Nelson Giants

New Zealand basketball team based in Nelson

Nelson Giants

League| NZNBL
Founded| 1982
History| Nelson Giants
1982–present
Arena| Trafalgar Centre
Location| Nelson, New Zealand
Team colours| Blue & white
Main sponsor| Nelson Building Society
General manager| Michael Fitchett
Head coach| Michael Fitchett
Ownership| Basketball Development Nelson Trust
Championships| 3 (1994, 1998, 2007)
Retired numbers| 3 (4, 13, 14)
Website| nelsongiants.basketball

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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.

## Team history

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

Nelson Giants roster

Players | Coaches
| Pos. | No. | Nat. | Name | Ht. |  |  |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

G | 0 |  | McNaught, Alex | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)  |  |  |
F | 1 |  | Combs, Jeremy (I) | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)  |  |  |
G | 2 |  | Adams, Cooper | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)  |  |  |
G | 5 |  | Robinson, Alex (I) | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)  |  |  |
G | 6 |  | Williams, Coen | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)  |  |  |
F | 7 |  | Chamberlain, Kaleb | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)  |  |  |
F | 10 |  | Dempster, Sam (C) | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)  |  |  |
F | 13 |  | Jones, Hayden | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)  |  |  |
G/F | 15 |  | Crate, Lachlan | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)  |  |  |
F | 16 |  | Blight, Will | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)  |  |  |
F | 23 |  | Inwood, Ashton | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)  |  |  |
C | 25 |  | McRae, Callum | 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in)  |  |  |
G | 35 |  | Matthews, James | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)  |  |  |
G | 41 |  | Jones, Andrew (I) | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)  |  |  |
F | 67 |  | Judd, Liam | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)  |  |  |
G |  |  | Varricchio, Rico |  |  |  |

Head coach

*   * Michael Fitchett

Assistant coach(es)

*   * Tom Gargiulo
*   * Phill Jones

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (DP) Development player
* (I) Import player
* Injured

* * *

* Roster

Updated: 16 May 2025

## Notable players

[edit]

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.

* /  Nenad Vučinić
* Phill Jones
* Mika Vukona
* Josh Pace
* Rod Grizzard
* Hunter Hale
* Dion Prewster
* Finn Delany
* Tony Rampton

### Retired numbers

[edit]

Nelson Giants Retired Numbers

No | Nat. | Player | Position | Tenure | Ceremony date
4 |  | Nenad Vučinić | SF | 1989–2007 | 10 June 2017[10]
13 |  | Phill Jones | SG | 1993–2017 | 10 June 2017[11]
14 |  | Mika Vukona | PF | 2000–2020 | 21 June 2023[12]

## References

[edit]

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

## External links

[edit]

* Official team website
* Nelson Giants on Facebook
* "Nelson Giants throw back to 1997 for final game of National Basketball League season" at stuff.co.nz
* Giants League History (February 2008)
* 2007 Nelson Gians team
* 2008 Nelson Gians team

* v
* t
* e

National Basketball League (New Zealand)

Current teams|

* Auckland Tuatara
* Canterbury Rams
* Franklin Bulls
* Hawke's Bay Hawks
* Manawatu Jets
* Nelson Giants
* Otago Nuggets
* Southland Sharks
* Taranaki Airs
* Tauranga Whai
* Wellington Saints

Former teams|

* Auckland Pirates
* Auckland Stars
* Centrals
* Christchurch Cougars
* Harbour Heat
* Hutt Valley Lakers
* Indian Panthers
* Northland Suns
* Ponsonby
* Porirua
* Super City Rangers
* Waikato Pistons
* Waitemata Dolphins

Associated|

* Conference Basketball League

Other|

* Awards
* Champions
* Players
* Current rosters

Related|

* Australian National Basketball League
* New Zealand men's national basketball team
* Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa

*[Pos.]: Position(s)
*[No.]: Jersey number
*[Nat.]: Nationality
*[Ht.]: Height
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