National Basketball League (New Zealand)

Last updated

New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL)
Most recent season or competition:
2024 New Zealand NBL season
NZNBL logo.png
Sport Basketball
Founded1981
First season 1982
General ManagerMaree Taylor
No. of teams 11
Countries New Zealand
Continent FIBA Oceania (Oceania)
Most recent
champion(s)		 Canterbury Rams (6th title)
Most titles Wellington Saints (12 titles)
TV partner(s) Sky Sport
Level on pyramid1
Official website NZNBL.Basketball

The New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) is a men's semi-professional basketball league in New Zealand. [1]

Contents

History

The 1980s ushered in a period of exceptional growth and popularity for basketball in New Zealand. Late in 1981, six men's teams – a mixture of club and provincial representative sides – went out alone and created an inaugural national league. It was enough of a success to come under the control of the New Zealand Basketball Federation the following year, when it grew in size and secured a naming sponsor. An allowance of two imported players (invariably Americans with college basketball experience) per team, and the fact that games were played in the evening indoors, helped turn the league into a new family entertainment option. Spectators filled gymnasiums and media coverage reached unprecedented levels. [2] The early 1990s held dwindling fortunes for New Zealand basketball and many teams in the NZNBL, with reduced TV coverage, sponsorships, and crowd numbers. [3] With the success of the Tall Blacks at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and the introduction of the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL in 2003, basketball in New Zealand rose in popularity again. [2]

The number of teams each season has constantly changed since the league's inception, with many promotions and relegations between the first division and second division during the 1980s and 1990s, as well as many withdrawals due to financial reasons. The league began with 8 teams in 1982, then peaked at 13 teams in 1995, before dropping to a low of 7 in 2016. In 2019, the Southern Huskies from Tasmania became the first ever Australian team to join a New Zealand competition. The league returned to 7 teams in 2020 following a revised small-scale format due to the coronavirus pandemic. [4] In 2022, the league was hailed for reaching competitive balance after years of unbalanced competition, with evenly spread talent and resources across the ten teams. [5]

In July 2024, it was revealed that the New Zealand NBL were looking at an expansion team from the Indian National Basketball League for 2025. [6] [7] [8]

Current teams

TeamCityRegionArenaCapacityColoursDebutHead Coach
Auckland Tuatara Auckland Auckland Region Eventfinda Stadium 4,179  2019Vacant
Canterbury Rams Christchurch Canterbury Cowles Stadium 2,300 [9]   1982 Flag of New Zealand.svg Judd Flavell
Franklin Bulls Pukekohe Auckland Region Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre 1,100  2020 Flag of Germany.svg Sebastian Gleim
Hawke's Bay Hawks Napier Hawke's Bay Pettigrew Green Arena 2,500   1983 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sam Gruggen
Manawatu Jets Palmerston North Manawatū-Whanganui Central Energy Trust Arena 2,000   1982 Flag of New Zealand.svg Natu Taufale
Nelson Giants Nelson Nelson Trafalgar Centre 2,460  1982 Flag of New Zealand.svg Michael Fitchett
Otago Nuggets Dunedin Otago Edgar Centre 2,880   1990 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brent Matehaere
Southland Sharks Invercargill Southland Stadium Southland 4,019   2010 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Guy Molloy
Taranaki Airs New Plymouth Taranaki TSB Stadium 4,560  1985 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sam Mackinnon
Tauranga Whai Tauranga Bay of Plenty Mercury Baypark    2024 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matt Lacey
Wellington Saints Wellington Wellington Region TSB Bank Arena 4,002  1983 Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Young
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Location of teams within New Zealand

Expansion teams

TeamCityRegionArenaCapacityColoursDebutHead Coach
Queenstown Yeti [10] [11] Queenstown Otago TBDTBDTBDTBD

Former and defunct teams

League eligibility rules

There are two categories of players in the NZNBL:

Broadcasting details

In 2016 and 2017, the NZNBL began to more freely livestream and broadcast their games. [17] [18] In 2020, the league had all 75 games broadcast by Sky Sport, marking the first time in the league's four-decade history that every game would be made available to viewers across the nation. [19] That same year, the league secured a deal to broadcast live in the United States through ESPN. [20]

In 2022, the NZNBL and Sky Sport signed a five-year commercial deal estimated to be worth $7.5 million for the teams. [21]

Honours

List of champions

TeamTitle(s)Runners-upTotalYear(s) wonYear(s) lost
Wellington Saints 12820 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 1983, 1986, 1991, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2018
Auckland Stars 9413 1982, 1983, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005 1984, 1985, 1989, 2006
Canterbury Rams 6410 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023, 2024 1987, 1993, 1994, 1999
Waikato Pistons 426 2001, 2002, 2008, 2009 2003, 2010
Nelson Giants 3811 1994, 1998, 2007 1990, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2013
Southland Sharks 314 2013, 2015, 2018 2017
Hutt Valley Lakers 202 1991, 1993
Otago Nuggets 202 2020, 2022
Hawke's Bay Hawks 178 2006 1995, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2019, 2021
Auckland Pirates 101 2012
Auckland Tuatara 033 2022, 2023, 2024
Harbour Heat 022 1988, 1998
Manawatu Jets 022 1992, 2020
Waitemata Dolphins 011 1982
Super City Rangers 011 2016

Awards

Current
Past

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "NBL OPENS OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW FRANCHISES". nznbl.basketball. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2023. The Sal's NBL is the pre-eminent semi-professional men's basketball league in New Zealand.
  2. 1 2 Saker, John (5 September 2013). "Basketball". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  3. ↑ "Locations – Exodus Saints". Wotzon.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "AUCKLAND TO HOST 2020 SAL'S NBL, TIPPING OFF 23 JUNE". nznbl.basketball. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  5. ↑ Nelson, Justin (3 August 2022). "Taranaki Airs shake up the NBL as they head to playoffs". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "BREAKING NEW GROUND: INDIAN NBL SEEKS ENTRY INTO NBL AND TAUIHI LEAGUES". nznbl.basketball. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Egan, Brendon (19 July 2024). "NBL, Tauihi basketball leagues set to feature Indian backed teams from 2025". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "Indian-backed teams to join NZ basketball leagues in 2025". 1news.co.nz. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024.
  9. ↑ Cowles Stadium – Christchurch City Council
  10. ↑ "QUEENSTOWN SET TO JOIN SAL'S NBL IN 2024". nznbl.basketball. 23 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "WHAI NAME MATT LACEY HEAD COACH FOR INAUGURAL SEASON". nznbl.basketball. 20 October 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. The Queenstown Yeti were initially tapped to join the league in 2024 as a 12th franchise, but that entry for has been delayed for at least two years while awaiting developments on upgrades required for the franchise's planned home venue.
  12. ↑ Pirates out of 2013 NBL
  13. ↑ Waikato Pistons out of 2012 national league
  14. ↑ Waikato Pistons pull out of NBL competition
  15. ↑ NZ NBL AGREE TO THE RETURN OF MANAWATU JETS IN 2018
  16. ↑ NZ NBL MEDIA STATEMENT: THE RULING OF JOSHUA DUINKER’S ELIGIBILITY AND PLAYING STATUS IN THE NZ NBL
  17. ↑ THE NEW ZEALAND NBL TO BE BROADCAST LIVE AND FREE ON NZHERALD.CO.NZ
  18. ↑ Basketball: NZ Herald to live stream NZ NBL in 2017
  19. ↑ SKY TO BROADCAST EVERY SAL'S NBL GAME IN 2020
  20. ↑ "NZNBL: New Zealand National Basketball League". NZNBL. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  21. ↑ New Zealand's soaring National Basketball League proving ratings hit for partners
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