Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast

Support Aussie Hoopla: We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up. If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways: Buy a T shirt or  Buy Me A Coffee Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running. ---------- Perth Wildcats head...

Support Aussie Hoopla: We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up. If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways: Buy a T shirt or  Buy Me A Coffee Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running. ---------- Former Sydney Kings...

We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up. If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways: Buy a T shirt or  Buy Me A Coffee Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running. ---------- Former Adelaide 36ers star Julius Hodge jo...

Support Aussie Hoopla: We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up. If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways: Buy a T shirt or  Buy Me A Coffee Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running. ---------- Current head coach...

Originally recorded in 2018 — this episode has been remastered and re-released following the passing of Australian basketball legend Ken Cole. Ken Cole, a championship-winning coach of the Adelaide 36ers and architect of the iconic 1986 "Invincibles" season (24–2), left a lasting impact on basketball in Australia — as a coach, leader, and later President of the Sixers. In this interview, Ken refle...

Support Aussie Hoopla: We are doing everything we can to keep these podcasts going, but the costs to produce, host, and track down guests are adding up. If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it alive, you can support us in two ways: Buy a T shirt or  Buy Me A Coffee Every contribution goes directly toward keeping aussiehoopla.com online and the podcast running. ---------- Former Sydney Kings...

We wrap up our seven-part deep dive into one of Aussie hoops' fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — as the modern era turns the heat all the way up and the Freeway Series swings wildly from season to season. Host Dan Boyce picks things up after the Hawks' rebirth under new ownership and Brian Goorjian , a fresh start that quickly turns into a brutal reality check — including the worst season...

We continue diving deeper into one of Aussie hoops' fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — picking things up as LaMelo Ball and his rookie of the year season in 2019 that propelled the Hawks into the global spotlight, setting NBL viewership and attendance records, while the Kings reload under Will Weaver and push for a championship in a season that ends in chaos. Host Dan Boyce breaks down LaM...

We continue diving deeper into one of Aussie hoops' fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — picking things up right after the Kings' 2005 three-peat sweep of the Hawks and tracking how the "Freeway Series" evolved through the chaos of Firepower, the Kings' disappearance, the rivalry's rebirth in 2010, and the Hawks' huge 2015/16 rebrand and recruiting spree. Host Dan Boyce breaks down the 2005/...

We continue diving deeper dive into one of Aussie hoops' fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — picking things up from the Wollongong Hawks' historic 2001 championship and tracking how the Kings and Hawks battled for New South Wales bragging rights through the mid-2000s. Host Dan Boyce revisits Wollongong's underdog run to become the first NSW club to win an NBL title, then jumps into Sydney's...

We continue our deep dive into one of Australian basketball's greatest rivalries... Sydney versus Illawarra. This episode we continue on through the late 1990s and into the Hawks' historic 2001 championship run. Host Dan Boyce picks up the rivalry from 1995 onward, exploring the coaching swaps, player defections, and the rise of a new generation of stars — from Shane Heal 's move to Sydney and Mar...

We continue our deep dive into one of Aussie hoops' fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — looking at the success of both teams during the 1990s. Host Dan Boyce picks up where Episode 1 left off, bringing in Hawks legend Gordie McLeod to get his throughts on whether his move to Sydney in 1983 was the starting point of the Kings v Hawks rivalry, before moving their the success of both teams dur...

We crack open one of Aussie hoops' spiciest grudge matches: Sydney vs Illawarra. Host Dan Boyce traces the rivalry back before the Kings even existed—into state-league days at the Snakepit—then follows it through the 1986 replay controversy, the Kings' 1988 merger and rise, and the big-city v small-town energy that's fuelled decades of heat. Featuring first-hand stories from Bob Turner, Greg Hubba...

Brian Wethers shares his journey from a standout NCAA career at Cal and NBA aspirations, to becoming one of the most explosive imports in Australian basketball during the mid-2000s. He breaks down the Pirates' underdog rise in 2004 under Adrian Hurley, his dynamic partnership with Kavossy Franklin, and the unforgettable playoff push that followed. We also revisit his return to the league with New...

Fabijan Krslovic  joins the podcast to reflect on his NBL journey so far, a 2024 championship run with the Tasmania JackJumpers, and what lies ahead in his new chapter with Melbourne United. Krslovic shares stories from his Boomers debut, his time as a junior alongside Ben Simmons and Dante Exum, and how he's consistently earned his place in the league through grit, defence, and leadership. We als...

Jordan Hunter  joins the podcast to reflect on his first season with South East Melbourne, his time with the Boomers, and how he's building a voice off the court through podcasting, filmmaking, and comedy. Hunter opens up about navigating the ups and downs of the Phoenix's 2024/25 campaign, how the team evolved under new leadership, and the real impact of Mike Kelly's mid-season departure. We also...

Andrew Svaldenis joins the podcast to reflect on a 13-year NBL career that took him from Bankstown to Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide, and Geelong—appearing in 299 games and carving out a legacy as one of the league's most consistent frontcourt battlers across the '80s and '90s. Svaldenis opens up about debuting as a teenager under Robbie Cadee, his breakout years in Hobart under Cal Bruton, and what it...

Brad Newley joins the podcast to reflect on a remarkable career that spanned over two decades, three NBL clubs, countless international tournaments, and a stint with the NBA's Houston Rockets. From his breakout rookie season with Townsville to Olympic campaigns with the Boomers and his late-career leadership role at Melbourne United, Newley shares the highs, challenges, and defining moments that s...

Lamar Patterson joins the podcast to talk through the highs, lows, and wild turns of a pro career that's taken him from Pittsburgh to the NBA, NBL, China, Puerto Rico, and most recently, India. Patterson opens up about his time in India's pro league, his rollercoaster ride with the Brisbane Bullets, and why things unravelled during his stint with the New Zealand Breakers. He also shares how close...

Nick Horvath joins the podcast to reflect on a one-of-a-kind basketball journey—from Duke University to NBL champion and beyond. Horvath opens up about writing his debut novel Sledge Vs, the highs and lows of his pro career, and what it was really like playing under legends like Mike Krzyzewski and Brian Goorjian. He shares stories from the heated South Dragons vs. Melbourne Tigers Grand Final, ov...

Newly appointed Australian Boomers head coach Adam Caporn joins the podcast to discuss his journey to the role, his coaching philosophy, and his vision for the national team's future. Caporn opens up about what it meant to be offered the job, the lessons he's taken from legendary coach Brian Goorjian , and the key changes he plans to implement as he leads the Boomers toward their next major tourna...

Former NBL player and current Casey Cavaliers head coach Luke Kendall  joins the podcast to discuss his journey from junior basketball to professional success and now coaching. Kendall's path saw him develop under renowned coach Mike Dunlap at Metro State, where he won a national championship before heading to the NBL. He played for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coas...

Rising star Malique Lewis joins the podcast to discuss his incredible journey from Trinidad & Tobago to professional basketball. At just 16, Lewis left home for Spain, where he developed his game with Fuenlabrada, before making the leap to the G League with Mexico City Capitanes. Now, as a Next Star with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, he's one step closer to his NBA dream. Lewis opens up about...

Former Razorbacks coach Mark Watkins joins the podcast to reflect on the team's journey from expansion squad to Grand Final contenders before financial struggles led to their downfall. A key figure from the club's inception in 1998, Watkins shares insights on recruiting NBL stars like Simon Dwight and John Rillie, the Razorbacks' 2002 and 2004 Grand Final runs, and the challenges of coaching on a...

Former Perth Wildcats star and 2014 NBL Grand Final MVP, Jermaine Beal , joins the podcast to reflect on his basketball journey—from his standout college days at Vanderbilt, to his championship-winning years in the NBL, and beyond. We dive into his time playing alongside future NBA and NBL talent like Festus Ezeli and AJ Ogilvy, his experiences in the NBA Summer League, and his journey through pro...