NBL Canada Finals explained

The NBL Canada Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL). It is played between the winners of the Central Division and Atlantic Division. The first team to win four games in the series is declared NBL Canada champion. It has been played since the league's inaugural 2011–12 season. The London Lightning and Windsor Express are currently the only teams that have claimed the title, with the latter one winning the last two editions of the Finals. Only two coaches have won the championship so far.[1]

In the 2015 NBL Canada Finals, the Express won by default after the Halifax Rainmen forfeited Game 7 due to safety concerns following a pre-game brawl.[2] In the first two series in NBL history, head coach Micheal Ray Richardson led the London Lightning to back-to-back championships. Richardson was named Coach of the Year for both seasons. Bill Jones led Windsor to consecutive titles as well.

Finals MVP

The player with the top performances in the NBL Finals is named Finals Most Valuable Player.[3] Its first two recipients, Gabe Freeman, who won the 2012 Finals with the Lightning, is the sole player to be named regular season MVP the same year.

SeasonPlayerPositionTeam
ForwardLondon Lightning
Forward
2014 Guard
ForwardWindsor Express
2016 GuardHalifax Hurricanes
ForwardLondon Lightning
ForwardLondon Lightning
GuardMoncton Magic

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2014-15 NBL Canada Postseason Media Guide. NBLCanada.ca. 30 May 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150524193509/http://nblcanada.ca/nblcanada/images/nbl_canada_2014-15_post-season_guide.pdf. 24 May 2015.
  2. Web site: Sherman. Rodger. Canadian basketball team forfeits Game 7 of finals after shootaround fight. SB Nation. 30 May 2015.
  3. Web site: Canadian NBL Finals MVP Recipients. RealGM. 10 May 2015.