2021 New Zealand NBL season

Last updated

2021 New Zealand NBL season
League New Zealand NBL
Sport Basketball
Duration24 April – 23 July
Number of games18
Number of teams10
Regular season
  Minor premiers Wellington Saints
Season MVP Dion Prewster (Wellington Saints)
Top scorer Hunter Hale (Nelson Giants)
Final Four
Champions Wellington Saints
  Runners-up Hawke's Bay Hawks
Grand Final MVP Kerwin Roach
New Zealand NBL seasons

The 2021 NBL season was the 40th season of the National Basketball League.

Contents

As a result of the modified, COVID-affected 2020 season, three of the top four teams in 2019 (Wellington Saints, Hawke's Bay Hawks and Southland Sharks) did not compete. All three teams re-entered in 2021 to increase the league's total number to 10 for the first time since 2014. [1] [2]

The regular season commenced on 24 April in Dunedin with the Otago Nuggets (2020 champions) hosting the Wellington Saints (2019 champions) at the Edgar Centre. The season contained 12 weeks of regular season games followed by a two-day finals schedule in July. [2] The Saints won their 12th NBL championship in 2021 with a win over the Hawks in the grand final.

Team information

TeamCityArenaColoursHead CoachImportImport
Auckland Huskies Auckland Eventfinda Stadium     Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Young Flag of the United States.svg Justin Bibbs Flag of the United States.svg Chris Johnson
Canterbury Rams Christchurch Cowles Stadium   Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mick Downer Flag of the United States.svg E. J. Singler Flag of the United States.svg Deshon Taylor
Franklin Bulls Auckland Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre    Flag of New Zealand.svg Jamie Reddish Flag of the United States.svg Zane Waterman
Hawke's Bay Hawks Napier Pettigrew Green Arena     Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jacob Chance Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhys Vague Flag of the United States.svg Devondrick Walker
Manawatu Jets Palmerston North Arena Manawatu     Flag of New Zealand.svg Tim McTamney Flag of the United States.svg DeAndre Daniels Flag of the United States.svg Daishon Knight
Nelson Giants Nelson Trafalgar Centre    Flag of New Zealand.svg Michael Fitchett Flag of the United States.svg Hunter Hale Flag of the United States.svg Donte Ingram
Otago Nuggets Dunedin Edgar Centre     Flag of New Zealand.svg Brent Matehaere Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geremy McKay Flag of the United States.svg Isaiah Moss
Southland Sharks Invercargill Stadium Southland     Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rob Beveridge Flag of the United States.svg Courtney Belger Flag of the United States.svg Josh Cunningham
Taranaki Mountainairs New Plymouth TSB Stadium    Flag of New Zealand.svg Trent Adam
Wellington Saints Wellington TSB Bank Arena    Flag of New Zealand.svg Zico Coronel Flag of Jamaica.svg Romaro Gill Flag of the United States.svg Kerwin Roach

Summary

In the final round of the regular season, due to an extreme weather event and major flooding across the top of the South Island, the games between the Manawatu Jets and Nelson Giants (Sunday 5pm) and Taranaki Mountainairs and Nelson Giants (Monday 7:30pm) were both cancelled. With the games not having an impact on the 2021 Final Four, the League advised neither clash would be rescheduled. [3]

Regular season standings

PosTeamWLQualification
1 Wellington Saints 162 Final Four
2 Hawke's Bay Hawks 135
3 Southland Sharks 135
4 Auckland Huskies 117
5 Canterbury Rams 99
6 Otago Nuggets 99
7 Nelson Giants 610
8 Franklin Bulls 513
9 Manawatu Jets 413
10 Taranaki Mountainairs 215
Updated to match(es) played on 17 July 2021. Source: NZNBL

Final Four

Semi Finals Final
      
1 Wellington Saints 99
4 Auckland Huskies 73
Gold Cup icon.svg Wellington Saints 77
  Hawke's Bay Hawks 75
2 Hawke's Bay Hawks 98
3 Southland Sharks 91

Awards

Statistics leaders

Stats as of the end of the regular season [4] [5] [6]

CategoryPlayerTeamStat
Points per game Hunter Hale Nelson Giants 26.9
Rebounds per game Sam Timmins Otago Nuggets 13.9
Assists per gameCourtney Belger Southland Sharks 5.7
Steals per game Hunter Hale Nelson Giants 2.6
Blocks per game DeAndre Daniels Manawatu Jets 2.3

Regular season

Final Four

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References

  1. "SAL'S NBL ANNOUNCE 2021 MEN'S SEASON SCHEDULE". nznbl.basketball. 25 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020.
  2. 1 2 "2021 SAL'S NBL MEN'S SEASON SCHEDULE". nznbl.basketball. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  3. "JETS / AIRS VS GIANTS GAMES CANCELLED DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER AND FLOODING". nznbl.basketball. 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021.
  4. "Your 2021 #SalsNBL league leaders and final regular season standings". facebook.com/NZNBL. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  5. "Statistics". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021.
  6. "Leaders". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021.
  7. "DION PREWSTER TOPS THE 2021 SAL'S NBL AWARDS". nznbl.basketball. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  8. "Saints' Dion Prewster wins MVP award as best National Basketball League player". Stuff.co.nz. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  9. "Your Sal's NBL Grand Final MVP for 2021 is..." twitter.com/nznbl. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  10. "Wellington Saints continue NBL dominance with grand final win over Hawke's Bay Hawks". Stuff.co.nz. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021. ...with grand final MVP Kerwin Roach Jnr (16 points and seven rebounds)...