The NBL26 season is beginning to take shape, and the early contenders are separating themselves from the pack.
Melbourne United remain the undisputed benchmark after five straight wins, while teams like Adelaide and Perth continue to build momentum.
Meanwhile, others such as Cairns and Brisbane are scrambling for answers as the competition tightens heading into Round 5.
See how all 10 teams stack up in our Power Rankings!
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1. MELBOURNE UNITED | RECORD: 5-0 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 1ST | DEFENSIVE RANK: 1ST | PREVIOUS RANK: 1
Melbourne United continues to dominate the league, winning five straight games and firmly holding their spot atop the power rankings.
I personally counted them out against Sydney with Shea Ili and Chris Goulding sidelined, but they keep proving why they’re the deepest team in the league – defeating the Kings 107–93 at Qudos Bank Arena.
Unfortunately, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Shea Ili sustained a hamstring injury and is expected to miss up to five weeks.
Following their emphatic 95-60 win over the Cairns Taipans, highlighted by a 25-0 run, United now ranks first in both offence and defence. They’re in a league of their own right now.
There’s a strong chance their winning streak continues, with upcoming match-ups against two struggling sides – the Brisbane Bullets and New Zealand Breakers.
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NBL Wrap: Goulding returns for United | 01:13
2. ADELAIDE 36ERS | RECORD: 3-1 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 2ND | DEFENSIVE RANK: 7TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 2
Adelaide entered Round 4 as one of only two undefeated teams, starting the week with an impressive win over the Tasmania JackJumpers.
Their second game of the round, however, was filled with drama – a much-hyped reunion with former 36ers guard Kendric Davis, who left the club on bad terms. Unfortunately for Adelaide, Davis got the last laugh, helping the Sydney Kings cruise to a 103-79 victory.
Beyond the storyline, the game exposed a major flaw for coach Mike Wells’ side: what’s Plan B when star guard Bryce Cotton isn’t firing? Cotton was held to just seven points – only the 12th time in his 262-game career he’s scored in single digits.
Bul Kuol’s defensive pressure was a major reason for Cotton’s quiet night, and other teams will no doubt take notice.
Still, the 36ers remain one of the league’s most potent offensive teams, so there’s no need for panic just yet. They’ll face the South East Melbourne Phoenix next – who debut new import Wes Iwundu, another defensive stopper – before closing the round against Cairns, which could be a much-needed percentage booster.
3. PERTH WILDCATS | RECORD: 3-1 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 7TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 2ND | PREVIOUS RANK: 4
The Perth Wildcats are quietly rising, now winners of three straight heading into the next round.
It’s hard to imagine this team dropping out of the top three for the rest of the season. Star guard Mason Jones has been below his usual standards, yet Perth keeps winning – a scary sign for the rest of the league. I am very high on Jones having a breakout game against the Bullets this round to remind us all why he is an NBA G-League finals MVP.
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. is currently a frontrunner for MVP, averaging 22.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He’ll lead the Wildcats into match-ups against the struggling Brisbane Bullets – which, with respect to Brisbane, should be a comfortable win – before facing Sydney in what looms as their biggest test of the season so far.
Wildcats take out thriller over Taipans | 00:59
4. TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS | RECORD: 3-2 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 6TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 5TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 3
The road trip is finally over – the JackJumpers return home to MyState Bank Arena for the first time in over a month.
Despite dropping one spot in the rankings, Tasmania remains a strong side. Travel fatigue caught up to them in a 98-89 loss to Adelaide, but they remain well-positioned.
New import TJ Starks will make his home debut, looking to continue showcasing his scoring ability in front of the Jackies faithful.
Staying healthy will be crucial. If captain and big man Will Magnay – who has battled injuries throughout his career – goes down, it would leave a massive hole in an already thin frontcourt.
They’ll face the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers in Round 5 – two tough games, but don’t expect Scott Roth’s men to slip much further.
5. SYDNEY KINGS | RECORD: 2-2 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 3RD | DEFENSIVE RANK: 4TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 6
The Kings bounced back in style, dismantling Adelaide 103-79 to erase the memory of their 14-point loss to United.
Going 1-1 in Round 4 puts Sydney back at .500 for the season. That win in Adelaide was a big statement – especially defensively.
Bul Kuol had the best defensive performance of his career, holding five-time MVP Bryce Cotton to just seven points.
Meanwhile, Kendric Davis rose to the occasion against his former team, reminding everyone why he was an MVP favourite last season.
Round 5 won’t be easy – a road trip to Tasmania followed by a clash at home against Perth, who boast the league’s best frontcourt. If the Kings can split those two games, that would be a win in itself.
6. SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX | RECORD: 2-1 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 4TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 3RD | PREVIOUS RANK: 7
Coach Josh King’s Phoenix are quietly building momentum, losing just once so far – but their real tests begin this round.
While defeating the New Zealand Breakers last week, they announced the signing of new import Wes Iwundu, a defensive-minded forward with over 200 NBA games under his belt. He replaces Vrenz Bleijenbergh and will debut against the Adelaide 36ers.
Critics have questioned Phoenix’s offensive ceiling, but ranking 4th in offence is impressive given the league’s overall talent. The question now is whether they can sustain it.
They’ll also face Sydney and their new import JaVale McGee – a massive challenge for Jordan Hunter and company. If the Phoenix can go 2-0 this round, it would be huge for a team that started last season 0-5.
7. ILLAWARRA HAWKS | RECORD: 1-3 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 5TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 9TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 9
The Hawks are finally on the board, notching their first win of the season with a dominant 116-89 victory over the Brisbane Bullets.
Import guard JaQuori McLaughlin has been released as the team looks to bring in a new scorer, signalling a shift in direction.
Even so, Illawarra’s energy was impressive after their poor showing against the Breakers. When they’re firing, this team can be dangerous.
Tyler Harvey had a career night against Brisbane – 22 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals – his first-ever game with 10+ assists.
With Will Hickey returning soon and a new import on the way, expect the defending NBL25 champions to slowly climb the standings.
Hawks beat Bullets for first season win | 01:17
8. CAIRNS TAIPANS | RECORD: 2-4 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 10TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 7TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 5
The Taipans are in freefall. After their 95-60 drubbing at the hands of Melbourne United, it’s hard to see where their next win will come from.
Jack McVeigh – the million-dollar man – has struggled offensively, though that’s more a symptom of the team’s disjointed play than his own form. Coach Adam Forde appears uncertain about who the true floor general is, and the team’s identity is suffering for it.
Cairns have failed to score 80 points in five of their six games, losing half of those by 30 or more.
Sam Waardenburg remains sidelined, but even his return may not be enough to fix the deeper issues. The talent is there, but the confidence isn’t.
They’ll now face Bryce Cotton and the 36ers – not exactly the matchup you want when trying to rebuild momentum.
9. BRISBANE BULLETS | RECORD: 1-4 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 9TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 8TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 8
It’s gone from bad to worse for Stu Lash and the Brisbane Bullets. Not only did they lose to Illawarra by 27 points, but they’ve also parted ways with import Javon Freeman-Liberty after just two games.
To be fair, Lash has been hit hard by injuries and is yet to coach a game with his full roster available. Still, it’s hard to see much improvement on either end of the floor. Rumours of internal tension between players and staff aren’t helping the situation.
With Perth and Melbourne next on the schedule, the pressure is mounting. A potential 1-6 start could force serious changes in management.
10. NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS | RECORD: 1-5 | OFFENSIVE RANK: 8TH | DEFENSIVE RANK: 10TH | PREVIOUS RANK: 10
The biggest disappointment of the season so far. Coach Petteri Koponen’s patience is clearly wearing thin.
Despite relatively good health compared to other teams, the Breakers own the league’s worst record. Their inability to hold leads continues to cost them, and the morale looks flat.
Izaiah Brockington deserves more opportunity – averaging just 23 minutes a game is poor for an import of his caliber.
At this point, it’s hard to see a clear fix. If they can’t secure a win this round against Tasmania or Melbourne, Koponen’s job could be in serious jeopardy.
