21
Jul
Explainer
Melbourne United: Five things you need to know
Ubiquitous Melbourne United carry a chip on their shoulder after back to back grand final losses
- One of the league’s most successful franchises with five NBL championships
- Have been known as the Melbourne Tigers for the majority of their existence
- Melbourne United have 5 minor premierships in the last decade
Melbourne United have been an NBL powerhouse for a long time, perhaps only being usurped by the Perth Wildcats in all time franchise legacy. From the Andrew Gaze dynasty of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s to the Chris Anstey era to modern day success, United has some of the biggest names in NBL history and the continued success to match them.
Both the NBL24 and NBL25 season left a sour taste in United fans mouths as they lost in a deciding Game 5 of the Grand Final, and now they are out for revenge and looking for that title they have just been just shy of the last 2 years.
2024-25 Season Summary
- Record (19-10)
- Finish 2nd (Eliminated in grand final)
- All NBL Selections: Chris Goulding (second team)
2025 Off-Season Additions
- Dash Daniels
- Fabijan Krslovic
- Finn Delany
- Malith Machar
- Milton Doyle
- Tom Wilson
- Tyson Walker
Overall, the 2025 off-season signals a small but important retooling for Melbourne United, determined to go one step further. They’ve added shooting, toughness, and firepower without sacrificing their identity and main core. The young Tyson Walker and Jackjumpers star Milton Doyle project to be a new high effort backcourt combo to surround Chris Goulding, which was especially important after Matthew Dellavedova signed with the Sydney Kings. Finn Delaney’s return to the NBL after a stint in Europe and Asia brings some added championship experience to United and Melbournian Tom Wilson has cracked an NBL roster spot after a time in the AFL.
Dash Daniels, the brother of NBA star Dyson Daniels and a projected top 10 pick in the 2026 NBA draft decided to take his talents to United so the team can develop him before he makes it to the big league.
Potential NBL26 Line-up
- PG: Tyson Walker (IP) | Shea Ili | Tom Wilson
- SG: Milton Doyle (IP) | Dash Daniels (NS) | Campbell Blogg (DP)
- SF: Chris Goulding | Tanner Krebs | Malith Machar
- PF: Finn Delany | Kyle Bowen | Tom Koppens (DP)
- C: — | Fabijan Krslovic
Team History
The Melbourne Tigers were introduced into the league in 1984 and whilst success wasn’t immediate, they had the star power to compete. They were led by coach Lindsey Gaze and his son Andrew, who would come to be known as the greatest NBL player of all time.
The club didn't make the postseason for its first 5 years, but that didn't stop Andrew putting up big numbers as he averaged 44.1 points (still an NBL record) in 1987. Gaze won his first NBL MVP in 1981, inspiring Lanard Copeland to join the Tigers in 1992 to form one of if not the greatest backcourt in NBL history. The Tigers made their first grand final appearance in 1992 where they lost to the South East Melbourne Magic before adding Mark Bradtke as the final piece needed in their championship puzzle. The Tigers won the title in 1993, the first for the Gazes.
The Tigers returned to the NBL Grand Final in 1996, where they were once again beaten 2-1 by the South East Melbourne Magic. Similarly, they clawed their way back to the Grand Final and won the very next year in 1997, and this time they were able to beat SE Melbourne.
The Tigers were unable to recapture their championship form throughout the rest of the 1990s and the early 2000s despite many more amazing seasons from Andrew Gaze who had 5 MVPs by the time he retired in 2005. Both Mark Bradtke and Lanard Copeland were still on the team in 2005 and were let go the same season Gaze retired. Truly the end of a special era in Melbourne basketball.
However, the very next season, Melbournian Chris Anstey grew into a star of his own, winning the 2006 MVP and leading the Tigers all the way to the championship. Just like Gaze before him, Anstey would take Melbourne to 4 finals and win two of them, as the Tigers fourth championship was claimed in 2008.
In 2014, the franchise was rebranded as Melbourne United to symbolise a connection to all of Victorian basketball. As United, Melbourne has made five grand finals appearances with stars such as Chris Goulding, Casper Ware and Jock Landale. They would once again in this era too, win two titles with those championships coming in 2018 and 2021.
Five Fast Facts
- Andrew Gaze has a ridiculous total of 18,908 total points, averaging more than 30ppg over 22 seasons
- Melbourne once at 111 points at half time in a game in 1991
- Melbourne has 7 coach of the year awards, the most in NBL history
- United has never gone a decade without winning a title
- Former Melbourne United players in the NBA includes Jock Landale of the Memphis Grizzlies
Club Timeline
- 1984: Enter the NBL as the Melbourne Tigers under coach Lindsey Gaze, with son Andrew Gaze as rising star.
- 1992: Lanard Copeland joins; Tigers reach their first NBL Grand Final
- 1993: Add Mark Bradtke and win their first NBL Championship
- 1996: Return to the Grand Final but fall again to SE Melbourne Magic.
- 1997: Claim revenge over the Magic to win their second NBL title.
- 2005: Andrew Gaze retires with five MVPs; Bradtke and Copeland also depart, the end of a golden era.
- 2006: Chris Anstey wins MVP and leads Tigers to their third championship.
- 2008: Anstey guides the Tigers to their fourth NBL title in 6 years.
- 2014: Franchise rebrands as Melbourne United, aiming to unify Victorian basketball.
- 2018: United win their first title under the new name, led by Chris Goulding and Casper Ware.
- 2021: Claim another championship behind star big man Jock Landale, bringing total titles to six.
Melbourne United enters NBL26 with both the burden and the fuel of unfinished business. United’s three different eras with multiple championships sets a precedent of continued and repeated success. After consecutive Grand Final heartbreaks, they've reloaded with fresh talent and a deeper rotation, all while retaining the championship culture that’s defined them for decades. United doesn't like second place.
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