NBL1 replaced the former Premier League to create more professional pathways and opportunities for males and females playing basketball in South Australia.

This organisation later became known as the Basketball Association of South Australia (BASA).

[1] The sport of basketball in the state of South Australia was boosted after World War II by the influx of emigrants from Europe especially from the Baltic countries.

[3] The first official South Australian State Basketball League season took place in 1957.

[11] In February 2020, Basketball South Australia and the National Basketball League (NBL) announced a new partnership to bring NBL1 to South Australia, with the Premier League being renamed NBL1 Central and becoming the central conference of the NBL1.