11
Dec
CODE Sports
NBL expansion: Goorjian warns not to repeat history
Kings head coach Brian Goorjian looks to the crowd after victory during the round three NBL match between Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers at Qudos Bank Arena, on October 04, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images
The NBL hoped to expand to 12 teams by 2026 but a league legend says timing is key
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The NBL has grand plans to introduce up to five new teams in the coming seasons, but officials are refusing to rush in a bid to avoid the type of franchise struggles that have plagued football’s A-League, reports Matt Logue from CODE Sports Basketball.
It comes as the national basketball competition’s most successful coach in six-time champion Brian Goorjian warned league HQ not to repeat “past mistakes”.
Expansion has long been a buzz word in Australian basketball following the NBL’s rise under owner Larry Kestelman’s reign. The competition is now a respected global brand and a legitimate breeding ground for the world’s best league in the NBA.
Yet, two years after Kestelman was “completely blown away” by expansion interest, the NBL is no closer to adding more teams. Officials have long stressed expansion is contingent on meeting key criteria: strong fan support, suitable facility and robust corporate backing.
Kestelman hoped the NBL could grow to 12 teams by 2026, but reiterated he doesn’t want more teams for the “sake of it” and new licenses must showcase a sustainable model and not disrupt the growth of current franchises.
This mindset hasn’t changed as the league looks to take a patient road to expanding Australia’s domestic basketball competition.
The NBL is determined not to wind up in the same territory as the national football competition, the A-League, where there have been concerns that overzealous expansion has led to problems with several struggling clubs - including Western United missing this year’s competition due to financial issues.
Legitimate question marks have also been raised about basketball’s depth amid blowout scores this season and if certain locations like Melbourne or Sydney are ready for more teams.
Goorjian believes the league has the talent to expand, but having previously coached at two clubs that folded due to financial issues, he stressed expansion must happen at the right time.
“You don’t want to put something in that is wobbly,” Goorjian told Code Sports.
For the full story on CODE Sports Basketball, click here.
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