Posted on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021
40 Years Of Flashbacks: 1985 & 1986
The 2021 Sal's NBL season is the League's 40th year, a milestone that will be celebrated by all, but one that has only been made possible due to the enormous passion by so many across four decades.
Each Friday we Flashback to past seasons - this week we look back at 1985 and 1986!
1985 NBL CHAMPIONS: WELLINGTON SAINTS
In 1985 the competition expanded from 8 to 10 teams. 1984 Conference Basketball League (CBL) champions New Plymouth were promoted along with 1984 CBL runners-up, Palmerston North.
In the Final, Wellington Saints and Auckland faced off against each other for the third consecutive year and in one of the more memorable Grand Finals, after being sent into overtime, the game was decided with a Kenny McFadden three-point buzzer beater to give Wellington back-to-back titles!
Teams:
10 teams contested the 1985 season (final standings):
- Wellington Saints
- Auckland
- Canterbury Rams
- Hamilton
- Palmerston North Jets
- Nelson Giants
- Ponsonby
- New Plymouth Bulls
- Centrals
- Napier Sunhawks
Grand Final:
Wellington Saints (114) defeated Auckland (111) (Referees: Keith Milligan & John Burton)
Season Award Winners:
- Most Outstanding Guard (Keith Carr Trophy): Tyrone Brown (Palmerston North Jets)
- Most Outstanding NZ Guard (John Macdonald Trophy): Tony Smith (Hamilton)
- Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners Cup): Ronnie Joyner (Ponsonby)
- Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre (Stan Hill Trophy): Stan Hill (Auckland)
- Scoring Champion (Alan Bland Memorial Trophy): Ronnie Joyner (52.65) (Ponsonby)
- Rebounding Champion (Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy): Willie Burton (16.17) (Palmerston North Jets)
- Assist Champion (Dave Taylor Trophy): Kenny McFaddden (Wellington Saints)
- Regular Season Winners: Auckland
- Best Team Free Throws (Nial Forsyth Trophy): Palmerston North Jets
All-Star Five:
- Tyrone Brown (Palmerston North Jets)
- Willie Burton (Palmerston North Jets)
- Stan Hill (Auckland)
- Ronnie Joyner (Ponsonby)
- Kenny McFadden (Wellington Saints)
40 Years of Flashbacks - presented by 
www.lde.co.nz
1986 NBL CHAMPIONS: CANTERBURY RAMS
The 1986 NBL season was contested by 10 teams for the second straight year. The only team change saw Centrals replaced by 1985 Conference Basketball League (CBL) champions North Shore. In another change the Napier Sunhawks renamed themselves the Hawke’s Bay Hawks. The Wellington Saints would go on to contest their fourth consecutive Grand Final, this time against the Canterbury Rams. The Rams prevailed in a hard-fought encounter to claim their first NBL title.
Teams:
10 teams contested the 1986 season (final standings):
- Canterbury Rams
- Wellington Saints
- Ponsonby
- New Plymouth Bulls
- Palmerston North Jets
- North Shore
- Nelson Giants
- Auckland
- Hamilton
- Hawke’s Bay Hawks
Grand Final:
Canterbury Rams (87) defeated Wellington Saints (82) (Referees: Robin Milligan & John Burton)
Season Award Winners:
- Most Outstanding Guard (Keith Carr Trophy): Clyde Huntley (Canterbury Rams)
- Most Outstanding NZ Guard (John Macdonald Trophy): John Rademakers (Canterbury Rams)
- Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners Cup): Frank Smith (Nelson Giants)
- Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre (Stan Hill Trophy): John Saker (Wellington Saints)
- Scoring Champion (Alan Bland Memorial Trophy): Ronnie Joyner (44.89) (Ponsonby)
- Rebounding Champion (Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy): Frank Smith (14.78) (Nelson Giants)
- Assist Champion (Dave Taylor Trophy): Tony Webster (North Shore)
- Regular Season Winners: Canterbury Rams (16-2)
- Best Team Free Throws (Nial Forsyth Trophy): Wellington Saints
- Young Player of the Year: Tony Compain (Ponsonby)
All-Star Five:
- Clyde Huntley (Canterbury Rams)
- Ollie Johnson (Wellington Saints)
- Ronnie Joyner (Ponsonby)
- Frank Smith (Nelson Giants)
- Tony Webster (North Shore)
40 Years of Flashbacks - presented by
www.lde.co.nz
