Hungry Jack's NBL
First Nations People and their Contribution to the National Basketball League
Artwork by Chern’ee Sutton
National Basketball League acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, live & play. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present & emerging as well as all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Community.
Basketball is one of the most culturally diverse and inclusive sports played in Australia, which is one of the reasons why it is the second most participated team sport in the country.
As the nation’s premier competition (and one of the best leagues in the world), with a multitude of grass roots connections, our aim is to unite Australia’s varied and vast basketball communities by acting as leaders in reconciliation and societal equality.
As an organisation and as a League, we have long celebrated our values of inclusion and diversity, but have not yet sufficiently recognised, in a consistent and sustainable way, the specific contribution that Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples have made to the development and success of Australian basketball, nor have we implemented sufficient programs to ensure talent identification, encouragement and development of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples. As a league, we respect First Nations peoples and we are seeking to make a public commitment that can be referred to as an ongoing point of reference by our staff and stakeholders.
By developing a RAP we will instil greater awareness, both at an organisational level in terms of the development of policies and procedures, but also as individuals, of the importance of the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to our sport, and to the communities in which we are most active. This will make us more conscious of our responsibility to ensure the ongoing involvement and participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our sport and through our organisation.
NBL will develop, implement and oversee a RAP framework that encompasses the policies and procedures governing and informing the practices of all employees of the League and of the League as an organisation, but which will also cascade down to influence the policies and procedures of each of our constituent Clubs within Australia – Clubs will be invited to adopt our RAP and implement a consistent policy framework.
The NBL’s Executive Management team, as championed by NBL Commissioner, will be responsible for communicating the organisational philosophy underpinning the development and adoption of the RAP, and its continuing evolution, while the Human Resources teams will ensure that policies are updated to reflect the commitments outlined in the RAP, and that they are disseminated to all staff whilst also ensuring that all future recruitment practices are consistent with those policy updates.
â– Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NBL Players and Contributors

Keanu
Pinder
- Perth Wildcats (2023-)

Biwali
Bayles
- Illawarra Hawks (2023-)
- Sydney Kings (2021-2023)

William
`Davo` Hickey
- Illawarra Hawks (2022-)

William
McDowell-White
- New Zealand Breakers (2020-)
- Sydney Kings (2016-2017)

Tamuri
Wigness
- Brisbane Bullets (2020-2022)

Nate
Jawai
- Cairns Taipans (2019-2022)

Kerry
Williams
- Cairns Taipans (2009-2013)

Patty
Mills
- Melbourne Tigers (2012)

Michael
Cedar
- Townsville Crocs (2006-2013)

Chris
Cedar
- Townsville Crocs (2008, 2010-2013, 2016)

Tyson
Demos
- Gold Coast Blaze (2008-2010)
- Illawarra Hawks (2011-2016)

Chris
Patton
- Melbourne United (2015-2016, 2018)
- Cairns Taipans (2018)

Timmy
Duggan
- Gold Coast Rollers (1996)
- Cairns Taipans (2000-2001)

Claude
Williams
- Sydney Kings (1988)

Deba
George
- Cairns Taipans (2005-2006, 2008,2012)

Dany
Morseu
- Brisbane Bullets (1986-1989)
David
Ah Chee
- Perth Wildcats (1982)
Paul
Vandenbergh
- Canberra Cannons (2001)
Emmanual
D'Cress
- Canberra Cannons (2003)
â– Other Key Contributors

Jacqui
Dover
- Indigenous NBL Referee

Scott
Butler
- First Indigenous NBL referee

Uncle
Kevin Coombes
- First Australian Aboriginal Paralympic Competitor

Michael
Ah Matt
- First Indigenous Australian to represent Australia at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo
- Australian Basketball Hall of Fame member

Keanu
Pinder
- Perth Wildcats (2023-)

Biwali
Bayles
- Illawarra Hawks (2023-)
- Sydney Kings (2021-2023)

William
`Davo` Hickey
- Illawarra Hawks (2022-)

William
McDowell-White
- New Zealand Breakers (2020-)
- Sydney Kings (2016-2017)

Tamuri
Wigness
- Brisbane Bullets (2020-2022)

Nate
Jawai
- Cairns Taipans (2019-2022)

Kerry
Williams
- Cairns Taipans (2009-2013)

Patty
Mills
- Melbourne Tigers (2012)

Michael
Cedar
- Townsville Crocs (2006-2013)

Chris
Cedar
- Townsville Crocs (2008, 2010-2013, 2016)

Tyson
Demos
- Gold Coast Blaze (2008-2010)
- Illawarra Hawks (2011-2016)

Chris
Patton
- Melbourne United (2015-2016, 2018)
- Cairns Taipans (2018)

Timmy
Duggan
- Gold Coast Rollers (1996)
- Cairns Taipans (2000-2001)

Claude
Williams
- Sydney Kings (1988)

Deba
George
- Cairns Taipans (2005-2006, 2008,2012)

Dany
Morseu
- Brisbane Bullets (1986-1989)
David
Ah Chee
- Perth Wildcats (1982)
Paul
Vandenbergh
- Canberra Cannons (2001)
Emmanual
D'Cress
- Canberra Cannons (2003)

Jacqui
Dover
- Indigenous NBL Referee

Scott
Butler
- First Indigenous NBL referee

Uncle
Kevin Coombes
- First Australian Aboriginal Paralympic Competitor

Michael
Ah Matt
- First Indigenous Australian to represent Australia at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo
- Australian Basketball Hall of Fame member
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NBL Players and Contributors
â– Policies/Supporting Documents
NBL Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
â– Latest Videos
view moreâ– The Latest
read moreNBL23 Indigenous Round: Everything You Need to Know
6 December 2022
NBL Launches Indigenous Round with PM Anthony Albanese
29 November 2022
NBL Indigenous Round Jersey Stories
22 February 2022
Indigenous Round: Pathway Opens for Top Talent
22 February 2022
Indigenous Round Announced
11 February 2022
Bayles Blessed to Live the Dream Representing Sydney with Kings
22 December 2021
NBL23 Indigenous Round: Everything You Need to Know
6 December 2022
NBL Indigenous Round Jersey Stories
22 February 2022
Indigenous Round: Pathway Opens for Top Talent
22 February 2022
Indigenous Round Announced
11 February 2022
Bayles Blessed to Live the Dream Representing Sydney with Kings
22 December 2021
NBL Launches Indigenous Round with PM Anthony Albanese
29 November 2022