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Why King thinks the NBL is the 'most-balanced' league
SEN • November 27th, 2025 6:54 pm
Southeast Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King has praised the NBL as one of the most balanced basketball leagues in the world.
The 40-year-old, who has coached across the world in places like the Czech Republic and Turkey, took on the Phoenix job from Mike Kelly at the start of last season when they were sitting at 0-5.
Since then, King managed to turn their season around as they finished 4th with a 16-13 record, which saw them progress to the semi-finals.
This season, the Phoenix have continued the form that they finished NBL25 with as they currently sit 3rd with a 9-4 record.
And while King is still relatively new to the competition, he admits that while it can be hard to compare leagues across the world, he has found that the NBL is the most balanced.
“It’s hard to compare leagues across the world because of the number of imports that we have,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“We only have three; other leagues have six, seven, eight (imports), so that makes it difficult to gauge.
“What I will say is that we have a really strong product. I would put the Australian domestic league up against anybody.
“The production (and) the marketing that they do, it’s really something.
“People can watch it cleanly in Germany or in Spain or in the US, so the league does a great job of making our league available for people who want to watch it out of Australia.
“I know it’s not as easy to watch other leagues around the world. So, it’s a fun league, it’s a competitive league. I think it is the most balanced league from top to bottom, and that says a lot.”
Looking beyond the FIBA break, Southeast Melbourne will restart their season against the Illawarra Hawks.
The reigning champions have not had the greatest start to the season, having found themselves sitting 9th on the ladder with a 4-9 record.
But King has noted that whilst they have struggled, they are still the defending champions and need to be respected as such.
“We’re going to have our hands full,” King admitted.
“Because the first time we played them, we beat them pretty badly. They were down some guys; they’ve got Will Hickey back, the guy who was the MVP of the Grand Final last year.
“They are the defending champions at the end of the day. Until someone different is the champion, they are the defending champions.
“They have had a little bit of a rough start to start the year. But I’m sure coming out of this FIBA Break, they’re wanting to get off to a good start.
“(Javale) McGee is a handful down low, as I said, Will Hickey, Tyler Harvey; They’re really well coached.
“It will be a good challenge for us, right from the jump."
That match will see the Phoenix travel to the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong on December 4.
