Taranaki Airs

Last updated

Taranaki Airs
Taranaki Mountainairs logo.jpg
League NZNBL
Founded1981
HistoryNew Plymouth Bulls
1985–1991
New Plymouth Bears
1992–1993
Taranaki Bears
1994–1997
Taranaki Oilers
1998–1999
Taranaki Mountainairs
2003–2007
Taranaki Dynamos
2008–2009
Taranaki Mountainairs
2010–2021
Taranaki Airs
2022–present
Arena TSB Stadium
Location New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Team coloursYellow & black
Main sponsorSteelformers
PresidentLaine Hopkinson
General managerCole Brown
Head coach Sam Mackinnon
OwnershipMedia8 Sports
Championships0
Website taranakiairs.basketball

The Taranaki Airs are a New Zealand basketball team based in New Plymouth. The Airs compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at TSB Stadium. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Steelformers Airs.

Contents

Team history

A New Plymouth team played in the inaugural season of the Conference Basketball League (CBL) in 1981 and earned runners-up honours. The team went on to finish as runners-up in the CBL Northern Conference in 1983, before winning the CBL championship in 1984. [1]

The team was promoted to the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1985 season. [2] The team was originally known as the Bulls. [3] The team became known as the New Plymouth Bears in 1992, [4] the same year they were crowned regular season winners for the first time. [2] The team was rebranded as Taranaki in 1994 and then became the Oilers in 1998. [4] Following the 1999 season, the franchise withdrew from the NBL. [5]

In 2001, a Taranaki team known as the Stormers were the winners of the CBL Central Conference. [6] The following year, the Stormers were once again winners of the CBL Central Conference, [7] earning an 18–0 season record before going on to win the CBL championship with an 85–81 victory over the Kaikoura Whale Riders in the final led by point guard Willie Banks and import forward Link Abrams. [8] [9]

In 2003, Taranaki returned to the NBL as the Mountainairs. [10] [11] In 2009 and 2015, the team had winless seasons. In 2016, they won eight games for the first time since 2008. [12] The Mountainairs subsequently won just 10 of 54 games between 2017 and 2019. [13]

In September 2019, it was revealed that the team had significant debt that could cause them to withdraw from the 2020 NBL season. [14] [15] The following month, naming rights partner Steelformers stepped in to save the team from collapse. [16]

In December 2021, the team name was changed from Mountainairs to Airs. [17] In 2022, the Airs finished on top of the regular-season standings with a 12–6 record to be crowned minor premiers for just the second time in franchise history and first since 1992. [18] [19] [20]

In September 2023, the team was acquired by Media8 Sports, an Australian sports media company. [21] [22]

Current roster

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

Taranaki Airs roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Cameron, Flynn 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
F 5 Flag of the United States.svg Minnie, Elijah  (I)2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
F 7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Carr, Jakob
G 9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Adam, Zavier 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
G 10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg McCarron, Mitch  (I & C)1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Cameron, Tobias 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
G 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Davison, Carlin 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
F/C 13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Froling, Sam  (I)2.13 m (7 ft 0 in)
G/F 21 Flag of New Zealand.svg Trott, Morgan 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
G/F 23 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hill, Nico 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 29 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hoeta, Geordie
F 32 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bailey, Quintin 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
G 45 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bertinshaw, Dane
G 88 Flag of New Zealand.svg Raukawa, Derone 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Andrew Green
  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Aled Jones
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: 14 April 2024

Related Research Articles

<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.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawke's Bay Hawks</span> Basketball team in Napier, New Zealand

The Hawke's Bay Hawks are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Napier. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Pettigrew Green Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Taylor Hawks.

Tony Rampton is a New Zealand former professional basketball player.

The Hutt Valley Lakers were a New Zealand basketball team based in Hutt Valley, Wellington. The Lakers competed in the National Basketball League (NBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super City Rangers</span> Basketball team in Auckland, New Zealand

The Super City Rangers were a New Zealand basketball team based in Auckland. The Rangers competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) and played their home games across multiple venues in Auckland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcel Jones (basketball)</span> American/New Zealand basketball player

Marcel Xavier Jones is an American-New Zealand professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers between 2004 and 2008 before embarking on a professional career that spanned across the globe, from Europe and the Middle East, to his adoptive home of New Zealand. Since 2009, Jones has had consistent yearly stints in the New Zealand NBL, largely due to gaining New Zealand citizenship in 2012. He also played consistently in the Persian Gulf region between 2017 and 2022.

<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 Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. 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.

The Northland Suns were a New Zealand basketball team based in Whangarei. The Suns competed in the National Basketball League (NBL).

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

The 2016 NBL season was the 35th season of the National Basketball League. The league's team total dropped to an all-time low for the 2016 season, with the departure of the Manawatu Jets leaving the competition with seven teams.

Lincoln "Link" Abrams is an American-New Zealand former basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States for New Mexico Military Institute and Centenary College. He debuted in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NBL) in 2003 and played his final NBL season in 2013, playing his entire career with the Taranaki Mountainairs.

Ethan Rusbatch is a New Zealand basketball player for the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He began his New Zealand NBL career in 2012 with the Southland Sharks after spending one season in the United States playing college basketball for Lincoln Trail College. After playing for the Taranaki Mountainairs in 2013, he spent the next four seasons with the Canterbury Rams. He joined the Hawke's Bay Hawks in 2018 and won the NZNBL's Most Improved Player in 2019. He also played two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL.

<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.

Jordan Ngatai is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Pyrintö of the Finnish Korisliiga. He is also contracted with the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played six seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL and is a regular New Zealand Tall Black. In the New Zealand NBL, he is a four-time champion.

<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.

Aaron Bailey-Nowell is a New Zealand former basketball player. He debuted in the National Basketball League (NBL) in 2002 with the Wellington Saints and won a championship with them the following year. He played for the Taranaki Airs for the first time in 2004, his first of four stints. He played two seasons for the Manawatu Jets from 2006 and a season with the Auckland Huskies in 2020. In 2013, he helped the NZ Maori team win the FIBA Oceania Pacific Championship while earning the tournament's most valuable player award. He represented New Zealand at FIBA 3x3 tournaments in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

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.

References

  1. ↑ "2010 Conference Basketball League" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 "2015 Bartercard National Basketball League Handbook" (PDF). nz.basketball. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  3. ↑ "REMEMBERING COACH MCKEAN". nz.basketball. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Taranaki Mountainairs". Australiabasket.com. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  5. ↑ "Basketball: Celebrations muted by off-court tension". nzherald.co.nz. 1999. Retrieved 14 August 2019. The 2000 league will be missing the Taranaki Oilers, who quit on financial grounds this month...
  6. ↑ "2001 Conference Basketball League". Basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "2002 Conference Basketball League". Basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Bird, Tony (18 April 2008). "Abrams set to chalk up century". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 12 July 2019. Abrams led the Stormers to a perfect 18-0 season and the Conference Basketball League title in 2002...
  9. ↑ "Taranaki Take Out CBL Title". bbnz.org.nz. 25 August 2002. Archived from the original on 12 October 2002.
  10. ↑ "2002 National Basketball League". Basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "2003 National Basketball League". Basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012.
  12. ↑ Reive, Christopher (26 May 2016). "Taranaki Mountain Airs look to finish NBL season strong". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  13. ↑ Egan, Brendon (3 July 2022). "Taranaki Airs becoming the feel-good story of NBL after brilliant weekend wins". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  14. ↑ Hanne, Ilona (26 September 2019). "Future of Taranaki's Mountain Airs basketball team is up in the air". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  15. ↑ Harvey, Helen (30 September 2019). "Mountainairs need help to get them on court in 2020". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  16. ↑ "SPONSOR HELPS MOUNTAINAIRS TO RISE UP". nznbl.basketball. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "OFFICIAL NAME CHANGE". facebook.com/TaranakiBasketball. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "GAME RECAP: AIRS CLAIM NO. 1 SPOT WITH WIN OVER GIANTS". nznbl.basketball. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  19. ↑ Hill, Elijah (5 August 2022). "Giant leap takes Taranaki Airs to the top after 30 years". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  20. ↑ Harvey, Helen (15 August 2022). "Taranaki Airs 2022 season one to remember even without fairytale ending". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  21. ↑ "MEDIA8 SPORTS TO ACQUIRE TARANAKI AIRS". nznbl.basketball. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  22. ↑ McLean, Glenn (21 September 2023). "Taranaki Airs NBL side sold to Australian media company". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
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.