The National Basketball League's (NBL) most anticipated event, the Kelly Cup Playoffs 2026, is just around the corner. Basketball enthusiasts, fans, and players are eagerly awaiting the initial reveal of the playoff bracket. But before we dive into the anticipated matchups, let's recap how the teams have fared during the regular season and understand the playoff format.
After an intense season filled with close games and unexpected upsets, the top eight teams have secured their spots in the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The stage is set for an exciting battle for the ultimate prize in Australian basketball.
The Playoff Format: A Quick Recap
The NBL employs a best-of-three series format for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The bracket is structured as four qualifying finals, two semi-finals, and a grand final. This year, the top four teams after the regular season will secure home-court advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.
![Free Printable Blank Brackets Templates [PDF Included]](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/d9/63/04/d9630456aecd8453b254e741cdee0a77.jpg)
The playoffs begin with the qualifying finals, where the first and second seeds receive a double chance, meaning they can lose the first game of their series and still advance. The winners of these series then progress to the semi-finals, culminating in the grand final for basketball supremacy.
Seeding and Home-Court Advantage
Seeding plays a crucial role in the playoffs, with top-placed teams securing home-court advantage and a potential double chance. In the 2026 season, the Perth Wildcats comfortably topped the ladder, followed by the Melbourne United, Sydney Kings, and Adelaide 36ers, earning them the top four seeds.
Historically, home-court advantage has been significant in the NBL playoffs, with home teams winning around 60% of games during the qualifying finals. However, upsets and unpredictability are rife in playoffs, ensuring that nothing is guaranteed until the final buzzer._
Playoff Bracket Predictions
While the official 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs bracket won't be announced until after the final regular-season games, fans and pundits are already dissecting potential matchups. With seeding and home-court advantage in mind, here's a predicted bracket:
Qualifying Finals (Best of Three):
1. Perth Wildcats vs. 8. Cairns Taipans
2. Melbourne United vs. 7. Illawarra Hawks
3. Sydney Kings vs. 6. Brisbane Bullets
4. Adelaide 36ers vs. 5. New Zealand Breakers
Semi-Finals (Best of Three):
Winner of QF1 vs. Winner of QF2
Winner of QF3 vs. Winner of QF4
Grand Final (Best of Three): The two Semi-Final winners will battle it out for the Kelly Cup.
As the 2025-2026 regular season winds down, fans can scarcely contain their excitement for the upcoming playoffs. The predicted bracket provides an enticing preview of the epic battles ahead, but only time will tell how the chips will fall. Until the official bracket is unveiled, basketball enthusiasts can only speculate and anticipate the thrilling action that awaits them in the 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
