2005 NBL Champions: Auckland Stars

The 2005 season saw the Auckland Stars collect a record ninth NBL title which would also be their last. The Stars pipped the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in a one-point thriller, cruelly denying the Hawks a maiden NBL championship.

Teams:

10 teams contested the 2005 season (final standings): Auckland Stars, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Nelson Giants, Waikato Titans, Canterbury Rams, Taranaki Mountainairs, Harbour Heat, Wellington Saints, Manawatu Jets and Otago Nuggets.

Grand Final:

Auckland Stars (69) defeated Hawke’s Bay Hawks (68) (Referees: Alan Godden, Dallas Pickering & Gavin Whiu)

Season Award Winners:

Regular Season Winners: Auckland Stars (13-5)

Most Valuable Player: Lindsay Tait (Auckland Stars)

NZ Most Valuable Player: Lindsay Tait (Auckland Stars)

Finals MVP: Dillon Boucher (Auckland Stars)

Most Outstanding Guard (Keith Carr Trophy): Lindsay Tait (Auckland Stars)

Most Outstanding NZ Guard (John Macdonald Trophy): Lindsay Tait (Auckland Stars)

Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners Cup): Casey Frank (Auckland Stars) & Jacob Holmes (Nelson Giants)

Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre (Stan Hill Trophy): Mika Vukona (Nelson Giants)

Scoring Champion (Alan Bland Memorial Trophy): Greg Lewis (22.7) (Waikato Titans)

Rebounding Champion (Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy): David Cooper (11.7) (Manawatu Jets)

Assist Champion (Dave Taylor Trophy): Paul Henare (6.7) (Hawke’s Bay Hawks)

Best Team Free Throws (Nial Forsyth Trophy): Nelson Giants

Young Player of the Year: Jarrod Kenny (Harbour Heat)

Coach of the Year: Nenad Vucinic (Nelson Giants)

Referee of the Year: Alan Godden

Administrator of the Year: Jeremy Bayliss (Hawke’s Bay Hawks)

Media Award: Scott Preston (Waikato Times)

All-Star Five:

G: Paul Henare (Hawke’s Bay Hawks)

G: Lindsay Tait (Auckland Stars)

F: Greg Lewis (Waikato Titans)

F: Jacob Holmes (Nelson Giants)

C: Casey Frank (Auckland Stars)

Photo: www.photosport.co.nz