43,605 (average 14,535). Game 2 of the series at the National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park drew a single game Grand Final attendance record of 15,064. Both records still stand as of the 2016–17 NBL season
1996 NBL statistics leaders
| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per game | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers | 31.1 |
| Rebounds per game | Clarence Tyson | Townsville Suns | 14.1 |
| Assists per game | Darryl McDonald | North Melbourne Giants | 10.0 |
| Steals per game | Ira Bowman | Gold Coast Rollers | 4.0 |
| Blocks per game | David Van Dyke | Newcastle Falcons | 4.3 |
| Free throw percentage | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers | 90.5% |
NBL awards
- Most Valuable Player: Andrew Gaze, Melbourne Tigers
- Most Valuable Player Grand Final: Mike Kelly, South East Melbourne Magic
- Best Defensive Player: Isaac Burton, Sydney Kings
- Most Improved Player: Chris Anstey, South East Melbourne Magic
- Rookie of the Year: Scott McGregor, Newcastle Falcons
- Coach of the Year: Brett Flanigan, Canberra Cannons
All NBL Team
| # | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Darryl McDonald | North Melbourne Giants |
| SG | Robert Rose | Canberra Cannons |
| SF | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers |
| PF | Ray Owes | Geelong Supercats |
| C | Mark Bradtke | Melbourne Tigers |