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
