Round 14 highlighted a new contender among the title favorites, yet Adelaide remains firmly at the top.
The Brisbane Bullets continue to endure one of the toughest seasons in recent memory, while Melbourne United – despite a slump – possess the talent to stay competitive heading into the finals.
Watch live coverage of NBL and WNBL 2025-26 seasons with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
With form fluctuating across the competition, pressure mounting in key markets, and finals hopes already hanging in the balance for some, the coming weeks could ultimately define how this season is remembered.
Here are the Round 14 NBL Power Rankings.
1. Adelaide 36ers
Record: 17-4
Offensive Rank: 1st
Defensive Rank: 4th
Previous Rank: 1st
A flawless Round 14 for the competition’s benchmark side, going 2-0 and further entrenching their place atop this week’s power rankings. The Adelaide 36ers are clearly the team to beat, surging at exactly the right time as the season enters its back half.
Their round began emphatically with a 20-point win over Cairns, before the momentum continued at home against the Perth Wildcats. A dominant 29-9 third quarter proved decisive as Adelaide pulled away for a commanding 95-84 victory.
Bryce Cotton has all but locked up a sixth career MVP, and with strong support from Dejan Vasiljevic, Isaac Humphries and Zylan Cheatham – alongside an in-form bench – the 36ers look every bit a championship contender if this form continues.
Their biggest test looms in the new year against one of the league’s hottest teams, the Sydney Kings, who are currently producing some of the best defensive basketball the NBL has seen in years. A win there would only strengthen Adelaide’s claim as title favourites.
That clash is followed by a quick 48-hour turnaround against a struggling Brisbane Bullets side anchored to the bottom of the ladder.
For now, things are humming in Adelaide – how long the party lasts is entirely up to them.
2. Sydney Kings
Record: 13-7
Offensive Rank: 2nd
Defensive Rank: 1st
Previous Rank: 3rd
If not for Adelaide’s continued dominance, the Sydney Kings would be widely regarded as the league’s most in-form team – and depending on who you ask, they’re already neck and neck with the competition leaders.
Another perfect round extended Sydney’s winning streak to six, with victories over Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth featuring prominently in that run.
Make no mistake, coach Brian Goorjian has finally unlocked the chemistry within his roster, and the Kings’ defence is systematically breaking teams down.
Round 14 delivered two significant percentage boosters, as Sydney recorded a combined 49-point margin of victory against Illawarra and Brisbane. Both struggling sides were overwhelmed by the Kings’ relentless defensive pressure.
The real test arrives in Round 15, with matchups against Adelaide and the South East Melbourne Phoenix – two top-four contenders expected to be there come finals time. Wins in those games would all but end debate over whether the Kings are capable of winning it all.
Tatum gets technical for clapping umpire | 00:45
3. South East Melbourne Phoenix
Record: 13-7
Offensive Rank: 3rd
Defensive Rank: 2nd
Previous Rank: 2nd
A slight dip in form for Josh King’s side, but make no mistake – this team looks worlds apart from where it was last season. They are genuine championship contenders and, with the addition of NBL champion Ian Clark, remain firmly in the mix to win it all.
Round 14 featured just the one outing, with the Phoenix travelling to Tasmania and falling narrowly to the JackJumpers, 87-84. It was a frustrating affair after surrendering a sizeable lead by half-time, forcing them to spend the remainder of the game fighting their way back.
Nathan Sobey continues to produce MVP-level performances, but the loss to Tasmania highlighted a key area for improvement: secondary scoring when Sobey is off the floor. That is precisely where Clark’s influence will grow as he builds match fitness.
Round 15 presents a strong opportunity to return to the winner’s circle against the Cairns Taipans; a side currently dealing with its own challenges. The real test, however, looms on January 5 against the Sydney Kings – the first meeting between the two teams since Round 6, when the Phoenix claimed a 112–95 win.
Much has changed since then, particularly with the Kings now a very different outfit.
Overall, Josh King has his group performing to expectations, and they will be firmly around the mark come finals time. Just how far they go remains a question for the weeks ahead.
4. Melbourne United
Record: 15-7
Offensive Rank: 4th
Defensive Rank: 3rd
Previous Rank: 4th
Melbourne United, who opened the season with a blistering 9–0 start, have found life more difficult since the FIBA break.
That said, the roster remains strong enough to return to the winner’s list – something they managed over the weekend with a 92–87 victory over the Brisbane Bullets.
Ordinarily, a win would be cause for celebration. However, given Brisbane’s struggles throughout December, a five-point margin is unlikely to satisfy head coach Dean Vickerman, who still has clear issues to address as the playoffs approach.
Chris Goulding appears to be battling illness and has looked below his best in recent outings, while imports Jesse Edwards, Tyson Walker and Milton Doyle – have yet to hit their stride.
Two-time defensive player of the year Shea Ili remains out with a hamstring injury – a huge blow.
But these are problems that feel fixable, so there’s no need to hit the panic button just yet.
United will benefit from a lighter schedule this round, with just one matchup on the slate against Tasmania.
That contest comes with added motivation, following last week’s 92–73 dismantling at the hands of the JackJumpers – a result Vickerman will be keen to avenge.
This group is simply too talented to let the current form continue, but with each passing round, a third- or fourth-place finish on the ladder is becoming a more realistic outcome.
5. Perth Wildcats
Record: 11-10
Offensive Rank: 5th
Defensive Rank: 7th
Previous Rank: 5th
The Perth Wildcats are fast becoming the NBL’s definition of “even Steven” – impressive wins followed by disappointing losses that appear completely devoid of the chemistry that fuelled earlier success.
While the roster is still strong enough to remain comfortably inside the top five, they continue to leave plenty to be desired when it comes to pushing into the top three.
Round 14 summed up that inconsistency, with Perth suffering a heavy defeat to the Adelaide 36ers after a disastrous third quarter in which they managed just nine points, eventually falling 95-84.
It’s difficult to gauge just how far this team can go. They entered the matchup riding high after a strong win over Tasmania, yet the execution simply wasn’t there. To compound matters, import star David Duke Jr is set to miss several weeks after hyperextending his elbow.
John Rillie has an opportunity to steer his side back on track tomorrow night against the Brisbane Bullets – a fixture that is increasingly becoming a percentage booster given Brisbane’s recent struggles. Assuming they take care of business, the Wildcats then travel to New Zealand to face the Breakers.
It’s a challenging road trip, but if Perth truly wants to be a genuine playoff threat, this is a round they must emerge from 2-0 against teams currently below them on the ladder.
6. Tasmania JackJumpers
Record: 10-12
Offensive Rank: 6th
Defensive Rank: 6th
Previous Rank: 6th
Overall, it was a solid round for Scott Roth’s JackJumpers, who emerged with a 1-1 record and plenty of positives after a statement win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Their round opened with a narrow overtime loss to the New Zealand Breakers, going down 81-80 in a contest that could have gone either way.
The response, however, was telling. Back on their home court, the JackJumpers showed resilience and composure to secure just their third home win of the season, edging Josh King’s Phoenix 87-84.
Victories of that nature tend to carry momentum, and the JackJumpers appear well placed to build on it. Import Bryce Hamilton’s recent form has been particularly encouraging, and he looks primed to lead the group into a potentially productive round against the Illawarra Hawks and Melbourne United.
While their 10-12 record may not immediately stand out, it masks a meaningful turnaround after a difficult first half of the season marked by an extended losing streak.
With the roster now healthy, Tasmania is beginning to reassert itself and shape as a genuine dark-horse contender heading into the 2025–26 campaign.
7. New Zealand Breakers
Record: 8-13
Offensive Rank: 7th
Defensive Rank: 5th
Previous Rank: 8th
Just when it appeared the Breakers were slipping further into trouble, they produced one of their strongest performances of the season by travelling to Tasmania and stealing an overtime victory.
Head coach Petteri Koponen can take confidence from the result, which reinforced his group’s ability to secure high-quality wins away from home. Still, the challenge now lies in sustaining that momentum as they push for a genuine run at sixth place on the ladder.
A home matchup against the Perth Wildcats offers a timely opportunity to build on that result. With travel removed from the equation, the Breakers have the chance to fully prepare for a contest that could prove pivotal in shaping the congested mid-table race.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright continues to set the tone, while Sam Mennenga’s development has been a major positive and positions him as a strong contender for the Most Improved award.
The talent is there for New Zealand to claim sixth spot – but without greater consistency, the risk remains that it will be another season ending short of the play-in picture.
8. Illawarra Hawks
Record: 6-13
Offensive Rank: 8th
Defensive Rank: 8th
Previous Rank: 7th
The signs of a championship hangover are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore for Justin Tatum’s group. Three straight losses, capped by a 24-point defeat to the Sydney Kings on Christmas Day, have raised questions about where the Hawks currently sit both mentally and structurally.
Chemistry and cohesion has been hard to find, and somewhat ironically, the side has often looked more settled when star import JaVale McGee is on the bench.
That disconnect has translated into visible on-court frustration, which continues to undermine execution at key moments.
Despite the slide, the Hawks remain within reach of the top six. If that opportunity is to be taken seriously, internal discipline must improve, with less bickering and a renewed focus on the collective identity that powered last season’s championship run.
Round 15 presents a genuine chance to reset, with matchups against the Tasmania JackJumpers and the Cairns Taipans. Both games are winnable, yet each carries its own risks if the current issues persist.
The responsibility now falls on Tatum to extract a full-team response. Effort, accountability and cohesion defined the Hawks at their best. The foundations are still there, but rediscovering that DNA will require commitment from every player on the roster.
9. Brisbane Bullets
Record: 6-16
Offensive Rank: 10th
Defensive Rank: 9th
Previous Rank: 9th
Things have gone from bad to worse – and now verge on catastrophic – for the Brisbane Bullets, who continue to suffer heavy defeats without Stu Lash at the helm.
Interim coach Darryl McDonald pulled no punches in his post-game press conference after a 25-point loss to the Sydney Kings, openly voicing his frustration.
At the same time, he challenged the club’s ownership to back him for a full season, insisting he could build a championship-calibre program with the opportunity to implement his own vision.
Results have been bleak so far, with Brisbane sitting at 1-3 under McDonald. The import pairing of Javon Freeman-Liberty and Terry Taylor, who combined for just six points in the loss to Sydney, is increasingly being viewed as a failed experiment for a side still struggling to regain stability following the injury to Casey Prather.
The road ahead offers little respite. An upcoming round against the Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers threatens to further derail the season, with a winless stretch looming large. Still, if there is anyone capable of injecting belief and fight into this group, it may yet be McDonald.
10. Cairns Taipans
Record: 5-15
Offensive Rank: 9th
Defensive Rank: 10th
Previous Rank: 10th
The Cairns Taipans have been one of the season’s biggest disappointments. Despite an off-season filled with roster changes, significant investment, and the addition of several experienced imports, the team has somehow regressed from last year.
A 20-point loss to Adelaide in Round 14 only added to a growing list of challenges under head coach Adam Forde.
The roster is nearly at full strength, with only Reyne Smith sidelined until late January.
On paper, the team should be competitive. Yet offensive inefficiency and weak transition defense continue to undermine their performance. These issues have effectively locked Cairns into a 10th-place finish for the foreseeable future.
Admiral Schofield has also struggled with injuries and, when on the court, has yet to display the consistent impact one might expect from a former NBA player.
Looking ahead to Round 15, the Taipans face tough matchups against the Phoenix and Hawks – both sides highly motivated and hungry for wins.
A 0-2 outcome would likely cement a disappointing season for Forde’s squad, highlighting just how far the team has fallen from its potential.
Discussion about this post