From Wednesday to Sunday, LIVE basketball will be beamed around the country on FOX SPORTS in a huge win for sports fans.

The best local talent, Australia’s next crop of superstars along with some huge international players will be on show each week throughout the 19-week competition. Nightly prime-time action will feature across four nights with more than 12 double header games LIVE, in HD and with no-ad breaks during play as part of the new look NBL schedule.

FOX SPORTS confirmed today that a mix of basketball experts and renowned FOX SPORTS and FOX FOOTY commentators would lead the coverage.

Australian basketball legend, Shane Heal, will feature in the all-star line-up, with the four-time Olympian and 2002/03 NBL Championship winner with the Sydney Kings delivering expert analysis and opinion throughout the season.

Heal will be joined by former American NBL stars, Derek Rucker and six-time NBL Champion, CJ Bruton, while former Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings player James Harvey and current Boomers Head Coach Andrej Lemanis will provide viewers with key insights during games.

AFL callers Dwayne Russell and Anthony Hudson; and Rugby League voices Andrew Voss, Warren Smith and Matt Russell will join the expert commentators to anchor FOX SPORTS’ coverage.

FOX SPORTS CEO, Patrick Delany, said: “Basketball is entering a new era in Australia on the back of the recent success of our home-grown NBA stars. There is huge ground-swell forming and more people, particularly young kids, are playing basketball than ever before.

“FOX SPORTS landmark partnership will ensure these fans can watch their team and follow their favourite players every week live and in high definition with the best insight and analysis from our expert commentary team.

“The NBL will be a fantastic addition to our summer sports offering and we can’t wait for the best basketballers to light up the screen each week in what’s set to be one of the closest competitions yet,” Mr Delany said.

FOX SPORTS’ coverage of the 2015/16 NBL Championship begins on Wednesday, with LIVE, High Definition coverage of the Adelaide 36ers v New Zealand Breakers at 7.30pm AEDT on FOX SPORTS News 500. Round 1 action continues through to Sunday with a further five games around the country and one in New Zealand.

FOX SPORTS’ BROADCAST SCHEDULE  Round 1 of the 2015/16 NBL Championship on FOX SPORTS News 500

Wed 7 Oct: ADELAIDE 36ers v NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS – 7.30pm AEDT

Thu 8 Oct: CAIRNS TAIPANS v ILLAWARRA HAWKS – 7.30pm AEDT

Fri 9 Oct: TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES v MELBOURNE UNITED – 7.30pm AEDT

Sat 10 Oct: SYDNEY KINGS v CAIRNS TAIPANS – 5.30pm AEDT ADELAIDE 36ers v PERTH WILDCATS – 7.30pm AEDT

Sun 11 Oct: NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS v TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES – 1.00pm AEDT MELBOURNE UNITED v ILLAWARRA HAWKS – 3.00pm AEDT