Penrith Panthers (basketball)
Basketball team in Penrith, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Penrith Panthers is the name used by teams representing Penrith & Districts Basketball Association (PDBA), an Australian basketball club based in Penrith, Australia.
| Penrith Panthers | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leagues | NBL1 East |
| Location | Penrith, Australia |
| Team colors | black, cyan |
| Website | penrithbasketball.net penrithpanthers.nbl.com.au |
For the 2026 season, the men's NBL1 team will be coached by Matt Porter,[1] and the women's NBL1 team will be coached by Liam Cavanagh-Downs.[2]
History
PDBA was formed in 1987, and the Panthers have participated in the Waratah League at both Junior and Senior level, as well as entering Mens teams in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 1996-2002 and a Womens team in 2001. They joined the NBL1 East conference in 2023.[3]
Between 1988 and October 2025, Penrith Panthers played out of the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre. However following a commercial dispute[4][5] between the PDBA and operators of that stadium, PDBA have been operating out of several stadiums, with junior domestic competitions being played across 6 high schools.[6] For the 2026 NBL1 season, the Panthers have scheduled home games at Minto Indoor Sports Centre, Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium and Blacktown Leisure Centre.[7]
Notable Players
A number of NBL players played for Penrith in the 2000 SEABL season, propelling them to 2nd overall[8]. This includes John Rillie who went on to coach in the NBL, and Matthew Nielsen who is an assistant coach in the NBA.
Tahlia Tupaea, a WNBL player who started her career as a junior at Penrith.
Akoldah Gak and Josh Green[9] both played for Penrith juniors before moving to the United States to complete high school.
