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Bryce Cotton is an Aussie Boomer... what next, as the World Cup approaches?
Bryce Cotton is finally a Boomer, but what does it mean for Australia's World Cup plans? Here are the burning questions facing the program, writes Olgun Uluc
Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images
Boomer Bryce Cotton is finally about to be born
Six-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton will make his debut for the Australian Boomers - Australia's senior men's national team - in the next window of FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Perth.
TOP HEADLINES
'Tons of opportunities': Melbourne United's new majority owner in it for the long NBL haul
DEMARCUS COUSINS IN AUSTRALIA
DeMarcus Cousins talks NBA House, Bogut, Giddey, and the NBL
DeMarcus Cousins talks NBA House in Australia, his battles with Andrew Bogut, Josh Giddey's career, and the NBL.
Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
AUSSIES IN THE WNBA
Predicting the WNBA season: Can anyone stop Las Vegas? Plus, award picks
Which team can stop Las Vegas from winning another title and A'ja Wilson from winning another MVP?
Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire
Twelve Aussies set to light up the WNBA
From vets to rookies and everyone in between, 12 Australians are set to suit up in the WNBA which tips off this weekend.
MELBOURNE UNITED
National Basketball League
Sources: Joe Ingles plans to join Melb United
Joe Ingles -- a five-time Olympian and 12-year NBA veteran -- plans to join Melbourne United ahead of the 2026-27 NBL season, multiple sources told ESPN.
Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images
BEST YOUNG HOOPERS
Best prospects from U18 Nationals as FIBA U17 World Cup preparations ramp up
Australia's under-18 National Championships always matter, but this year's event carried a little more weight. Olgun Uluc examines the best prospects from the tournament ahead of the FIBA U17 World Cup.
Basketball Australia
PROJECT B
Alanna Smith joins Project B basketball league
Alanna Smith has been unveiled as the first Australian to join Project B, a new startup basketball league with women's and men's teams, that will feature seven two-week tournaments starting later this year.
Rana Elanwar/FIBA via Getty Images
FREE AGENCY
NBA
Sources: 36ers sign Kuol as NBL Free Agency opens
The first day of the 2026 NBL Free Agency period opened with a bang, and no team made more early noise than the Adelaide 36ers.
Paul Kane/Getty Images
WNBA DRAFT DAY
'I cried': Four rising Aussies taken in WNBA draft
A bonza few days for Australian women's basketball reached new heights on Tuesday when four rising stars were selected in the WNBA draft.
Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images
'Belief never dipped': Reflections from the Kings' 2026 NBL Championship
Olgun Uluc reflects on an outrageously entertaining game that capped off one of the most contentious and enthralling Championship Series in the history of the NBL.
Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
WNBA
Aussie Puoch ready for WNBA plunge with Fire
Two years after she was first drafted into the WNBA Nyadiew Puoch says she's finally ready to make her debut after she was drafted by expansion side Portland Fire.
Mark Nolan/Getty Images
ESPN's big 2026 NBL Free Agency primer
Adelaide hold on to force winner-takes-all Game 5 in NBL Finals
1:43
Sixers force NBL title decider in Game 4 cliffhanger
Torrey Craig's missed free throw for Sydney in the dying seconds has allowed Adelaide to level the NBL championship series at 2-2 with a gripping 92-91 win.
Game 3 takeaways: Kendric's masterclass, Bryce worn down as officiating in the spotlight
Kendric Davis produced an historic performance in front of the largest crowd the league has ever seen, but Adelaide's coach has slammed the officiating.
Photo by Matt King/Getty Images
'Extraodinary' Cotton game-winner sets NBL Championship Series alight
The Adelaide 36ers bounced back in the very best way, and breathed life into this NBL Championship Series. For the Sydney Kings, it's an opportunity missed.
Sarah Reed/Getty Images
36ers steal Game 2 in the dying seconds
1:44
Sydney Kings' perfect storm; strategy executed to perfection on both ends
For the Sydney Kings, it was a perfect storm; strategy on both ends executed to perfection. Unfortunately for the 36ers, it turned into a disconcerting night at the office.
Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
How the 36ers advanced to the NBL Championship Series
From another Cotton masterclass, a strategic lineup tweak, and the impact from their dominant bigs, here's how the 36ers overcame a feisty Phoenix to advance to the big dance.
Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images
Adelaide 36ers storm into NBL26 finals with dominant home win
1:43
WCQ Takeaways: Flawless campaign has Opals looking good ahead of FIBA World Cup
NBL FINALS LIVE ON DISNEY+
Phoenix tie semifinal series with Game 2 win
1:40
AUSTRALIA 81 - 71 JAPAN
Whitcomb leads Opals to a comeback win over Japan
3:19
FIBA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIYING
Opals impress over Argentina in Istanbul
3:01
Three takeaways from Team USA's win, Caitlin Clark's debut
Six players, including Clark, made their debuts for the U.S. national team. How did they look in USA's win?
Big questions going into NBL finals: Can Perth challenge dominant Kings? Is a rested Cotton key for Adelaide?
Cotton's 42 helps 36ers to series lead over Phoenix
The great Bryce Cotton poured in 42 points to put the Adelaide 36ers within one win of their first NBL grand final since 2018 with a 104-97 victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Sarah Reed/Getty Images
OPALS AT WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
More pace and space: Brondello's goals for Opals' World Cup qualifiers
The Opals play five games in a week as part of qualifying for September's FIBA World Cup in Germany, and coach Sandy Brondello is taking the opportunity to tweak her lineup and trial some fresh tactics.
ESPN/Getty Images
Wildcats dominate second half to set up Sydney Kings clash
1:38
United eliminate JackJumpers from the NBL Finals
1:41
Phoenix advance to final four
1:43
FIBA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Boomers too strong for Philippines in FIBA World Cup clash in Manila
The Boomers returned to Manila for the first time since 2018 and secured a comfortable win over the Philippines in their FIBA World Cup Qualifier.
FIBA Media
Elijah Pepper drops 28 as Boomers hand Gilas 93-66 defeat
2:13
Return to Philippines: Time heals brawl wounds
NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Bryce Cotton wins sixth Andrew Gaze MVP Award
Bryce Cotton continues to etch his name into NBL folklore, adding yet another Most Valuable Player award to his ever-growing trophy cabinet.
Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images for NBL
NBL
Wildcats finish top four with win vs. 36ers
1:43
Kings dominate Bullets to cement top position
1:43
NBL
NBL Ignite Cup final: Everything you need to know
A season's worth of Wednesday night NBL action has finally led up to this moment: the final of the inaugural Ignite Cup.
ESPN/Getty Images
NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Cotton, Davis to battle for NBL MVP honours
As we enter the final round of the regular season, eyes are already turning toward the upcoming Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night and who will take home the MVP title.
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
ROUND 22
Illawarra Hawks finish season on a high
1:44
Hawks end NBL title defence with big win over Tassie
Tyler Harvey, Quentin Peterson and JaVale McGee all starred as defending champions Illawarra Hawks signed off on their NBL season with a romping 103-70 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers.
ROUND 21
NBL
36ers come from behind to steal win over Breakers
1:43
Phoenix bounce back with win over JackJumpers
1:44
NBL
Wildcats defend home court as eyes turn to Kings
1:44
Sydney Kings make it nine wins in a row
1:43
Melbourne hold off Cairns in tight finish
1:44
SUNDAY'S GAMES
'F--- you': Coach mics capture Goorjian's explitive tirade at rival player
A battle between the two best teams in the NBL was predictably physical and saw a legendary head coach throw multiple expletives at an opposing player, with the war of words continuing post-game.
Kelly Defina/Getty Images
Cairns take care of Business against Brisbane
1:44
Sydney move into second with big win over South East Melbourne
1:44
NBL
36ers defeat United in huge road win
1:42
Breakers end Hawks' season in late season upset
1:44
NBL
Wildcats hold off Taipans at home
1:42
Record-breaking Tassie crush Bullets in must-win clash
1:41
Top Headlines
- Sources: Tassie local Armstrong joins JackJumpers
- Sources: Keanu Pinder signs with Cairns Taipans
- Mike Wells departs as Adelaide 36ers head coach
- Jackson named WNBL leader in league shake-up
- Vickerman departs as United target Ingles
- NZ Breakers add key piece to NBL puzzle
- Vasiljevic's contract release after NBL finals loss
- NBL cap rises 7% after five teams overspend
- NBL boss cleared but Hawks won't give up fight
- ESPN
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