| Pos | 1986 NBL season | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP | |
| 1 | Adelaide 36ers | 26 | 24 | 2 | 92.31% | 5–0 | W12 | 13–0 | 11–2 | 3016 | 2510 | 120.16% |
| 2 | Canberra Cannons | 26 | 19 | 7 | 73.11% | 4–1 | W1 | 11–2 | 8–5 | 2718 | 2520 | 107.86% |
| 3 | Brisbane Bullets | 26 | 17 | 9 | 65.38% | 3–2 | W1 | 10–3 | 7–6 | 2650 | 2485 | 106.64% |
| 4 | West Sydney Westars1 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 57.69% | 3–2 | W2 | 8–5 | 7–6 | 2519 | 2492 | 101.08% |
| 5 | Illawarra Hawks1 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 57.69% | 3–2 | W2 | 10–3 | 5–8 | 2551 | 2472 | 103.20% |
| 6 | Sydney Supersonics2 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 53.85% | 3–2 | W2 | 8–5 | 7–6 | 2518 | 2438 | 103.28% |
| 7 | Geelong Cats2 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 53.85% | 2–3 | W1 | 8–5 | 6–7 | 2875 | 2889 | 99.52% |
| 8 | Coburg Giants2 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 53.85% | 2–3 | W2 | 9–4 | 5–8 | 2841 | 2825 | 100.57% |
| 9 | Nunawading Spectres | 26 | 12 | 14 | 46.15% | 4–1 | L1 | 8–5 | 4–9 | 2592 | 2642 | 98.11% |
| 10 | Newcastle Falcons | 26 | 10 | 16 | 38.46% | 1–4 | L4 | 6–7 | 4–9 | 2782 | 2878 | 96.66% |
| 11 | Hobart Devils | 26 | 9 | 17 | 34.62% | 2–3 | L1 | 7–6 | 2–11 | 2606 | 2704 | 96.38% |
| 12 | Perth Wildcats | 26 | 8 | 18 | 30.77% | 0–5 | L5 | 6–7 | 2–11 | 2458 | 2693 | 91.27% |
| 13 | Melbourne Tigers | 26 | 6 | 20 | 23.08% | 1–4 | L1 | 5–8 | 1–12 | 2822 | 3089 | 91.36% |
| 14 | St. Kilda Saints | 26 | 5 | 21 | 19.23% | 1–4 | L2 | 3–10 | 2–11 | 2742 | 3053 | 89.81% |
Updated to match(es) played on 28 September 1986. Source: NBL.com.au