1997 NBL season

1997 NBL season
League National Basketball League
Sport Basketball
Duration 11 April 1997 – 28 September 1997
3 – 18 October 1997 (Finals)
25 October 1997 – 3 November 1997 (Grand Finals)
Number of teams 11
TV partner(s) Network Ten
Fox Sports
Regular season
Top seed South East Melbourne Magic
Season MVP Andrew Gaze
Finals
Champions Melbourne Tigers
  Runners-up South East Melbourne Magic
Finals MVP Lanard Copeland

The 1997 NBL season was the 19th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 11 teams contest the league. The Hobart Devils, Geelong Supercats and Gold Coast Rollers did not return this season.

Regular season

The home and away season took place over 24 rounds between 11 April 1997 and 28 September 1997 with final series on 3 October 1997 until 18 October 1997 and grand final on 25 October until 3 November 1997.

Ladder

# Team Pld W L
1 South East Melbourne Magic 35 22 8
2 Melbourne Tigers 30 18 12
3 North Melbourne Giants 30 18 12
4 Perth Wildcats 30 17 13
5 Canberra Cannons 30 15 15
6 Brisbane Bullets 30 15 15
7 Townsville Suns 30 14 16
8 Adelaide 36ers 30 14 16
9 Sydney Kings 30 12 18
10 Newcastle Falcons 30 12 18
11 Illawarra Hawks 30 12 23

Finals

There were four finals, and then best of three grand final. All three of these finals were sudden death.

Quarter Finals

Date Home Team Score Away Team Venue
3 OctoberCanberra Cannons104-93North Melbourne GiantsAIS Arena
4 OctoberPerth Wildcats81-79Brisbane BulletsPerth Entertainment Centre
5 OctoberNorth Melbourne Giants108-98Canberra CannonsThe Glass House
7 OctoberBrisbane Bullets71-88Perth WildcatsBrisbane Entertainment Centre
7 OctoberNorth Melbourne Giants102-75Canberra CannonsThe Glass House

Semi-Finals

Date Home Team Score Away Team Venue
13 OctoberPerth Wildcats82-92South East Melbourne MagicPerth Entertainment Centre
15 OctoberNorth Melbourne Giants99-107Melbourne TigersThe Glass House
17 OctoberSouth East Melbourne Magic96-69Perth WildcatsNational Tennis Centre at Flinders Park
18 OctoberMelbourne Tigers112-105North Melbourne GiantsNational Tennis Centre at Flinders Park

Grand Final

Date Home Team Score Away Team Venue
25 OctoberMelbourne Tigers111-74South East Melbourne MagicNational Tennis Centre at Flinders Park
29 OctoberSouth East Melbourne Magic84-78Melbourne TigersNational Tennis Centre at Flinders Park
1 NovemberSouth East Melbourne Magic83-93Melbourne TigersNational Tennis Centre at Flinders Park

1997 NBL statistics leaders

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
Points per gameAndrew GazeMelbourne Tigers30.9
Rebounds per gameClarence TysonTownsville Suns13.7
Assists per gameDarryl McdonaldNorth Melbourne Giants8.9
Steals per gameDarryl McdonaldNorth Melbourne Giants3.3
Blocks per gameSimon DwightCanberra Cannons4.3
Free throw percentageDylan RigdonIllawarra Hawks88.2%

NBL awards

All NBL Team

# Player Team
PGDerek RuckerTownsville Suns
SGRobert RoseCanberra Cannons
SFAndrew GazeMelbourne Tigers
PFClarence TysonTownsville Suns
CMark BradtkeMelbourne Tigers
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