Fallen short: Most stacked NBL teams without a ring

• The New Orleans Pelicans will play Melbourne United and SEM Phoenix in two NBLxNBA games this weekend
• New Orleans is the first NBA team to play an NBL team in Australia
• The Adelaide 36ers are the only NBL team to beat an NBA team, defeating the Phoenix Suns in 2022

Today marks three years since the Adelaide 36ers shocked the basketball world and beat the Phoenix Suns in NBLxNBA action, marking the first time a team from Australia had accomplished such a feat.

The win sparked the 36ers to become heavy championship favourites with a start import trio of Antonius Cleveland, Robert Franks and Craig Randall II. However, they would fail to make the finals, let alone win championship.

They are just one of many teams stacked with talent that couldn’t bring home a championship.

Here we run through some of the most stacked rosters to not win a ring of the past two decades.

2023-24 Melbourne United

Starting Five: Matthew Dellavedova, Shea Ili, Chris Goulding, Luke Travers, Jo Lual-Acuil

Thanks to the return of Matthew Dellavedova and Jo Lual-Acuil, alongside the additions of Luke Travers and Ian Clark - Melbourne United were poised to be title contenders. They finished the regular season on top with a 20-8 record.

They stumbled against Illawarra in the semis but got through to the finals, winning the series 2-1. They played the Tasmania JackJumpers in the championship series, where they went down early in the series 2-1 after a Jack McVeigh half-court game winner, but they forced a game five on their home court. They lost to Tasmania in the decider by two points (81-83).

2022-23 Adelaide 36ers

Starting Five: Mitch McCarron, Craig Randall II, Antonius Cleveland, Robert Franks, Daniel Johnson

Before they started their NBL23 journey, Adelaide beat the Phoenix Suns thanks to a Craig Randall II and Robert Franks blistering three-point shooting performance. This transcended their roster to heavy championship favourites, but due to off-court issues Randall was released. The 36ers did add Ian Clark to replace him but by the time he arrived it was too late as they finished eighth, not making the playoffs. They finished the season in eighth position with a 13-15 record.

2021 Perth Wildcats

Starting Five: Mitch Norton, Bryce Cotton, Todd Blanchfield, John Mooney, Will Magnay

The Perth Wildcats might have won the NBL Cup in 2021, but they were crippled by injuries in the back end of the season, being swept by Melbourne United in the Grand Final Series. Before the injury flood, they made the mid-season acquisition of Will Magnay, who spent the year with the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-way contract. Giving them legitimate title credentials.

Bryce Cotton, who won MVP that season, had a season ending hematoma leg injury and starting point guard Mitch Norton battled through a hip injury, effectively playing on one leg for the entire finals. Bench pieces Clint Steindl and Luke Travers also missed games in the finals series due to injuries.

2019-20 Sydney Kings

Starting Five: Casper Ware, Kevin Lisch, Brad Newley, Jae’Sean Tate, Andrew Bogut

The Sydney Kings had an incredible team in the 2019/20 season. All-NBL First Teamer Casper Ware jumped from Melbourne United to Sydney in the offseason and was partnered with former MVP Kevin Lisch in the backcourt. A frontcourt of Jae’Sean Tate, Brad Newley and Andrew Bogut held it down inside, with mid-season recruit Xavier Cooks coming off the bench and leading them in rebounds.

They lost to the Perth Wildcats in the Grand Finals series (2-1) after the series was cut short due to the pandemic.

2017-18 Adelaide 36ers

Starting Five: Nathan Sobey, Raymone Moore, Shannon Shorter, Mitch Creek, Daniel Johnson

In 2018, the Adelaide 36ers had a spectacular season, being in the top four for the entire season before finishing the regular season in second. They acquired Josh Childress midseason and beat the Perth Wildcats in the semi-finals (2-0). The 36ers took Melbourne United to five games with every team winning their respective home games. Josh Childress picked up a shoulder injury in game two, seeing him miss the remainder of the finals. Adelaide lost game five 100-82.

2014-15 Cairns Taipans

Starting Five: Scottie Wilbekin, Cameron Gliddon, Torrey Craig, Alex Loughton, Matt Burston

The Taipans finished each round of the 2014-15 NBL season inside the top four. Ending the year in first place with 21 wins, two more than the second place New Zealand roster. Their team included future EuroCup MVP Scottie Wilbekin, NBA starter Torrey Craig and Australian Boomer Cam Gliddon. They swept the Perth Wildcats in the semi-finals before going down to the New Zealand Breakers in the championship series thanks to a Ekene Ibekwe buzzer-beater to win the championship.

2007-08 Sydney Kings

Starting Five: Jason Smith, Luke Kendall, Glen Saville, Mark Worthington, Ian Crosswhite

The “Firepower” Sydney Kings finished the 2007-08 season on top of the ladder with 27 wins out of a possible 30, five more than the second placed Melbourne Tigers. Their roster consisted of a strong local contingent with Boomers Mark Worthington, Jason Smith, Luke Kendall and Glen Saville.

They beat the Perth Wildcats in the semi-finals (2-1) and matched up against the Tigers in the grand-final series. They came back from a 2-1 deficient to take it to five games but lost 73-85 in the decider. After the grand final series, the Kings folded as Firepower were unable to pay players' salaries.

2003-04 West Sydney Razorbacks

Starting Five: John Rillie, Russell Hinder, Aaron Trahair, Sam Mackinnon, Simon Dwight

The West Sydney Razorbacks finished the 2003-04 NBL season in third place, with a 22-11 record. Their roster included Boomers John Rillie, Sam Mackinnon and Simon Dwight.

Rillie and Mackinnon made the All-NBL First team this season and helped them into the semi-finals after a 110-88 elimination final victory over the Cairns Taipans. They took down the Wollongong Hawks in the semi’s (2-0) and took on their crosstown rivals the Sydney Kings in the finals. West Sydney took a 2-1 advantage going into a home game four but ultimately lost the series in five games.