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Nunawading Spectres
Leagues	NBL1 South
Founded	1979
History	NBL/WNBL: Men: Nunawading Spectres 1979–1986 Eastside Spectres 1987–1991 Women: Nunawading Spectres 1982–1991 SEABL/NBL1 Men: Nunawading Spectres 1990–present Women: Nunawading Spectres 1992–present
Arena	Nunawading Basketball Centre
Location	Burwood East, Victoria
Team colors	Royal blue, red, white
Main sponsor	Quest Burwood East
Head coach	M: Andrew Cutler W: Paul Flynn
Championships	Men: SEABL (1) 2011 NBL1 (1) 2019 Women: WNBL (6) 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989
Conference titles	Men: SEABL (3) 1995 2011 2014
Website	NunawadingBasketball.com.au

Nunawading Spectres is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Whitehorse. The Spectres play their home games at Nunawading Basketball Centre.

Club history

NBL/WNBL

In 1979, a Nunawading Spectres men's team entered the National Basketball League (NBL), joining nine other teams for the league's inaugural season. In 1987, the team changed their name to Eastside Spectres and spent five years under that moniker before merging with the Southern Melbourne Saints in 1992 to become the South East Melbourne Magic. During their time in the NBL, the Spectres were two-time grand finalists, losing to Launceston in 1981 and Perth in 1991.

Between 1982 and 1991, a Nunawading Spectres women's team played in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). The team won six championships in ten seasons under coach Tom Maher and guard Robyn Maher, including four in a row between 1986 and 1989. Following the 1991 season, the team's WNBL license was obtained by the Dandenong Rangers.

SEABL/NBL1

In 1990, with the Eastside Spectres still a championship contender in the NBL, a Nunawading Spectres men's team re-emerged in the form of a South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) franchise. In 1992, a Spectres women's team debuted in the SEABL.

In 1995, the men's team collected their first title as they won the SEABL East Conference championship. The women's team were SEABL runners-up in both 2000 and 2008, while the men were conference runners-up in 1999 and 2004.

In 2011, the men's team won their second conference title and their first SEABL championship after defeating the Bendigo Braves 88–61 in the grand final. Spectres guard Shane McDonald had a game-high 28 points to earn the MVP award.

After finishing as conference runners-up in 2013, the men's team won their third conference title in 2014 behind the likes of Mitch Creek, Tommy Greer, Shane McDonald, Simon Conn and Matt O'Hea. They went on to lose 85–71 in the SEABL grand final to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

In 2018, the Spectres men finished as SEABL runners-up after losing in the grand final to the Hobart Chargers.

In 2019, following the demise of the SEABL, the Spectres joined the NBL1. The men went on to win the championship with a 99–90 win over the Bendigo Braves in the grand final. The NBL1 South season did not go ahead in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NBL Season by season

As of the end of the 1991 season

*Note: In 1983 and 1984, the NBL was split into Eastern and Western divisions during the regular season.

Source: Eastside Spectres Year by Year

References

1. Howell, Stephen (19 January 1992). "The making of Melbourne Magic". The Age. p. 68. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
2. Hickey, Matt (16 December 2021). "The Nunawading Spectres: An Aussie basketball factory". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
3. "ROBYN MAHER ON HER INCREDIBLE CAREER". wnbl.basketball. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
4. "Tom Maher inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame". Basketball Australia. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
5. "History". wnbl.basketball/southside. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
6. ^ "SEABL 2017 Media Guide" (PDF). SEABL.com.au. p. 71. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
7. Dole, Nathan (18 September 2011). "Braves outmuscled in national championship final". BendigoAdvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
8. Dole, Nathan (18 September 2011). "Braves fall at last hurdle". BendigoAdvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
9. "Pioneers net win in nailbiting south conference final". abc.net.au. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
10. Hustwaite, Megan (8 September 2014). "Young star lifts Nunawading Spectres over the line in South-East Australian Basketball League final against Geelong Supercats". HeraldSun.com.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
11. Hill, Kate; Sneath, Gretel (15 September 2014). "Championship win 'redemption' for Pioneers". ABC.net.au. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
12. "HOBART CHARGERS' DEFENCE SEES THEM WIN 2018 GRAND FINAL". SEABL.com.au. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
13. "NBL1 to Showcase Next Level of Australia's Basketball Talent". NBL.com.au. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
14. "Grand Final - Nunawading vs Bendigo". NBL1.com.au. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
15. "Spectres vs Braves". FIBALiveStats.com. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
16. "SPECTRES CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS BENDIGO FAIRYTALE". nunawadingbasketball.com.au. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
17. Arsenis, Damian (20 March 2020). "2020 NBL1 season facing uncertainty as South teams withdraw". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 20 March 2020.

External links

• Nunawading Basketball's official website

• South East Australian Basketball League teams
• Defunct National Basketball League (Australia) teams
• Defunct Women's National Basketball League teams
• Basketball teams established in 1979
• Basketball teams in Melbourne
• Sport in the City of Whitehorse