Deutschland Demografie

New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL)
Most recent season or competition:
2024 New Zealand NBL season
SportBasketball
Founded1981
First season1982
General ManagerMaree Taylor
No. of teams11
CountriesNew Zealand
ContinentFIBA Oceania (Oceania)
Most recent
champion(s)
Canterbury Rams (6th title)
Most titlesWellington Saints (12 titles)
TV partner(s)Sky Sport
Level on pyramid1
Official websiteNZNBL.Basketball

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

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 TuataraAucklandAuckland RegionEventfinda Stadium4,179  2019Vacant
Canterbury RamsChristchurchCanterburyCowles Stadium2,300[9]  1982New Zealand Judd Flavell
Franklin BullsPukekoheAuckland RegionFranklin Pool and Leisure Centre1,100  2020Germany Sebastian Gleim
Hawke's Bay HawksNapierHawke's BayPettigrew Green Arena2,500   1983Australia Sam Gruggen
Manawatu JetsPalmerston NorthManawatū-WhanganuiCentral Energy Trust Arena2,000   1982New Zealand Natu Taufale
Nelson GiantsNelsonNelsonTrafalgar Centre2,460  1982New Zealand Michael Fitchett
Otago NuggetsDunedinOtagoEdgar Centre2,880   1990New Zealand Brent Matehaere
Southland SharksInvercargillSouthlandStadium Southland4,019   2010Australia Guy Molloy
Taranaki AirsNew PlymouthTaranakiTSB Stadium4,560  1985Australia Sam Mackinnon
Tauranga WhaiTaurangaBay of PlentyMercury Baypark   2024New Zealand Matt Lacey
Wellington SaintsWellingtonWellington RegionTSB Bank Arena4,002  1983New Zealand Aaron Young

Expansion teams

TeamCityRegionArenaCapacityColoursDebutHead Coach
Queenstown Yeti[10][11]QueenstownOtagoTBDTBDTBDTBD

Former and defunct teams

League eligibility rules

There are two categories of players in the NZNBL:

  • Non-Restricted Player – players eligible to play for New Zealand in FIBA competitions
  • Restricted Player – a player who is not eligible to play for New Zealand[15][16]

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 Saints128201984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 20211983, 1986, 1991, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2018
Auckland Stars94131982, 1983, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 20051984, 1985, 1989, 2006
Canterbury Rams64101986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023, 20241987, 1993, 1994, 1999
Waikato Pistons4262001, 2002, 2008, 20092003, 2010
Nelson Giants38111994, 1998, 20071990, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2013
Southland Sharks3142013, 2015, 20182017
Hutt Valley Lakers2021991, 1993
Otago Nuggets2022020, 2022
Hawke's Bay Hawks17820061995, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2019, 2021
Auckland Pirates1012012
Auckland Tuatara0332022, 2023, 2024
Harbour Heat0221988, 1998
Manawatu Jets0221992, 2020
Waitemata Dolphins0111982
Super City Rangers0112016

Awards

Current
Past

See also

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. ^ a b 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