| Nunawading Spectres | |
| Leagues: | NBL1 South |
| Founded: | 1979 |
| History: | NBL/WNBL: Men: Nunawading Spectres 1979–1986 Eastside Spectres 1987–1991 Women: Nunawading Spectres 1982–1991 SEABL/NBL1 Men: Nunawading Spectres 1990–present Women: Nunawading Spectres 1992–present |
| Arena: | Nunawading Basketball Centre |
| Location: | Burwood East, Victoria |
| Colors: | Royal blue, red, white |
| Sponsor: | Quest Burwood East |
| Coach: | M: Andrew Cutler W: Paul Flynn |
| League Champs: | Men: SEABL (1)NBL1 (1)Women: WNBL (6) |
| Conf Champs: | Men: SEABL (3) |
| Website: | NunawadingBasketball.com.au |
Nunawading Spectres is a NBL1 South club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 South. The club is a division of Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in the City of Whitehorse. The Spectres play their home games at Nunawading Basketball Centre.
In 1979, a Nunawading Spectres men's team entered the National Basketball League (NBL), joining nine other teams for the league's inaugural season. In 1987, the team changed their name to Eastside Spectres and spent five years under that moniker before merging with the Southern Melbourne Saints in 1992 to become the South East Melbourne Magic. During their time in the NBL, the Spectres were two-time grand finalists, losing to Launceston in 1981 and Perth in 1991.[1]
Between 1982 and 1991, a Nunawading Spectres women's team played in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). The team won six championships in ten seasons under coach Tom Maher and guard Robyn Maher,[2] including four in a row between 1986 and 1989.[3] Following the 1991 season, the team's WNBL license was obtained by the Dandenong Rangers.[4]
In 1990, with the Eastside Spectres still a championship contender in the NBL, a Nunawading Spectres men's team re-emerged in the form of a South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) franchise. In 1992, the Spectres women joined the men's team in the SEABL after withdrawing from the WNBL.[5]
In 1995, the men's team collected their first title as they won the SEABL East Conference Championship. The women's team were SEABL runners-up in both 2000 and 2008, while the men were conference runners-up in 1999 and 2004.
In 2011, the men's team won their second conference title and their first SEABL Championship after defeating the Bendigo Braves 88–61 in the grand final. Spectres guard Shane McDonald had a game-high 28 points to earn the MVP award.[6] [7]
After finishing as conference runners-up in 2013,[8] the men's team won their third conference title in 2014 behind the likes of Mitch Creek, Tommy Greer, Shane McDonald, Simon Conn and Matt O'Hea.[9] They went on to lose 85–71 in the grand final to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.[10]
In 2018, the Spectres men finished as SEABL runners-up after losing the grand final to the Hobart Chargers.[11]
In 2019, following the demise of the SEABL, the Spectres joined the NBL1.[12] The men went on to win the championship with a 99–90 win over the Bendigo Braves in the grand final.[13] [14] [15] The NBL1 South season did not go ahead in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]