Hall-of-famer Lanard Copeland has seen it all in 33 years embedded in Australian basketball, but nothing that’s come before, he says, will compare to the talent and subplots driving season 2025-26 of the NBL.

“This year will probably be better than I have ever seen, I can honestly say that. The talent level is crazy,” Copeland said.

The alley-oop king is right, there are storylines aplenty as the league enters a new campaign, starting Thursday.

Glamour clubs Melbourne United, Sydney Kings, Perth Wildcats and the Adelaide 36ers have all retooled.

Defending champions Illawarra – complete with three-time NBA championship winner JaVale McGee – are ready to make another run, all while their owner is locked in a high-stakes legal battle with league owner Larry Kestelman.

The Brisbane Bull

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