Countdown on to the Hungry Jacks NBL23 Season

The countdown is on to the start of the Hungry Jacks NBL23 season. 

South East Melbourne Phoenix are focused on returning to the finals with ten home games at the Fire Pit (aka John Cain Arena) and a return to the Heartland with three games at the State Basketball Centre in January.

With the schedule returning to the usual placing for the NBL season, watching the Phoenix strive in their fourth year toward their first championship is the place to be this summer. 

Phoenix fans will get their first close look at recruits Junior Madut and imports Gary Browne and Trey Kell, who join contracted players Kyle Adnam, Mitch Creek, Owen Foxwell, Dane Pineau and Reuben Te Rangi. 

Round 1: Saturday, October 1 v Tasmania JackJumpers, 6 pm – JCA 

Head-to-Head: Phoenix 2-1 JackJumpers

The two newest franchises will face off in Phoenix's first game for the season at The Fire Pit. The frenemies will meet for the first time after the Phoenix helped Tasmania clinch a spot in last year's Grand Final by defeating Perth in the season's final round, ending the Wildcats 35 year finals streak.

While Phoenix fans get their first look at their recruits, including the deadly backcourt of Kell and Browne, JackJumpers will have a new look import line-up with the only import returning. Milton Doyle and Rashard Kelly replace Adams.

(The frenemies will meet for the first game for the NBL on October 1 at the Fire Pit.) 

Round 2: Saturday, October 8 v Cairns Taipans, 5:30 pm – JCA 
Round 16: Wednesday, January 25 v Cairns Taipans, 7:30 pm – SBC 

Head-to-Head: Phoenix 6-4 Taipans

The Taipans retained key players from last season: Keanu Pinder, Bul Kuol, and Tahjere McCall, but lost Kouat Noi, and did not re-sign Nate Jawai. 

They added some young talent in Sam Waardenburg and DJ Hogg to their core group from last year.  

(Phoenix will meet Cairns at JCA and SBC in NBL23.)

Round 3: Saturday, October 15 v New Zealand Breakers, 8 pm – JCA

Head-to-Head: Phoenix 8-3 Breakers

Phoenix will square off against two former players in, Izayah Le'afa and Cam Gliddon when they meet at The Fire Pit in mid-October. New head coach Mody Maor has a vision of re-connecting with New Zealand as the NBL's nomads finally return home after two seasons on the road.

It's a new look Breakers with Maor at the helm, fan favourite Finn Delany playing in Germany, and both Next Star's Ousmane Dieng and Hugo Beeson living their NBA dream, 

So far, the Breakers have added Le'afa, Gliddon, Tom Vodanovich, and another French Next Star, Rayan Rupert. 

(Phoenix will come up against ex-players Le'afa and Gliddon when they meet in round 3.)

Round 4: Saturday, October 22 v Brisbane Bullets, 5:30 pm – JCA
Round 15: Monday, January 16 v Brisbane Bullets, 7:30 pm – SBC

Head-to-Head: Phoenix 5-5 Bullets

The Bullets are the only team the Phoenix have an even head-to-head with; the boys in green will aim to be in the positive by the end of the season.

The Bullets retained fan favourite Nathan Sobey and Tanner Krebs but lost three key players, Anthony Drmic and Robert Franks to Adelaide and Deng Deng to the Kings. They lured big Harry Froling back from Illawarra and gain of former NBL import Mike Mitchell's son DJ.

(Who will break the even status of the head-to-head when they meet for the first time in round 4?)

Round 5: Sunday, October 30 v Adelaide 36ers, 4 pm – JCA
Round 10: Sunday, December 11 v Adelaide 36ers, 2 pm – JCA

Head-to-Head: Phoenix 5-6 36ers

The Fire Pit was loud the last time these two teams met with a come-from-behind win for the Phoenix in their final home game in NBL22. 

The 36ers have had a busy off-season attracting some big NBL names from other clubs to their roster. Signing on Robert Franks, Antonious Cleveland, Kyrin Galloway, and Anthony Drmic. 

(The Phoenix and 36ers will meet twice at JCA in round 5 and 10.) 

Round 7: Saturday, November 19 v Melbourne United, 5:30 pm – JCA, Throwdown XVIII
Round 9: Saturday, December 3 v Melbourne United, 8 pm – JCA,  Throwdown XIX

 Head-to-Head: Phoenix 4-9 United

This rivalry is real. Whenever these two sides meet, fireworks are guaranteed. 

From the NBL21 finals series to last year's poster dunk from Creek, the loud and passionate Phoenix fans create a fantastic atmosphere at home Throwdowns. Last season's March 13 clash was the largest crowd for an NBL game in Melbourne for NBL22.

United will be without key players Jack White who joins the Denver Nuggets G League team, and centre Jo Lual Acuil who is off to China.

(The rivalry is real between Phoenix and United for Throwdows.)

Round 8: Sunday, November 27 v Illawarra Hawks, 4 pm – JCA 
Round 10: Thursday, December 8 v Illawarra Hawks, 7:30 pm – JCA

Head-to-Head: Phoenix 8-4 Hawks

The Hawks are another team under a new coach are yet to fully re-tool for NBL23. They saw Harry Froling return to Brisbane, and Antonius Cleveland is off to Adelaide.

In the plus column, they've added Brisbane's Deng Deng and Sydney's Wani Swaka Lo Buluk.

(Phoenix have the upper hand in the head-t0-head at the moment, can they keep up the momentum?)

Round 11: Sunday, December 18 v Sydney Kings, 2 pm – TBC

Head-to-Head: Phoenix 1-10 Kings

Phoenix take on the reigning champs on December 18. 

They will face a very different defending champion with MVP Jaylen Adams and imports Ian Clarke and Jarell Martin not returning. Tom Vodanovich is off to New Zealand and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk joins the Hawks.

So far, the Kings have added imports Justin Simon and Derrick Walton Jr. while retaining finals team MVP Xavier Cooks and Dejan Vasiljevic. 

(Phoenix will come up against the reigning champions on December 18.)

Round 16: Sunday, January 22 v Perth Wildcats, 2 pm – SBC

Head-to-Head: Phoenix 4-7 Wildcats

Phoenix ended the longest finals streak in Australian sports history in the final game of NBL22, knocking Perth out of fourth. 

The Wildcats have held onto Bryce Cotton, Majok Majok, Kyle Zunic, Todd Blanchfield, Jesse Wagstaff, and the mullet of Luke Travers will return for NBL23. 

They've added Corey Webster to their roster and will be led by a rookie NBL coach, former NBL legend John Rillie.

(Phoenix will face a fiery Wildcats on their home turf of SBC on January 22.)

Make sure you get your Phoenix Memberships now, it's still the best value way to enjoy NBL23.

CLICK HERE to redeem the early bird prices before July 31!

The full schedule can be found HERE.
Sync the full NBL23 schedule to your calendar - https://bit.ly/3zbwjTs

Phoenix Media (26/7/22)