National Basketball League (New Zealand)

Last updated

New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL)
Current season, competition or edition:
Basketball current event.svg 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 (5th 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]

Current teams

TeamCityRegionArenaCapacityColoursDebutHead Coach
Auckland Tuatara Auckland Auckland Region Eventfinda Stadium 4,179  2019 Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Young
Canterbury Rams Christchurch Canterbury Cowles Stadium 2,300 [6]   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 Zico Coronel
New Zealand location map transparent.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
Disc Plain red.svg
class=notpageimage|
Location of teams within New Zealand

Expansion teams

TeamCityRegionArenaCapacityColoursDebutHead Coach
Queenstown Yeti [7] [8] 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. [14] [15] 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. [16] That same year, the league secured a deal to broadcast live in the United States through ESPN. [17]

In 2022, the NZNBL and Sky Sport signed a five-year commercial deal estimated to be worth $7.5 million for the teams. [18]

Honours

List of champions

TeamTitle(s)Runner(s)-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 549 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023 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
Harbour Heat 022 1988, 1998
Manawatu Jets 022 1992, 2020
Auckland Tuatara 022 2022, 2023
Waitemata Dolphins 011 1982
Super City Rangers 011 2016

Awards

Current
Past

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otago Nuggets</span> Basketball team in Dunedin, New Zealand

The Otago Nuggets are a New Zealand men's basketball team based in Dunedin. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Edgar Centre. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Night 'n Day Otago Nuggets.

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 Central Energy Trust Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets.

Alex John Pledger is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States for Kansas City and Belmont Abbey before playing eleven seasons in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) between 2009 and 2020. In nine seasons with the New Zealand Breakers, he won four NBL championships. In the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL), he won championships with the Auckland Pirates (2012) and Southland Sharks (2018). He was also a regular member of the New Zealand national team.

The 2011 NBL season was the 30th season of the National Basketball League. In 2011, the Auckland Pirates debuted in the league but the Christchurch Cougars did not take part due to the effects of the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. The Harbour Heat also did not compete in the 2011 season, leaving the total number of teams at nine.

The 2012 NBL season was the 31st season of the National Basketball League. While the Harbour Heat returned for the 2012 season, the Waikato Pistons dropped out of the league. It marked the first time the league had no Waikato presence since 1983.

The 2006 NBL season was the 25th season of the National Basketball League. The Hawke's Bay Hawks won the championship in 2006 to claim their first 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 2004 NBL season was the 23rd season of the National Basketball League. The Auckland Stars won the championship in 2004 to claim their eighth league title.

The 2003 NBL season was the 22nd season of the National Basketball League. 2003 marked the first year a league-wide MVP award winner was named, allowing imports the opportunity to be recognised; in all previous seasons, only a Kiwi MVP was named, an award given to the best New Zealand player. Australian import David Cooper of the Manawatu Jets was subsequently awarded the first league MVP. 2003 also marked the return of Taranaki after a three-year hiatus. The Wellington Saints won the championship over the Waikato Titans in overtime, as the Saints claimed their fifth league title.

Derone Jordan Raukawa is a New Zealand basketball player for the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auckland Tuatara (basketball)</span> Semi-professional basketball team in Auckland, New Zealand

The Auckland Tuatara are a New Zealand basketball team based in Auckland. The Tuatara compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Eventfinda Stadium. Founded in Tasmania in 2019 as the Southern Huskies, the team relocated to Auckland in 2020 and for two years were known as the Auckland Huskies. In December 2021, the team was purchased by the owners of the Auckland Tuatara baseball team.

The 2019 NBL season was the 38th season of the National Basketball League. The competition increased to nine teams in 2019 with the Southern Huskies joining the league for the first time, marking the first time ever that an Australian team has joined a New Zealand competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Bulls</span> Basketball team in Pukekohe, New Zealand

The Franklin Bulls are a New Zealand basketball team based in Pukekohe, Auckland. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the EnviroNZ Franklin Bulls.

The 2020 NBL season was the 39th season of the National Basketball League.

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

The 2022 NBL season was the 41st season of the National Basketball League. For the second year in a row, the league fielded 10 teams, with the only changes being the rebrand of the Auckland Huskies to Auckland Tuatara and Taranaki Mountainairs to Taranaki Airs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tauranga Whai</span> Basketball team in Bay Plenty, New Zealand

The Tauranga Whai are a New Zealand basketball team based in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. The Whai compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Mercury Baypark.

Jayden Tuatahi Bezzant is a New Zealand basketball player for the Tauranga Whai of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played college basketball in the United States for the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks between 2016 and 2020 before beginning his career in the New Zealand NBL. He debuted for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) during the 2022–23 season and debuted for the New Zealand Tall Blacks in 2022.

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. ↑ Cowles Stadium – Christchurch City Council
  7. ↑ "QUEENSTOWN SET TO JOIN SAL'S NBL IN 2024". nznbl.basketball. 23 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ Pirates out of 2013 NBL
  10. ↑ Waikato Pistons out of 2012 national league
  11. ↑ Waikato Pistons pull out of NBL competition
  12. ↑ NZ NBL AGREE TO THE RETURN OF MANAWATU JETS IN 2018
  13. ↑ NZ NBL MEDIA STATEMENT: THE RULING OF JOSHUA DUINKER’S ELIGIBILITY AND PLAYING STATUS IN THE NZ NBL
  14. ↑ THE NEW ZEALAND NBL TO BE BROADCAST LIVE AND FREE ON NZHERALD.CO.NZ
  15. ↑ Basketball: NZ Herald to live stream NZ NBL in 2017
  16. ↑ SKY TO BROADCAST EVERY SAL'S NBL GAME IN 2020
  17. ↑ "NZNBL: New Zealand National Basketball League". NZNBL. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  18. ↑ New Zealand's soaring National Basketball League proving ratings hit for partners
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.