The NBL27 season is officially underway, and it didn’t take long for some of the league’s biggest storylines to emerge.

A former NBA star has immediately thrown his name into an already stacked MVP conversation, while two clubs with finals aspirations are facing early questions over their new-look rosters after disappointing opening-round losses.

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NEW NAME ENTERS MVP CONVERSATION

It was one of the more memorable season openers you’ll see, with the Adelaide 36ers walking away with a thrilling 97-95 victory over Melbourne United.

Cole Anthony of United and Bryce Cotton of the 36ers chat after the round one NBL match between Melbourne United and Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena, on September 19, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

But after the dust settled, another conversation emerged: is the MVP battle between six-time winner Bryce Cotton and reigning Finals MVP Kendric Davis about to become a three-man race?

United’s former NBA star Cole Anthony produced one of the best import debuts you’ll see. In just 21:50 minutes of action, he poured in 30 points, shooting 10-21 (47.6%) from the field.

Anthony knocked down some incredible shots from deep, showing exactly why he was one of the NBA’s most dangerous scorers several seasons ago.

Despite entering the game with a lingering calf injury, the star guard used his first post-match press conference to make a bold statement about his new team.

“I mean, I might be a little biased, but I don’t feel like we’ll lose another game for a while,” Anthony said.

“I’m gonna call it what it is and superstitions or not, God willing if we keep people healthy I think we’re gonna be a heck of a team.”

Anthony’s performance has immediately put his name into the conversation alongside Cotton and Davis, but for now, it was the six-time MVP who walked away with the win.

Cotton led the 36ers to an impressive road victory despite Adelaide losing John Jenkins and Isaac Humphries pre-game, before Flynn Cameron suffered an ankle injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the contest.

Cotton finished with 29 points, two rebounds and seven assists, shooting 7-17 (41%) from the field, before using the post-match press conference to share his excitement about the victory.

“I just think it was a great way to start the season,” Cotton said.

“A great test playing a team like United and to start the season on the road.

“It was great to win under those circumstances.”

CAIRNS IDENTITY CRISIS WHILE FINALS MVP SHINES.

It was one of the biggest off-seasons in recent memory for the Taipans, who have recruited one of their best rosters in several years with the arrivals of Keanu Pinder, Jaylin Galloway, NBL Next Star Luke Paul and import Jaylon Brown.

Taipans head coach Adam Forde looks on during the round one NBL match between Sydney Kings and Cairns Taipans at Afterpay Arena, on September 20, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

But if last night’s 111-90 loss was any indication of what’s to come, it could be a bumpy road ahead for the team that finished ninth (9-24) last season.

The Taipans found themselves trailing the reigning champion Sydney Kings by just six points at half-time, but a dominant third quarter saw the Kings outscore them 31-20 before eventually wearing Cairns down in a 21-point defeat.

It was reigning Finals MVP Kendric Davis, who had been back in Australia for less than a week after flying in from America, who picked up exactly where he left off last season.

Kendric Davis of the Kings shoots a free throw during the round one NBL match between Sydney Kings and Cairns Taipans at Afterpay Arena, on September 20, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Davis exploded for 26 points, five rebounds and six assists, shooting 9-19 (47%) from the field in just 29 minutes of action, reminding the league why he was one of its best players last season.

In the post-match interview, Davis admitted he was ‘nervous’ heading into the game as the Kings raised their championship banner.

As for Cairns, import Jaylon Brown had a modest debut, finishing with 11 points, two rebounds and six assists, but struggled to find his shooting stroke. Brown shot just 4-16 (25%) from the field while also finding himself in foul trouble with four fouls as he adjusts to the NBL.

Keanu Pinder, meanwhile, was dominant in his first game back as a Taipan since the 2022-23 season, finishing with 27 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting an impressive 11-17 (64%) from the field.

Keanu Pinder of the Taipans drives to the basket during the round one NBL match between Sydney Kings and Cairns Taipans at Afterpay Arena, on September 20, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

However, it was an unfamiliar game for million-dollar man Jack McVeigh, who finished with just seven points and attempted only seven shots for the entire game.

The performance has started to raise questions, not necessarily about McVeigh himself, but where he fits within this new-look line-up under head coach Adam Forde.

Last season, McVeigh was the focal point of the Taipans’ offence. Now paired alongside Pinder, Brown and soon Jaylin Galloway, all players who could be taking 10-plus shots per game, it remains unclear whether McVeigh will see the same level of production we became accustomed to last season.

Jack McVeigh of the Taipans warms up during the round one NBL match between Sydney Kings and Cairns Taipans at Afterpay Arena, on September 20, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

As a team, the Taipans shot 13-44 (29.5%) from deep, with more than half of their total field-goal attempts coming from beyond the arc.

Their reliance on the perimeter also highlighted a lack of inside presence outside of Pinder, with Jonah Bolden and Kyrin Galloway combining to attempt 10 three-pointers, connecting on just two.

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In the post-match press conference, Forde spoke about his side’s performance and inability to respond when the Kings increased the pressure.

“We let our emotions get the better of us, right? We are a confidence team and it’s important that the guys back themselves, even during the dry parts,” Forde said.

Shaun Bruce and Adam Forde in last night’s post-match press conference (Images via NBL YouTube)Source: Getty Images

“We let the offence determine what we did defensively and then defensively was bad and then it made our offence a little bit more worse.

“It was disappointing, it was frustrating, but it’s a lot of lessons for guys who were getting frustrated with officiating, guys were getting frustrated with the within themselves.

“Sydney did a good job keep up the pressure and we just failed to respond,” he said.

Kendric Davis of the Kings drives to the basket during the round one NBL match between Sydney Kings and Cairns Taipans at Afterpay Arena, on September 20, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Albeit just one game, the arrivals of Jaylin Galloway in late October and Next Star Luke Paul in Round 3 will be welcomed with open arms.

Until then, the Taipans will need to shake off last night’s performance and turn their attention to their first home game of the season on Wednesday, when they host the Tasmania JackJumpers.

BREAKERS DAMAGE HAWKS IN WIN

The Gordon Herbert era could not have started much better, with the New Zealand Breakers defeating the Illawarra Hawks 95-81 behind MVP candidate Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

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Jackson-Cartwright led the way with 23 points and 13 assists, while reigning Next Gen recipient Sam Mennenga dominated with 27 points and eight rebounds.

As for the new arrivals, two-time champion Dejan Vasiljevic could not have asked for a much better start to life with the Breakers, knocking down six threes on his way to 24 points in the win.

For the Hawks, however, early concerns are beginning to surface.

To start the game, head coach Justin Tatum made the decision to bring now-local guard Tyler Harvey off the bench, just the fifth time in his NBL career he has not started a game.

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“No plan at all. I think it just benefits our group of how we want to look. You see, we outscored the team from their bench and so we know he’s a 15 plus scorer and you know, we just try and find ways to make sure our team grew how we want it,” Tatum said.

Although Will Hickey, who took Harvey’s place in the starting line-up, finished with a team-high 18 points, Harvey still played 29 minutes off the bench and finished with 14 points.

William Hickey of the Illawarra Hawks during the round one NBL match between New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena, on September 20, 2026, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Milton Doyle, meanwhile, had a difficult shooting night on debut, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists while connecting on just 2-12 (16%) from the field.

It was an experiment that first raised a few eyebrows when the Hawks decided to pair Doyle alongside Hickey and Harvey. While it is still early days, Tatum will need to find the right formula to extract the most out of his three guards.

Then there is Sam Froling, who is still working his way back from the season-ending injury he sustained during the NBL25 Finals.

Sam Froling of the Illawarra Hawks during the round one NBL match between New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena, on September 20, 2026, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Froling looked strong early but played just 15 minutes for the game, despite finishing with only two fouls.

The Hawks’ lack of size on the roster is seemingly putting additional pressure on Froling at the centre position, which brings us to import Darius Days.

Days was on the receiving end of criticism throughout the off-season surrounding his fitness, and last night’s seven-minute, scoreless performance will only add fuel to that speculation, with reports already suggesting potential changes could be on the way.

Similar to Cairns, the Hawks appear to be going through an identity crisis of their own as they search for the winning DNA that helped crown them champions during the 2024-25 season.

For now, they regroup, recover and turn their attention to Friday’s road clash against the Brisbane Bullets.