Now that the 2026 NBL1 season has come to an end, we thought it was a good time to speak to Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist Thomas Nemeth. In addition to consulting at Alphington Sports Medicine (ASM), he was looking after the Eltham Wildcats NBL1 men’s and women’s teams this year.

The NBL1 is the premier winter basketball league in Australia, with both women’s and men’s competitions played across five conferences, with the Eltham Wildcats being part of the NBL1 South (VIC, TAS, SA). The Wildcats had a great season, with both the Men’s & Women’s teams finishing second on the ladder, and the Men’s team unfortunately coming up short in the Grand Final.

We asked Thomas to tell us a little about his experience . . .

When and how did you become involved with NBL1 and the Eltham Wildcats Basketball Club? 

Last year, I was fortunate to spend some time working with Melbourne United during the 2025 NBL preseason, as part of my Sports Physio Masters studies. I found this experience really rewarding and enjoyable, and it left me wanting to explore more opportunities to work in elite basketball. Luckily, the Eltham Wildcats basketball club were looking to upgrade their medical coverage ahead of the 2026 season, and I was afforded the opportunity to become involved when they reached out to ASM in search of a sports physiotherapist keen to take on the role.

What did your role with the Wildcats entail?

My role with the Wildcats involved game-day physiotherapy support at all home games for both Men’s and Women’s NBL1 Teams. This included pre-game taping and massage, as well as assessment and management of any injuries that occurred during games. Outside of game days, my role as team physiotherapist also included assessing and treating injured players in the clinic at ASM.

What did you find most enjoyable about the season, the club & the players?   

The people at Eltham Wildcats, and the club culture created by the players and staff were what really made it an enjoyable season for me – and being a part of one of the most successful seasons in the club’s history was an added bonus! Players and coaches really valued my input and embraced having a new face around the club, and the club was even kind enough to invite and host my wife and newborn son at a game during the season, which was extremely generous. 

What do you find the most challenging? 

Losing the Grand Final by 3 points and missing out on the National tournament in Adelaide was by far the most challenging part of the season!

As for the role itself, the upgraded medical coverage and support from a sports physiotherapist was something new for the club. As such, implementing new systems and practices, whilst also gaining feedback from players and modifying systems on the fly was a challenge that took some time and patience to evolve as the season progressed.

How does Basketball & the NBL1 differ from other sports you are involved in / athletes you have worked with? 

With only 9 or 10 players on a team on game day, basketball resembles a more close-knit environment compared to other team sports I’ve worked in, and this allows for more access to players, and a better avenue to form quality relationships with players over the course of a season. With this, you also tend to feel more a ‘part of the team’ compared to other larger team sports.

As for NBL1, the semi-professional nature of the league means that resources are generally not as plentiful as you would find at a professional level organisation. As such, my roles and responsibilities can often expand beyond team physiotherapist. For example, most travelling teams at NBL1 level do not supply a physio at away games, so I also occasionally have to assess or treat an injury for an opposition player.

How do you feel this experience will help you in treating your patients at Alphington Sports Medicine? 

This experience has helped me gain a better understanding and appreciation of the athletic demands of elite basketball. This will improve my ability to assess and manage injuries, and look for specific data from performance testing to make sure basketballers are well-prepared for the demands of the sport.

For more information about Thomas Nemeth go to: https://alphingtonsportsmed.com.au/profile/thomas-nemeth/