Must-Watch Games May 9 - 11

Feature image via: Tyson Lumbaca

The NBL1 is in full swing, and we have a whole host of fantastic games this weekend. 

Check out the must-watch games this weekend, live and free via Kayo Freebies. 

Saturday, Round 7: South Adelaide Panthers vs Forestville Eagles 

This is a game everyone should have pencilled in this season.

After leading his Panthers to the Grand Final, winning the Woollacott medal (MVP) and Best Defensive Player, former Finals MVP Alex Starling was told by South Adelaide that they didn’t want him back. 

This sent shockwaves through South Australian basketball, as Starling was forced out and signed with the defending champion Forestville Eagles for 2025 – the team he lost to by two points months before.

Related: "I wanted to stay", why the Central MVP had to change teams

“I can’t necessarily say what made me want to play for Forestville. I’ll put this out there, I actually wanted to stay at South Adelaide and the new head coach (Paul Bell) had different plans,” he told NBL1 Media back in January. 

“So I reached out to Andy over at Forestville and then obviously the playing group, they know how to win.” 

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Heading into this weekend, Starling said this about the match-up. 

"A calm mind is the greatest weapon against any challenge," he said to NBL1 Media. 

This will be the first time Starling has faced his old side and back on his old home floor. Plenty of bad blood will come into this clash, and with the Eagles and Panthers sitting first and third on the ladder respectively, this is the one to watch. 

Saturday, Round 6: Sutherland Sharks vs Newcastle Falcons 

It’s the Kouat Noi show, and we are all seated!

The 2023 NBL1 East champions added a superstar to their team, bringing in NBL Sixth Man of the Year Koaut Noi to bolster their scoring efforts. 

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In four games, the NBL star has averaged 18.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, three assists and 1.7 steals – helping the Sharks to a 5-1 record heading into Round 6. Going up against Ryan Besity’s Falcons, this should be a bruising and entertaining clash down in Sutherland. 

Friday, Round 2: Gold Coast Rollers vs Cairns Dolphins vs Marlins 

A head-to-head clash between Mia Loyd and Katie Deeble? Say less.

Coming off a triple-double in Round 1, the Cairns Dolphins superstar is in hot form to start the season. Under NBL1 West championship coach and Townsville Fire assistant Marcus Wong, Far North Queensland is inching closer to their first finals appearance since 2022 with Cayla George at the helm. 

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While down in South East Queensland, the Rollers lost their first home game to Ipswich by only six points, with Deeble putting up 20 points, six assists and four rebounds. With Cairns travelling down, can Gold Coast protect their home court this weekend? We’ll find out on Friday night.

Saturday, Round 6: Geelong United vs Dandenong Rangers

Two teams that will likely face off in the finals will give us a preview on Saturday night.

Geelong are one of six teams in the country left undefeated, and the only team remaining in the South. They’ll take on the Rangers, who sit 5-2 on the ladder led by Dallas Loughridge and emerging star Manuela Puoch.

They’ll be taking on a superteam, featuring Jaz Shelley, Gemma Potter, Hannah Hank, Lilly Rotunno and Dakota Crichton – who all played in the WNBL last season.

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Women’s basketball is at an all-time high, and to have these many stars on one court is all the reason you need to tune in.

Friday, Round 6: Joondalup Wolves vs Willetton Tigers

Fifth vs seventh, north and south of the Swan River, superstars going head-to-head!

It all starts with Ethan Elliott, named to the Mitsubishi Motors Starting Five of the Month. The young star is averaging 22.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds this season. While co-star CJ Turnage is averaging 28.5 points per game, making a dangerous duo for last season’s Preliminary Finalists.

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They’ll be going up against a deep Willetton roster, featuring Perth Wildcat Tom Gerovich, averaging an NBL1 career-high 12.8 points, alongside imports Taeshon Cherry and Tyreese Davis. 

However, one player to keep an eye on is Roosevelt Williams Jr., at only 22 years old, the reigning Sixth Player of the Year has become a primary playmaker, averaging 4.2 assists per game on this stacked team. With the need for point guards growing, could he be an NBL-scouted prospect?