18,373: Game 3 attracts biggest crowd in NBL history

The excitement around the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 Championship Series has seen Game 3 attract the competition’s largest ever crowd.

18,373 fans attended the sellout Finals fixture at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, as the Sydney Kings took on the Adelaide 36ers.

"[Today was] incredible," Kings coach Brian Goorjian said on Sunday’s post-game press conference.

"Looking up at that sign on the door saying sold out, I'm really proud of what we built.

"A big part of this is taking advantage of the game of basketball in a series like this. Getting the city of Sydney behind this team by playing a style they embrace

"To have 18,000 here today, I just think is huge for basketball.

"And to have a full house in Adelaide, I know they constantly do, but the energy in the two cities is really important for the game."

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This mark eclipses the previous record of 18,124, which was again held by the Kings, set during Game 5 of their NBL23 Championship Series win over New Zealand.

One man who was part of that previous high mark is current big man, Tim Soares.

"It's crazy [to play in front of a crowd like that]," Soares said.

"I was talking to my family and friends the other day, it was like, I wish you guys could all be out here to be a part of the 18,000, because it's so unique.

"Just being a part of those big moments where we had those and ones, those were very electric and very loud. The loudest I've ever heard it in here.

"It was fun to be a part of it."

The sellout is the competition's 61st of the campaign.

The 2025-26 season has been a record-setting one for the NBL, attracting its highest number of fans in history and the third straight season of more than 1,000,000 supporters attending games.