SportBasketball Runners-upCairns Taipans Dates15 Oct 2010 – 29 Apr 2011 Number of teams9 Top seedNew Zealand Breakers
ChampionsNew Zealand Breakers ChampionNew Zealand Breakers LocationAustralia Season MVPGary Ervin
LeagueNational Basketball League Duration15 October 2010 – 2 April 2011
7 – 17 April 2011 (Semi-Finals)
20 – 29 April 2011 (Grand Finals) TV partner(s)Network Ten (Australia)
One HD (Australia)
Sky Sport (New Zealand) Similar2011–12 NBL season, 2013–14 NBL season, 2015–16 NBL season
The 2010–11 NBL season was the 33rd season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of nine teams contested the league. The regular season was played between October 2010 and April 2011, followed by a post-season involving the top four. On 23 February 2010, it was announced that the Sydney Kings would return in 2010–11. The schedule was announced on 27 May 2010.
Broadcast rights during the off-season reverted from subscription channel Fox Sports to free-to-air network Channel Ten and its digital sports sister station One HD in a five-year deal, through to the 2014–15 season. In New Zealand, Sky Sport once again provided coverage, replacing Maori TV.
On 13 September 2010, iiNet was announced as the league naming rights sponsor and Centrebet as the official sports betting partner. Spalding provide equipment including the official game ball, with AND1 supplying team apparel.
Pre-season
NBL Top End Challenge, a round robin competition with a final series, involving all nine sides, will begin on 28 September in Alice Springs and continue in Darwin, Northern Territory from 30 September. Wollongong Hawks are defending pre-season champions.
Final
New Zealand Breakers win Lu'An Invitational.
NBL Top End Challenge
Perth Wildcats win Top End Challenge.
Round 24
Cairns vs. Perth was moved from 4 February 2011 to 26 March 2011 due to Cyclone Yasi.
Ladder Progression
Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top four.
Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
Finals Series
The 2010–11 National Basketball League Finals will be played between 7 April 2011 and 29 April 2011, consisting of two best-of-three semi-final and final series, where the higher seed hosts the first and, if necessary, third game.
Playoff Seedings
New Zealand Breakers
Townsville Crocodiles
Cairns Taipans
Perth Wildcats
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win-loss record, the results in games played between the two teams will determine order of seeding.
Under that system, Cairns will finish third (3–1), and Perth fourth (1–3).
Statistics leaders
Note: regular season only
Season
The end-of-season awards ceremony was held in the Palladium Room at Crown Casino in Melbourne on Monday, 4 April 2011.
Most Valuable Player (Andrew Gaze Trophy): Gary Ervin, Wollongong Hawks
Rookie of the Year: Ben Madgen, Sydney Kings
Best Defensive Player: Damian Martin, Perth Wildcats
Best Sixth Man: Kevin Braswell, New Zealand Breakers
Most Improved Player: Oscar Forman, Wollongong Hawks
Coach of the Year (Lindsay Gaze Trophy): Trevor Gleeson, Townsville Crocodiles
Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen
All-NBL First Team:
Gary Ervin – Wollongong Hawks
Damian Martin – Perth Wildcats
Kirk Penney – New Zealand Breakers
Gary Wilkinson – New Zealand Breakers
Julian Khazzouh – Sydney Kings
All-NBL Second Team:
Corey Williams – Melbourne Tigers
Adam Gibson – Gold Coast Blaze
Glen Saville – Wollongong Hawks
Ira Clark – Gold Coast Blaze
Luke Schenscher – Townsville Crocodiles
All-NBL Third Team:
Ayinde Ubaka – Cairns Taipans
Peter Crawford – Townsville Crocodiles
Shawn Redhage – Perth Wildcats
Alex Loughton – Cairns Taipans
Adam Ballinger – Adelaide 36ers
Finals
Grand Final Series MVP (Larry Sengstock Medal): Thomas Abercrombie, New Zealand Breakers