Nelson Giants

The Nelson Giants are a New Zealand 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 Mike Pero 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.

Nelson Giants
LeagueNational Basketball League
Founded1982
HistoryNelson Giants
1982–present
ArenaTrafalgar Centre
LocationNelson, New Zealand
Team coloursNavy blue & white
Main sponsorMike Pero Real Estate
PresidentBill Dahlberg
General managerJulie Bensemann
Head coachMichael Fitchett
OwnershipNenad Vučinić
Championships3 (1994, 1998, 2007)
Retired numbers2 (4, 13)
WebsiteGiants.nz

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 nationality not displayed.

Nelson Giants roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 9 Ingham, Tom 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
G/F 10 Dempster, Sam (C) 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Sam Dempster
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured
Updated: 27 January 2021

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
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