Michael Fitchett (basketball)

Last updated

Michael Robert Elmslie Fitchett (born 20 September 1982) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He attended Nelson College from 1996 to 2000, where he excelled as a sportsman. He was the school's junior athletics champion in 1996 and 1997, played for the 'A' basketball team from 1996 to 2000, and was a member of the 1st XI cricket team from 1996 to 2000. [1] He played in the New Zealand NBL every year between 1999 and 2012. He also played one game in the Australian NBL with the New Zealand Breakers in January 2009. [2] He also represented the Tall Blacks multiple times between 2008 and 2011. [3]

In October 2018, Fitchett was appointed head coach of the Nelson Giants for the 2019 season. [4] [5] He was elevated to dual general manager / head coach of the Giants in 2021. [6] [7] He continued in the role in 2022 [8] and won the New Zealand NBL Coach of the Year Award. [9]

Between 2016 and 2019, Fitchett served as an assistant coach with the New Zealand Breakers. [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

The New Zealand Breakers are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Auckland. The Breakers are the only non-Australian side currently competing in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL), and one of only two non-Australian sides to have done so. They play their home games at multiple venues, mainly Spark Arena in Auckland. In 2011, the Breakers won their first NBL Championship and successfully defended it in 2012 and 2013, claiming the second three-peat in NBL history. They won their fourth title in 2015.

<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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waikato Pistons</span> New Zealand basketball team

The Waikato Pistons were a New Zealand basketball team based in Hamilton. The Pistons competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) and played their home games at Hamilton Boys' High School.

Adrian "A. J." Majstrovich is a New Zealand-Australian former professional basketball player. He spent the majority of his 20-year career playing in the Australian NBL, New Zealand NBL and State Basketball League (SBL). He achieved the most success in New Zealand, winning two championships and earning the Rookie of the Year in 2003 and league MVP in 2004.

Jeremiah Kloeten Trueman is a New Zealand former professional basketball player.

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.

Phillip Charles George Jones 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.

Tony Rampton is a New Zealand former professional basketball player.

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.

Dean Vickerman is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). He was born and spent his early life in Warragul, Victoria.

Kevin Lavelle Braswell is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for Georgetown University before playing professionally in Europe and New Zealand. He currently serves as assistant coach of the Akita Northern Happinets in the Japanese B.League.

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">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).

Kyle Reginaid Adnam is an Australian professional basketball player for CSU Sibiu of the Romanian Liga Națională.

Clifton Bush II is an American-New Zealand former professional basketball player who played the majority of his career in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NBL). He also spent six seasons playing in Iceland, and had short stints playing in Argentina for Estudiantes de Olavarría, and in the Australian NBL for the New Zealand Breakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Shamir</span> Israeli basketball coach

Dan Shamir is an Israeli professional basketball coach. He was most recently the head coach for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League. In 2007 and 2008 he led Hapoel Jerusalem to consecutive Israeli State Cup titles, and in 2018 he led Hapoel Holon to the Israeli State Cup title. In 2018, Shamir was also named the Israeli Basketball Premier League Coach of the Year.

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).

References

  1. Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
  2. Player statistics for Michael Fitchett
  3. Michael Fitchett – FIBA.com
  4. "Nelson calls for Fitch". nzbreakers.basketball. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  5. O'Connell, Tim (19 October 2018). "Fitchett new Giants coach". The Nelson Mail . Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  6. O'Connell, Tim (6 March 2021). "Vukona's value measured by former Nelson teammate". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  7. "FLICKET COMES ON BOARD AS GIANTS AND SPARKS CAPTAINS GET READY FOR DRAFT NIGHT EXCITEMENT". nelsongiants.basketball. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  8. "GIANTS GET GLOW UP!". nelsongiants.basketball. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  9. "2022 SAL'S NBL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED". nznbl.basketball. 9 August 2022. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022.
  10. Egan, Brendon (12 October 2019). "New Zealand Breakers assistant Mike Fitchett resigns week out from season". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  11. Price, Josh (14 November 2019). "Basketball: Mike Fitchett explains decision to quit the New Zealand Breakers before start of ANBL season". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 14 November 2019.