27
Oct
Code Sports
40 injured, $8 million sidelined: Brutal NBL toll exposed
Sam Waardenburg of Melbourne United reacts to an injury during the 2026 NBL Blitz match between Melbourne United and Illawarra Hawks at Red Energy Arena on September 06, 2026 in Bendigo, Australia. Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images for NBL
The NBL’s mounting injury crisis has prompted coaching legendBrian Goorjian to have his say
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Coaching great Brian Goorjian believes the NBL has never been more intense – declaring a potent combination of travel and a superior game ferocity compared to the NBA regular season has contributed to the league’s multimillion dollar injury toll, writes Matt Logue and Michael Randall from Code Sports.
Goorjian – the league’s most successful coach with seven titles – has seen it all throughout his stellar five-decade coaching career in Australia.
He says the NBL’s current situation – with 40 players injured so far this season, amounting to over $8 million worth of talent – can be largely attributed to the taxing travel schedule, especially for players battling niggling injuries trying to back up.
Add to the mix the fact that more players not resting in the off-season as they play overseas to bump up their pay packets and you get the perfect storm.
“Travel is a huge element,” Goorjian – head coach of the Sydney Kings – said about the high number of injuries in the NBL this season.
“The NFL played here and talked about travel – but that is nothing compared to this (in the NBL). Melbourne on Sunday, Perth on Wednesday and then we go to Launceston in Tassie and play Friday.”
Goorjian also pointed out the NBL’s physically demanding playing style – which he says has never been this full-on.
Many NBL sides defend in the full-court compared to a regular season NBA clash – where defence can be lacking.
This has been on display to start the NBA season, with teams leaking an average of 112 points per game compared to 92 in the NBL.
NBL head of operations Vince Crivelli acknowledged there was a high number of players on the injured list but stressed he did not believe that indicated it was at “crisis” levels.
For the full story on Code Sports Basketball, click here.
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