1998 NBL season

1998 NBL season
1998 NBL season
League	National Basketball League
Season	1998
Dates	30 January – 1 July 1998
Teams	11
TV partner(s)	Australia: ABC; Fox Sports;
Regular season
Season champions	S.E. Melbourne Magic
Season MVP	Andrew Gaze (Melbourne)
Finals
Champions	Adelaide 36ers (2nd title)
Runners-up	S.E. Melbourne Magic
Semifinalists	Perth Wildcats; Brisbane Bullets
Finals MVP	Kevin Brooks (Adelaide)
Statistical leaders
Points
Points	Andrew Gaze (Melbourne)
Rebounds	Ray Owes (Townsville)
Assists	Derek Rucker (Townsville)

The 1998 NBL season was the 20th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 11 teams contest the league. This season marked the NBL's final winter season. The Illawarra Hawks were renamed the Wollongong Hawks.

Regular season

The 1998 regular season took place over 19 rounds between 30 January 1998 and 9 June 1998.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Round 16

Round 17

Round 18

Round 19

Ladder

Pos	1998 NBL season
Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PCT	Last 5	Streak	Home	Away	PF	PA	PP
1	S.E. Melbourne Magic	30	26	4	86.67%	4–1	L1	14–1	12–3	3016	2661	113.34%
2	Adelaide 36ers	30	19	11	63.33%	2–3	L3	12–3	7–8	3114	2932	106.21%

3	Perth Wildcats	30	17	13	56.67%	2–3	W1	9–6	8–7	3029	2911	104.05%
4	Brisbane Bullets¹	30	16	14	53.33%	3–2	W1	8–7	8–7	2876	2835	101.45%
5	Melbourne Tigers¹	30	16	14	53.33%	4–1	W4	9–6	7–8	3103	3048	101.80%
6	Wollongong Hawks²	30	14	16	46.67%	3–2	L1	8–7	6–9	2875	2995	95.99%

7	Canberra Cannons²	30	14	16	46.67%	3–2	W1	6–9	8–7	2874	2966	96.90%
8	Sydney Kings	30	13	17	43.33%	3–2	W2	8–7	5–10	3089	3228	95.69%
9	Townsville Suns	30	12	18	40.00%	2–3	L3	6–9	6–9	3008	3077	97.76%
10	North Melbourne Giants³	30	9	21	30.00%	1–4	L1	8–7	1–14	2916	3089	94.40%
11	Newcastle Falcons³	30	9	21	30.00%	2–3	L2	4–11	5–10	2790	2948	94.64%

Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 1998. Source: NBL.com.au

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 teams will determine order of seeding.

¹Brisbane Bullets won Head-to-Head (2-1).

²Wollongong Hawks won Head-to-Head (2-1).

³North Melbourne Giants won Head-to-Head (2-1).

Finals

Playoff bracket

Elimination Finals					Semifinals					Grand Final

					1	S.E. Melbourne Magic	106	90	X
4	Brisbane Bullets	93	114	X	4	Brisbane Bullets	98	84	X
5	Melbourne Tigers	80	81	X						1	S.E. Melbourne Magic	93	62	X
										2	Adelaide 36ers	100	90	X
					2	Adelaide 36ers	114	117	X
3	Perth Wildcats	95	120	X	3	Perth Wildcats	97	110	X
6	Wollongong Hawks	85	97	X

Elimination Finals

Semi-finals

Grand Final

1998 NBL statistics leaders


Category	Player	Team	Stat
Points per game	Andrew Gaze	Melbourne Tigers	31.5
Rebounds per game	Ray Owes	Townsville Suns	12.6
Assists per game	Derek Rucker	Townsville Suns	7.0
Steals per game	Clint McDaniel	South East Melbourne Magic	2.7
Blocks per game	Simon Dwight	Canberra Cannons	2.6
Free throw percentage	Steve Woodberry	Brisbane Bullets	92.2%

NBL awards

Most Valuable Player: Andrew Gaze, Melbourne Tigers
Most Valuable Player Grand Final: Kevin Brooks, Adelaide 36ers
Best Defensive Player: Mike Kelly, South East Melbourne Magic
Most Improved Player: Ben Melmeth, Newcastle Falcons
Rookie of the Year: David Smith, North Melbourne Giants
Coach of the Year: Brian Goorjian, South East Melbourne Magic

All NBL Team

#	Player	Team
PG	Derek Rucker	Townsville Suns
SG	Steve Woodberry	Brisbane Bullets
SF	Andrew Gaze	Melbourne Tigers
PF	Ray Owes	Townsville Suns
C	Ben Melmeth	Newcastle Falcons