Phill Jones

Last updated

Phill Jones
Personal information
Born (1974-01-25) 25 January 1974 (age 49)
Christchurch, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealand
Listed height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Listed weight90 kg (198 lb)
Career information
High school
Playing career1993–2017
Position Shooting guard
Coaching career2016–2019
Career history
As player:
1993–1998 Nelson Giants
1998–1999 Kouvot
1999 Otago Nuggets
2000–2004Nelson Giants
2000–2001Kouvot
2001–2002 Honka Espoo
2002Kouvot
2002–2003 Cantù
2003–2004 New Zealand Breakers
2004–2007Cantù
2006Nelson Giants
2007–2009New Zealand Breakers
2008–2017Nelson Giants
2009–2011 Cairns Taipans
As coach:
2016Nelson Sparks
2017; 2019 Nelson Giants (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Phillip Charles George Jones (born 25 January 1974) [1] is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He played in Finland, Italy and Australia, but is best known for his 22 seasons with the Nelson Giants in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He also played for 14 years for the New Zealand national team.

Contents

Early life

Born in Christchurch, [2] Jones grew up in Reefton, where he attended Inangahua College. [3] In 1992, Jones moved to Nelson to play high school basketball at Nelson College. [4]

Professional career

Jones debuted in the New Zealand NBL in 1993. He played six seasons for the Nelson Giants between 1993 and 1998, winning championships in 1994 and 1998. After a season in Finland with Kouvot, where he won a championship in the Korisliiga in the 1998–99 season, Jones played for the Otago Nuggets in 1999. He returned to the Giants in 2000 and played every year until 2004. [5]

Jones returned to Kouvot in Finland for the 2000–01 season and then split the 2001–02 season with Honka Espoo and Kouvot. He played the 2002–03 season in Italy with Oregon Scientific Cantù. [6] For the 2003–04 season, Jones joined the New Zealand Breakers for their inaugural season in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). After one season with the Breakers, Jones spent three straight seasons in Italy with Cantù between 2004 and 2007.

After not playing in the 2005 New Zealand NBL season, Jones re-joined the Giants in 2006. He then missed the 2007 New Zealand NBL season and thus missed out on the Giants' championship. [7]

Between 2007 and 2009, Jones played another two seasons for the Breakers [8] and was named the NBL Best Sixth Man for the 2008–09 season. [9] Between 2009 and 2011, he played for the Cairns Taipans [10] and helped them reach the grand final series in the 2010–11 season.

Jones played every season for the Giants between 2008 and 2017.

In May 2014, Jones played his 350th game for the Giants [11] and set the NZNBL's all-time record for games played with his 362nd game. [12] [13] [14] He finished the 2014 season with 369 games. [15]

Jones initially retired in 2014 [16] and became the Giants' managing director. [17] [18] However, in March 2015, he came out of retirement and re-joined the Giants roster. [19] [20] [21] He continued on with the Giants in 2016 as well. [22] In 2016, he passed 7,000 points for his NZNBL career [23] and became the first player in New Zealand NBL history to reach 400 games. [24] [25]

Jones retired again in 2016 [26] and became an assistant coach for the Giants in 2017. [27] [28] He was also appointed the Giants' director of operations. [29] However, in May 2017, Jones played two final games for the Giants, ending his NZNBL career with 408 games. [30] [31]

Jones' number 13 jersey was retired twice by the Giants, firstly in June 2014 [32] and then again in June 2017. [33]

In May 2022, Jones was inducted into the Basketball New Zealand Hall of Fame. [34]

Coaching career

In 2016, Jones served as head coach of the Nelson Sparks in New Zealand's Women's Basketball Championship (WBC). [35] [36] He served as assistant coach for the Nelson Giants in 2017 [27] and 2019. [37]

National team career

In June 2008, after playing for the Tall Blacks for 14 years, Jones retired from international basketball. [38]

Personal life

Jones is the son of John and Carol Jones, and has a brother named Johnno. [32] He and his wife Kat have three children. [7] [39] His son Hayden debuted with the Nelson Giants in 2023 as a 16-year-old. [40]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Basketball League (New Zealand)</span> Premier basketball league in New Zealand

The New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) is a men's semi-professional basketball league in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dillon Boucher</span> New Zealand basketball player

Dillon Matthew Boucher is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. His 13 combined career championships is the most in ANBL/NZNBL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Penney</span> New Zealand basketball player

Kirk Samuel Penney is a New Zealand professional basketball player. He played four years of college basketball for the Wisconsin Badgers between 1999 and 2003, where he was twice named first-team all-conference and an all-American. He became the second New Zealander in the NBA when he appeared briefly for the Miami Heat in 2003 and the Los Angeles Clippers in 2005, and went on to play professionally in Spain, the NBA Development League, Israel, Lithuania, Germany and Turkey. He also played six seasons for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He was named the NBL MVP in 2009 and won an NBL championship with the Breakers in 2011.

Mika John Vukona is a Fijian-born New Zealand former professional basketball player. Between 2003 and 2018, he spent 13 seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL and helped them win four championships. He was also a regular with the Nelson Giants in the New Zealand NBL and was a long-time New Zealand Tall Black.

Joshua Kane Bloxham is a New Zealand basketball player who last played for the Joondalup Wolves of the NBL1 West. He played 12 seasons in the New Zealand NBL between 2006 and 2020, and was a member of the New Zealand Breakers' 3-peat championship contingent in the Australian NBL between 2010 and 2013.

Tony Rampton is a New Zealand former professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarrod Kenny</span> New Zealand basketball player

Jarrod Daniel Kenny is a New Zealand basketball player for the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He won two championships in the Australian NBL with the Perth Wildcats in 2016 and 2017 and has represented the New Zealand Tall Blacks multiple times.

Alex John Pledger is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Southland Sharks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played college basketball in the United States before playing nine seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL, where he won four championships. He has also been a regular member of the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Loe</span> New Zealand basketball player

Robert Loe is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Saint Louis University and represents the New Zealand national team. He holds a British passport which allows him to play as an unrestricted player in Europe.

Leon Hofeni Nehemiah Henry is a New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the Knox Raiders of the NBL1 South. He debuted in the New Zealand NBL in 2004 and has since won seven championships. He also played five seasons in the Australian NBL, where he was a member of the New Zealand Breakers' 3-peat championship contingent between 2010/11 and 2012/13.

Dion Anthony Prewster is an American-born New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the Sandringham Sabres of the NBL1 South. He played college basketball for San Jacinto College and Stephen F. Austin State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcel Jones (basketball)</span> American/New Zealand basketball player

Marcel Xavier Jones is an American-New Zealand professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers between 2004 and 2008 before embarking on a professional career that spanned across the globe, from Europe and the Middle East, to his adoptive home of New Zealand. Since 2009, Jones has had consistent yearly stints in the New Zealand NBL, largely due to gaining New Zealand citizenship in 2012. He has also played consistently in the Persian Gulf region since 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tai Wynyard</span> New Zealand basketball player

Tai Hikuroa Wynyard is a New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the Canterbury Rams of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He began his career playing in his home country for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL and the Super City Rangers of the New Zealand NBL. After a two-year stint in the United States playing college basketball for Kentucky, Wynyard returned to the Australian and New Zealand NBL.

Derone Jordan Raukawa is a New Zealand basketball player for the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).

Shea Ili is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). Ili was raised in Māngere Bridge, playing his basketball at Onehunga High School and appearing for Counties Manukau in rep teams before appearing in the New Zealand NBL with the Auckland Pirates in 2012. In 2014, he joined the New Zealand Breakers as a development player. That season, he was a member of the Breakers' championship-winning team. In 2016, he was elevated to the Breakers' full-time roster, and in February 2018, he was named the NBL Most Improved Player for the 2017–18 season.

Guy Molloy is an Australian basketball coach, who is currently the head coach of the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also interim head coach of the Sydney Flames in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).

Jordan Ngatai is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played six seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL and is a regular New Zealand Tall Black. In the New Zealand NBL, he is a four-time champion.

Jarrad Weeks is an Australian basketball coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Tasmania JackJumpers of the National Basketball League (NBL).

Jordan Hunt is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He debuted in the NZNBL in 2015 with the Wellington Saints and won a championship with them in 2016. After four years of college basketball in the United States with the Southern Oregon Raiders, he helped the Otago Nuggets win the NZNBL championship in 2020 while earning grand final MVP. He subsequently spent the 2020–21 NBL season in Australia with the Cairns Taipans as a development player.

Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Wellington Saints of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He began his career in the New Zealand NBL, playing three seasons for the Wellington Saints before moving to the United States in 2016 to play college basketball for the Sacramento State Hornets. After graduating in 2020, he played a season for the Auckland Huskies and earned NZNBL Defensive Player of the Year and NZNBL All-Star Five. He subsequently joined the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the NBL and played two seasons before joining the Breakers in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Phil Jones". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  2. ↑ Phill Jones Breakers profile
  3. ↑ Basketball: The top shot who kept growing
  4. ↑ Giants' blue blood admits end is nigh
  5. ↑ Nelson Giants – player stats
  6. ↑ Basketball: Tall Black makes winning debut in Italy
  7. 1 2 Nelson Giants' Phill Jones to stand alone in NBL
  8. ↑ Originals Return
  9. ↑ "Jones is NBL's best super-sub". NBL.com.au. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Phill Jones signs with Taipans
  11. ↑ Southland Sharks spoil party for Giants legend
  12. ↑ Jones to tie record Archived 18 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Giants down the Jets in Palmerston North
  14. ↑ Jones gets win in special occasion
  15. ↑ Saints outshine Giants to reach NBL final
  16. ↑ 'Cut me and I bleed blue', says retiring Jones
  17. ↑ Veteran Vukona stays glued to Giants' cause
  18. ↑ A humble Giant amongst sports legends talks sponsorship, retiring and community
  19. ↑ Much-travelled American Kareem Johnston joins Wellington Saints
  20. ↑ Jones Comes Out Of Retirement
  21. ↑ It's game on comeback kid Phill Jones
  22. ↑ National Basketball League shaping as three-horse race for title
  23. ↑ Jones achieves 7000-point milestone in stellar NBL career
  24. ↑ Canterbury Rams' third quarter blitz stuns Nelson Giants
  25. ↑ Nelson Giants legend Phill Jones' 400th NBL game ends in defeat
  26. ↑ Giants nab three time NBL champion
  27. 1 2 Supercity Rangers edge Nelson Giants in NBL clash to tighten top-four claims
  28. ↑ Tom Ingham makes the most of rare start for Nelson Giants
  29. ↑ Phill Jones looks on the bright side in wake of difficult NBL season for Giants
  30. ↑ "HAWKS WIN SECOND STRAIGHT". nz.basketball. 6 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  31. ↑ "Player statistics for Phil Jones". NZNBL. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  32. 1 2 Giants legend Phill Jones' final home hurrah
  33. ↑ Phill Jones 'humbled' with No 13 retirement
  34. ↑ "BBNZ AWARDS CELEBRATES 2021 WITH 29 AWARDS RECOGNISED". nz.basketball. 7 May 2022. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022.
  35. ↑ Nelson Giants coach Tim Fanning wants legend Phill Jones back for another season
  36. ↑ Nelson Sparks fall short of top six finish at Women's Basketball Championship
  37. ↑ "Giants vs Mountainairs". FIBALiveStats.com. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  38. ↑ Basketball: Phil Jones retires from international basketball
  39. ↑ More parents want three
  40. ↑ Hinton, Marc (8 April 2023). "Father and son: Kiwi hoops legend Phill Jones passes the NBL torch to next generation". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.