Final standings
| # | Team |
|---|---|
 | Wellington |
 | Auckland |
| 3 | Canterbury |
| 4 | Hamilton |
| 5 | Palmerston North |
| 6 | Nelson |
| 7 | Ponsonby |
| 8 | New Plymouth |
| 9 | Centrals |
| 10 | Napier |
| 1985 New Zealand NBL season | |
|---|---|
| League | New Zealand NBL |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Regular season | |
| Minor premiers | Auckland |
| Top scorer | Ronnie Joyner (Ponsonby) |
| Playoffs | |
| Champions | Wellington |
| Runners-up | Auckland |
The 1985 NBL season was the fourth season of the National Basketball League. Two new teams entered the league in 1985, expanding the number of teams from eight to ten. 1984 Conference Basketball League (CBL) champions New Plymouth were promoted to the NBL for the 1985 season, while 1984 CBL runners-up Palmerston North were readmitted to the league after being demoted following their last place finish in 1982. [1]
The mid-1980s was considered the league's halcyon period, [2] with Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington the benchmark teams. The 1985 Final was one of the league's most memorable, with Wellington and Auckland facing off against each other for the third straight year. The game was televised live and most were expecting Auckland to revenge their 1984 defeat after garnering two 20-point wins over Wellington during the regular season. The game was a thriller, having to be sent into overtime after the scores were locked at 100 a piece after four quarters. [2] Saints legend Kenny McFadden went on to hit the winning three-point shot at the buzzer in the extra period to claim a 114–111 win and back-to-back championships. [3]
| # | Team |
|---|---|
| | Wellington |
| | Auckland |
| 3 | Canterbury |
| 4 | Hamilton |
| 5 | Palmerston North |
| 6 | Nelson |
| 7 | Ponsonby |
| 8 | New Plymouth |
| 9 | Centrals |
| 10 | Napier |
The Wellington Saints are a New Zealand basketball team based in Wellington. The Saints compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at TSB Bank Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Cigna Saints.
The Hawke's Bay Hawks are a New Zealand basketball team based in Napier. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Pettigrew Green Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Taylor Hawks.
The Manawatu Jets are a New Zealand basketball team based in Palmerston North. The Jets compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Arena Manawatu. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the See Me Media Manawatu Jets.
The 1999 NBL season was the 18th season of the National Basketball League. The 1999 season saw just nine teams compete, with Hawke's Bay joining the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL) and Northland ceasing operations after four dismal seasons in the NBL. Auckland won the championship in 1999 to claim their sixth league title.
The 1998 NBL season was the 17th season of the National Basketball League. Nelson won the championship in 1998 to claim their second league title. A mid-season game between Canterbury and Northland produced the highest ever scoreline in league history, with Canterbury recording a 179–124 win. Northland also became the first team in league history to record a winless campaign.
The 1997 NBL season was the 16th season of the National Basketball League. Basketball in New Zealand began to dwindle during the 1990s, with TV coverage reduced, sponsorships scarce, and crowd numbers on the decline. At the end of the 1996 season, with both Wellington and Hutt Valley struggling to survive, the two teams amalgamated for the 1997 season.
The 1996 NBL season was the 15th season of the National Basketball League. Only one change occurred heading into the 1996 season, with Waitakere leaving the NBL for the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL). Auckland won the championship in 1996 to claim their fourth league title. In the best-of-three championship series, Nelson took Game 1 110–95, before Auckland came back to take Game 2 109–98 and Game 3 94–90.
The 1995 NBL season was the 14th season of the National Basketball League. Only one change occurred heading into the 1995 season, with 1994 Conference Basketball League (CBL) champions Northland joining the top-flight league for the first time. Thirteen teams competed in 1995, the most the league has fielded during a season in its history. Auckland won the championship in 1995 to claim their third league title.
The 1994 NBL season was the 13th season of the National Basketball League. Only one change occurred heading into the 1994 season, with New Plymouth now called Taranaki. Nelson won the championship in 1994 to claim their first league title.
The 1992 NBL season was the 11th season of the National Basketball League. Canterbury won the championship in 1992 to claim their fourth league title. They qualified in fourth place for the six-team finals and beat Otago and Hutt Valley to book a spot in the decider. Canterbury's grand final experience proved decisive, overcoming Palmerston North by eight points, 79–71.
The 1991 NBL season was the 10th season of the National Basketball League. Hutt Valley won the championship in 1991 to claim their first league title.
The 1990 NBL season was the ninth season of the National Basketball League. The league expanded to 12 teams in 1990, with Hutt Valley, Otago and Waitakere joining the ranks. Waitakere replaced the outgoing Waitemata after Waitemata City amalgamated to form Waitakere City. In addition, North Shore was renamed North Harbour. Canterbury won the championship in 1990 to claim their third league title. In the NBL's first all-South Island final, Canterbury prevailed over Nelson in a gripping game, winning 76–73 to go back-to-back.
The 1989 NBL season was the eighth season of the National Basketball League. Ponsonby's last-place finish in 1988 saw them dropped from the league and replaced by 1988 Conference Basketball League (CBL) champions Palmerston North. Canterbury won the championship in 1989 to claim their second league title. They came from fourth place at the finals weekend to claim the championship, knocking over the top-seeded Palmerston North 92–84 in the semi-finals, before defeating Auckland 91–83 in the final.
The 1988 NBL season was the seventh season of the National Basketball League. With the relegation of Palmerston North in 1988, Waitemata returned to the NBL following a four-year hiatus after winning the Conference Basketball League (CBL) championship in 1987. Wellington won the championship in 1988 to claim their fourth league title.
The 1987 NBL season was the sixth season of the National Basketball League. Only one change occurred heading into the 1987 season, with Hamilton now called Waikato. Wellington won the championship in 1987 to claim their third league title.
The 1986 NBL season was the fifth season of the National Basketball League. Two changes occurred for the 1986 season, with Napier now called Hawke's Bay, while Centrals were dropped from the league and replaced by 1985 Conference Basketball League (CBL) champions North Shore. Canterbury won 16 of their 18 round-robin games, qualifying for the finals in top spot. While Wellington contested their fourth straight final, Canterbury won the championship to claim their first league title. John "Dutchie" Rademakers top scored for Canterbury in the final with 22 points, while American point guard Clyde Huntley added 20 and fellow import, Angelo Hill, 15. Youngster Ian Webb also contributed 13 points, as Canterbury defeated Wellington 87–82.
The 1984 NBL season was the third season of the National Basketball League. The addition of Ponsonby and the readmittance of Hamilton for the 1984 season coincided with Porirua and Waitemata dropping out of the league. Wellington won the championship in 1984 to claim their first league title, beating out an Auckland side who were back-to-back defending champions.
The 1983 NBL season was the second season of the National Basketball League. With the relegation of Hamilton and Palmerston North to the Conference Basketball League (CBL), Wellington and Napier were promoted to the NBL for the 1983 season. Auckland won the championship in 1983 to claim their second league title.
Ronnie Joyner is an American former professional basketball player who spent 17 seasons playing in New Zealand in the National Basketball League (NBL). He finished his career as the league's all-time leading scorer with 8,828 career points.
Willie James Burton Jr. is an American-New Zealand former professional basketball player who spent 19 seasons playing in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NBL). Burton came to New Zealand in the mid-1980s to play for Palmerston North and became a league legend. He kept himself in great shape and was still playing top basketball when he turned 40. He won six rebounding titles and ranks as the league's all-time leader around the boards. He finished his career with 4,244 career rebounds, nearly 1,500 rebounds more than the next best individual rebounding total.