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Basketball junkie Mal Crawford launches the latest season Ball Don’t Lie with a pre-season deep dive into the 2026 NBL1 North campaign, unpacking the teams, signings and storylines shaping the competition.

A key feature of the episode is the insight from our very own Brayden Heslehurst — the editor of basketball.com.au — who brings league-wide perspective on roster builds, coaching moves and early contenders. His breakdown adds context to which teams are rising, which are reloading, and where the competition is heading.

Brayden is the head coach of the NBL1 North women's team on the Gold Coast.

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From the return of the Gold Coast Seahawks to major additions across Townsville, Logan and Ipswich, the episode paints a picture of a league in flux — driven by player movement, returning coaches and emerging talent.

There’s also player insight, with voices from around the league detailing off-season decisions, development pathways and what it takes to build a winning program in NBL1.

This isn’t just predictions — it’s a roadmap to the season.

If you want to understand NBL1 North before tip-off, this is where it starts.

About Ball Don't Lie

Ball Don't Lie Australia has been covering the NBL1 North for multiple years. Host Mal Crawford is being joined weekly by current and former players, coaches, commentators, GMs to breakdown the North. With deep dives into games and team breakdowns across the league from as far south as Gold Coast, as north as Cairns and every team in between. Don’t forget predictions, side bets and of course some silly games along the way.

Mal Crawford has been hooked on basketball since being taken to his first junior comp when he was in Year 2 of primary school, by his basketball loving Mum. Mal is the play by play commentator of the Brisbane Capitals as well as the Ipswich Force. He can be heard on multiple Game of the week broadcasts on Kayo every season and has been called up to the NBL1 National finals as a commentator to boot. Mal has been covering North with Commentary and podcasting since the rebrand to the NBL1 North five seasons ago.

What to expect from Ball Don’t Lie Australia throughout the season:

• Breakdowns of the big games of the round
• Player and Coach interviews
• Predictions across the round, season
• Weekly ladder looks, whose up and whose down and why
• Fun Games such as ‘Crackem’, ‘Whose that teammate’ and others that listeners can play along with that put guests in the hot seat