Tightest NBL season brings record crowds

THE NBL is celebrating record attendance figures after the closest regular season in history strengthened its claims as one of the world’s best leagues outside of the US.

A total of 714,346 fans attended games during the home-and-away season — an average of 6378 per game — up 4 per cent on last year’s total of 688,712. That record comes hand in hand with an average winning margin of 10.75 points — the lowest in history — despite it also being the highestscoring season in 10 years.

Fifteen overtime results eclipsed the previous record of 11 set last season as teams scored an average of 90.4 points per game.

“This has been one of the biggest and best seasons we’ve seen in the NBL since it was formed in 1979,” NBL chief executive Jeremy Loeliger said.

“Scoring is up but so are the number of close games and it’s little wonder the NBL is now considered one of the best basketball leagues, if not the best, outside of the NBA.”

Finals will begin next week, while the Boomers’ last window of FIBA World Cup qualifying is completed with away games against Kazakhstan and Iran. Minor premier Perth will host Brisbane while rivals Melbourne and Sydney will play the first of their best-of-three series on Thursday February 28.