Nelson Giants

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Nelson Giants
Nelson Giants logo.webp
League NZNBL
Founded1982
HistoryNelson Giants
1982–present
Arena Trafalgar Centre
Location Nelson, New Zealand
Team coloursBlue & white
Main sponsor Nelson Building Society
General manager Michael Fitchett
Head coach Michael Fitchett
OwnershipBasketball Development Nelson Trust
Championships3 (1994, 1998, 2007)
Retired numbers3 (4, 13, 14)
Website nelsongiants.basketball

The Nelson Giants are a New Zealand professional men's 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 NBS 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.

Contents

Team history

The Nelson Giants were a foundation member of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1982. The Giants made their first NBL final in 1990, where they lost to the Canterbury Rams in what was the NBL's first all-South Island final. [1] In 1994, the Giants won their maiden championship with a 67–66 win over the Rams in the final. [2] In 1996 and 1997, the Giants lost back-to-back championship series, before winning their second NBL championship in 1998 with an 81–73 win over the North Harbour Kings in the final. [3] In 2000, 2002, and 2004, the Giants were runners-up. In 2007, the Giants won their third championship with a 2–0 series win over the Hawke's Bay Hawks. [4] [5] [6] In 2009 and 2013, the Giants were runners-up.

The Trafalgar Centre was Nelson's home stadium from 1982 until being closed because of its earthquake risk in December 2013. [7] As a result, the Giants played out of Saxton Stadium in 2014 and 2015. [8] The team returned to the Trafalgar Centre in 2016 after the venue completed earthquake strengthening. [9]

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Nelson Giants roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 0 Flag of New Zealand.svg McNaught, Alex 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G 2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Adams, Cooper 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Robinson, Alex  (I)1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G 6 Flag of New Zealand.svg Williams, Coen 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
F 7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chamberlain, Kaleb 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
F 10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Dempster, Sam  (C)1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jones, Hayden 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
G/F 15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crate, Lachlan 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
F 16 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blight, Will 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
F 23 Flag of New Zealand.svg Inwood, Ashton 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
C 25 Flag of New Zealand.svg McRae, Callum 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in)
G 35 Flag of New Zealand.svg Matthews, James 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 41 Flag of New Zealand.svg Varricchio, Rico
F 42 Flag of the United States.svg Combs, Jeremy  (I)2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
F 67 Flag of New Zealand.svg Judd, Liam 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: 2 May 2025

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Retired numbers

Nelson Giants Retired Numbers
NoNat.PlayerPositionTenureCeremony date
4 Flag of Serbia.svg Flag of New Zealand.svg Nenad Vučinić SF 1989–200710 June 2017 [10]
13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Phill Jones SG 1993–201710 June 2017 [11]
14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Mika Vukona PF 2000–202021 June 2023 [12]

References

  1. ↑ Keith Mair reflects on Rams' halcyon days
  2. ↑ 1994 NBL CHAMPIONS: NELSON GIANTS
  3. ↑ 1998 NBL CHAMPIONS: NELSON GIANTS
  4. ↑ "2007 National Basketball League". Basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Charity Begins At Home". Basketball.org.nz. 29 June 2007. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007.
  6. ↑ "Book Closes In Style". Basketball.org.nz. 30 June 2007. Archived from the original on 1 September 2007.
  7. ↑ Quake fears cause closure of Trafalgar Centre
  8. ↑ A new cauldron for the Giants
  9. ↑ Nelson Giants back at Trafalgar Centre for 2016 National Basketball League
  10. ↑ Nelson Giants throw back to 1997 for final game of National Basketball League season
  11. ↑ Nelson Giants throw back to 1997 for final game of National Basketball League season
  12. ↑ Nelson Weekly – June 21, 2023
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