Final standings
| # | Team |
|---|---|
 | Auckland |
 | Nelson |
| 3 | North Harbour |
| 4 | Hawke's Bay |
| 5 | Wellington |
| 6 | Hutt Valley |
| 7 | Otago |
| 8 | Canterbury |
| 9 | Palmerston North |
| 10 | Taranaki |
| 11 | Northland |
| 12 | Waikato |
| 1996 New Zealand NBL season | |
|---|---|
| League | New Zealand NBL |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Regular season | |
| Minor premiers | Auckland |
| Top scorer | Ed Book (Palmerston North) |
| Playoffs | |
| Champions | Auckland |
| Runners-up | Nelson |
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. [1] In the best-of-three championship series, Nelson took Game 1 110–95, [2] before Auckland came back to take Game 2 109–98 and Game 3 94–90. [3]
| # | Team |
|---|---|
| | Auckland |
| | Nelson |
| 3 | North Harbour |
| 4 | Hawke's Bay |
| 5 | Wellington |
| 6 | Hutt Valley |
| 7 | Otago |
| 8 | Canterbury |
| 9 | Palmerston North |
| 10 | Taranaki |
| 11 | Northland |
| 12 | Waikato |
The Nelson Giants are a New Zealand basketball team based in Nelson. The Giants compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Trafalgar Centre. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Mike Pero Nelson Giants. The Giants are the only remaining original team from the league's inaugural season, as all other teams have spent at least one year out of the league, for various reasons.
Phillip Charles George "Phill" Jones is a New Zealand former professional basketball player who is best known for his time spent with the Nelson Giants in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). The two-time Olympian has scored more points in the New Zealand NBL than any other Kiwi player and is second overall in league scoring history. In 2004, he ranked second among all points scorers at the Athens Olympics. In 2016, he became the first player in New Zealand NBL history to reach 400 games.
The 2009 NBL season was the 28th season of the National Basketball League. Two changes occurred for the 2009 season, with the Christchurch Cougars replacing the Canterbury Rams, and the Otago Nuggets also withdrawing. The Waikato Pistons won the championship in 2009 to claim their fourth league title.
The 2008 NBL season was the 27th season of the National Basketball League. The Waikato Pistons won the championship in 2008 to claim their third league title.
The 2007 NBL season was the 26th season of the National Basketball League. The Nelson Giants won the championship in 2007 to claim their third league title.
The 2013 NBL season was the 32nd season of the National Basketball League. The 2013 season saw the withdrawal of the Auckland Pirates and Harbour Heat, but saw the return of the Waikato Pistons after a one-year hiatus as well as the Super City Rangers, who returned to the league for the first time since 1995.
The 2005 NBL season was the 24th season of the National Basketball League. The Auckland Stars won the championship in 2005 to claim their ninth league title.
The 2002 NBL season was the 21st season of the National Basketball League. Two name changes occurred heading into the 2002 season, with Palmerston North now called Manawatu, and North Harbour now called Harbour. The Waikato Titans won the championship in 2002 to claim their second league title. In the final, Titans' forward Dillon Boucher made two free throws with 1.7 seconds to lift Waikato over the Nelson Giants 85–83.
The 2001 NBL season was the 20th season of the National Basketball League. The Waikato Titans won the championship in 2001 to claim their first league title. The Titans set an NBL record with a 15-game winning streak during the season, a streak that was not broken until the 2015 Southland Sharks squad recorded a 16-game winning streak.
The 2000 NBL season was the 19th season of the National Basketball League. Only one change occurred heading into the 2000 season, with the Hawke's Bay Hawks returning to the league after a one-year hiatus to replace the outgoing Taranaki, who withdrew due to financial concerns. Palmerston North were also on the brink of collapse, but they secured a sponsorship deal at the last minute to ensure their participation. The Auckland Rebels won the championship in 2000 to claim their seventh league title.
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 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 1993 NBL season was the 12th season of the National Basketball League. Hutt Valley won the championship in 1993 to claim their second league title. Head coach Jeff Green guided Hutt Valley over Canterbury in the final with Peter Pokai hitting the game-winning jumper. It was a special triumph for Green, who was sensationally sacked by the team early in the season, but brought back with seven games to go.
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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.
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