The ESPN Aussie Hoops Hour

We're back for Part 2 of our NBL Midseason Check-ins. Olgun chats with Tasmania JackJumpers guard Milton Doyle, Brisbane Bullets head coach Justin Schueller, Melbourne United big-man Marcus Lee, and New Zealand Breakers guard Mitch McCarron to get a gauge on how their respective teams are tracking thus far this season.   *Note: The Cairns Taipans endeavored to provide a player but it couldn't be o...

We've reached the midway point of the NBL season, so it's time to check in on how each team is tracking - and we have 5 guests to help. Olgun chats with SEM Phoenix big-man Jordan Hunter, Adelaide 36ers guard Dejan Vasiljevic, Sydney Kings CEO Chris Pongrass, Illawarra Hawks forward Mason Peatling, and Perth Wildcats GM Danny Mills to get the lowdown on their respective seasons thus far. Learn mor...

The outrageous scoring binge in the NBL has continued, with Bryce Cotton dropping 59 points on New Zealand. Kane and Olgun discuss the magnitude of the performance, assess where Perth sit overall and ask whether New Zealand are in trouble all of a sudden. Elsewhere, Melbourne and Sydney played out another classic. Is Chris Goulding in the best form of his career? Is Sydney finding some consistency...

After a week of waiting, Montrezl Harrell and Kendric Davis have been handed suspensions by the single person tribunal. Kane and Olgun discuss the verdict and the long process to get to this position. The FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers delivered two massive wins for the Boomers. Chris Goulding’s hot shooting and some future Boomers names to watch are on the agenda, before an NBA wrap one month into the...

Another weekend, another round of complete chaos. Kane and Olgun work their way through all the incidents. What will the NBL do about the Adelaide-Melbourne incidents? Why is New Zealand moving on from Freddie Gillespie? How did James Batemon persevere early season preseason to burn the Perth Wildcats to the tune of 51 points? Also, the guys discuss Josh King’s postgame comments regarding the foul...

Kane and Olgun are back to wrap round 8 of NBL25. Chris Goulding’s historic explosion was the highlight of the round, but how did he do it, how did Perth allow it to happen and what does it mean for Melbourne’s threat as a title contender? Tasmania have had a rough season to date, but did they find some clues on the weekend for how they can turn things around. Kane points to some lineups that stoo...

The New Zealand Breakers have travelled across the world to start NBL25 but they ended round 7 as the talking point of the league. After dominant wins over Adelaide and Melbourne, what stands out about the Breakers 6-2 start and are they a genuine contender? Elsewhere, the South East Melbourne Phoenix have found some positivity of late, collecting two wins for new head coach Josh King. What did Ki...

 It was a drama filled round of NBL, starting with Melbourne’s win over Illawarra. Who is the real villain? Chris Goulding, Justin Tatum or the officials? Did Tatum deserve a fine? Has CG been unfairly treated around the league? Is there a flopping problem in the NBL? Elsewhere, the Sydney Kings lost two games, so what is happening to the preseason title favourites? Kane and Olgun discuss the inju...

 Your 2024/25 NBA Season preview. Is Josh Giddey the future of the Chicago Bulls? Can Josh Green expand his game with the Charlotte Hornets? Will Dyson Daniels land himself on an All-Defensive team by season’s end? Is Ben Simmons capable of playing 60+ games? Which players are the most likely to find themselves in trade discussions? Kane and Olgun work their way through the long list of Aussies in...

The South East Melbourne Phoenix have a new head coach, but who exactly is he and how did the team hire him in a matter of a few days? Are Tasmania on the brink of making a roster move? How long with Perth be without superstar Bryce Cotton? Kane and Olgun dive into all the leading topics out of round 5 of the NBL. New Zealand, Melbourne United and the overall standard of play are also on the rundo...

The Adelaide 36ers are set to receive a huge boost with Montrezl Harrell close to signing a full season deal with the club according to Olgun. The Phoenix moved on from head coach Mike Kelly after just five games, but will the decision actually change their fortunes? Melbourne United continue to rack up wins with little fanfare, the Sydney Kings offence needs some work and Kane declares his early...

After an 0-2 start to the season, the Adelaide 36ers responded with back-to-back wins. Isaac Humphries found form and Kendric Davis appears to have found a level of comfort, with Olgun and Kane reacting to the possible turnaround. Where the Cairns Taipans the biggest winners of the weekend and is Taran Armstrong ready to lead a team to the playoffs? The guys discuss a bunch of other teams and focu...

The Illawarra Hawks are sitting atop the NBL ladder after a seriously impressive week, while the South East Melbourne Phoenix are 0-3 and there are calls for some changes to be made. The Adelaide 36ers and Brisbane Bullets are also winless and feeling the pressure. Over in New Zealand, the Breakers are undefeated and may be more open to Tacko Fall than first thought. Olgun Uluc and Peter Hooley br...

HoopsFest was a huge success in Perth as NBL25 tipped off across the weekend. Did Adelaide prove they could be in the mix for playoffs? What are the big questions for the Sydney Kings and Brian Goorjian? Is Scott Roth becoming a villain? Are the Brisbane Bullets already showing signs of cracking? Kane Pitman and Olgun Uluc discuss all the key storylines from the weekend while also delivering some...

Welcome from the NBL Blitz! As all teams converge onto Queensland's Gold Coast, ESPN's Olgun Uluc and Pete Hooley take you inside the NBL Blitz 2024 and explain how it feels to be in the hub of NBL! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Opals are back on the Olympic podium! In a game that was fitting of the Opals resilient campaign, the team lost the lead early in the fourth quarter before recovering to close out Belgium. Ezi Magbegor was dominant with 30 points, while the key veterans that stood up all tournament came up clutch. Kane and Olgun breakdown the wildly entertaining game and praise a tough group of Opals who worke...

Outside of a short period to end the first quarter, the Opals were comprehensively beaten by Team USA in the Olympic semi final. Kane and Olgun discuss the loss and the challenges now facing the team with a quick turnaround to Sunday’s bronze medal game. Will the loss be difficult to mentally overcome? How does this compare to the semi final loss at the World Cup? Could Australia overcome the pote...

What a difference nine days can make. After starting their campaign with a bad loss to Nigeria, the Opals are now ensured of a place in a medal game at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Australia dominated Serbia from start to finish, behind the dynamic duo of Jade Melbourne and Alanna Smith. Kane and Olgun break down the result, praise the resilience of Melbourne, the physicality of Smith and the squad’s...

Leading by 24 points in the first half, the Boomers were unable to sustain the level, falling to Serbia in overtime. Patty Mills and Josh Giddey combined for 51 points on the night, but it wasn’t enough as turnovers and defensive lapses cost the team a place in the semi finals. Kane and Olgun discuss what went wrong after the first 15 minutes, and bounce around a variety of topics on what the resu...

Tough. Gritty. Courageous. The Opals sent 27,000 French fans home quiet in an iconic Olympic win to punch their place in the Quarter Finals. Kane and Olgun react to the performance, praise Tess Madgen’s leadership, discuss the mental challenges the Opals overcame, Ezi Magbegor steadily improving and plenty more. Australia will now face Serbia on the men’s and women’s side with a win ensuring they...

The first half was described as “diabolical” by head coach Brian Goorjian, but a push to reduce the deficit proved pivotal as the Boomers advance to the Quarterfinals after a loss to Greece. Kane and Olgun discuss the rollercoaster game, breakdown a poor first half and identify what changed in the third. How did the Boomers defend Giannis? Why was the offence struggling to function? What is going...

The Opals needed a response desperately and while it wasn’t perfect, they registered their first win at the Olympics. The 70-65 win over Canada keeps their Paris dreams alive and sets up a matchup with host nation France on Monday morning. Kane and Olgun react to the win and particularly the performances of the veteran core. Sami Whitcomb, Cayla Geroge, Marianna Tolo and Steph Talbot all had a big...

The Boomers fell short against Canada 93-83, with a costly turnover count hurting the green and gold in the second half. Kane and Olgun bring instant reaction, discussing the offensive struggles after the half. Other story lines to surface from the game included Patty Mills being put in the Dorture Chamber, Dante Exum making a positive return, the Dyson Daniels-SGA matchup and rotation patterns fr...

It could hardly have gone any worse. The Opals drop their opener to Nigeria 75-62, committing 26 turnovers and missing 10 free throws in the process. Kane and Olgun try to make sense of the performance, find any positives, and discuss how the team can turn it around and keep their medal hopes alive. Also, the Boomers prepare for Canada as Dante Exum is slated to return in what would be a key boost...

Facing demons from the past, the Boomers held of multiple Spain runs to start their Olympic campaign with a 92-80 win. Kane and Olgun break down the huge win, discussing the Josh Giddey and Jock Landale connection, Dyson Daniels and Josh Green on defence and Jack McVeigh’s rollercoaster Olympic debut. They also chat about Brian Goorjian’s motivation tactics, staying cool under pressure and perhaps...