The 2001 season was the 20th running of the NBL. A new champion was crowned in 2001, with the newly named Waikato Titans securing their first NBL championship. Clifton Bush was a mainstay for the Titans, finishing the season as the leagues top point scorer, as the team went on a record 15-game winning streak on their way to the title.
9 teams contested the 2001 season (final standings): Waikato Titans (previously Waikato Warriors), Wellington Saints, Nelson Giants, Auckland Stars (previously Auckland Rebels), Palmerston North Jets, Canterbury Rams, North Harbour Kings, Hawke’s Bay Hawks and Otago Nuggets.
Waikato Titans (112) defeated Wellington Saints (97) (Referees: Stan Battock & Ken Coulson)
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Although the 2000 NBL season saw the return of the Hawke’s Bay Hawks, nine teams contested the league for the second consecutive year after the Taranaki Oilers withdrew from the league. The Auckland Rebels secured back-to-back titles, their seventh overall – a new league record.
9 teams contested the 2000 season (final standings): Auckland Rebels, Nelson Giants, North Harbour Kings, Waikato Warriors, Palmerston North Jets, Wellington Saints, Otago Nuggets, Canterbury Rams and Hawke’s Bay Hawks.
Auckland Rebels (95) defeated Nelson Giants (78) (Referees: Ken Coulson & Stan Battock)
Only nine teams contested the 1999 NBL season. The Northland Suns announced their decision to quit the league, whilst the Hawke’s Bay Hawks were relegated to the Conference Basketball League (CBL). The Auckland Rebels defeated the Canterbury Rams in the Grand Final, claiming a record sixth league title.
9 teams contested the 1999 season (final standings): Auckland Rebels, Canterbury Rams, North Harbour Kings, Wellington Saints, Nelson Giants, Waikato Warriors, Taranaki Oilers, Otago Nuggets and Palmerston North Jets.
Auckland Rebels (79) defeated Canterbury Rams (72) (Referees: Stan Battock & John Butler)
The 1998 season belonged to the Nelson Giants, claiming the regular season title before securing their second NBL title, defeating the North Harbour Kingsin the championship decider. The 1998 season will also be remembered for having the highest ever scoreline in the leagues history to date, the Canterbury Rams defeating the Northland Suns 179-124.
11 teams contested the 1998 season (final standings): Nelson Giants, North Harbour Kings (previously North Harbour Vikings), Canterbury Rams, Auckland Rebels, Wellington Saints, Taranaki Oilers (previously Taranaki Bears), Palmerston North Jets, Otago Nuggets, Waikato Warriors, Hawke’s Bay Hawks and Northland Suns.
Nelson Giants (81) defeated North Harbour Kings (73) (Referees: Stan Battock & Ken Coulson)
The 1997 was the 16th edition of the league and featured 11 teams, down one from the previous year, with the Wellington Saints and Hutt Valley Lakers joining forces. The Auckland Rebels secured the ’97 title and in doing so they became the first team to claim the elusive three-peat, defeating the Nelson Giants in a replay of the 1996 Finals Series.
11 teams contested the 1997 season (final standings): Auckland Rebels (previously Auckland Stars), Nelson Giants, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Otago Nuggets, North Harbour Vikings, Wellington Saints, Canterbury Rams, Northland Suns, Waikato Warriors, Palmerston North Jets and Taranaki Bears.
The 1996 season of the NBL reverted back to a 12 team league with the Waitakere Rangers dropping down into the Conference Basketball League (CBL). The Auckland Stars claimed back-to-back titles and their fourth overall as they came back to down the Nelson Giants in the Best of Three Finals Series after dropping the first match.
12 teams contested the 1996 season (final standings): Auckland Stars, Nelson Giants, North Harbour Vikings, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Wellington Saints, Hutt Valley Lakers, Otago Nuggets, Canterbury Rams, Palmerston North Jets, Taranaki Bears, Northland Suns and Waikato Warriors.
The 1995 season was expanded to include thirteen teams, the most in the leagues history. Conference Basketball League (CBL) champions Northland joined the competition. Auckland claimed their first title since 1983, defeating the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in the Grand Final.
13 teams contested the 1995 season (final standings): Auckland Stars, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Otago Nuggets, Wellington Saints, Hutt Valley Lakers, Canterbury Rams, Nelson Giants, Taranaki Bears, Palmerston North Jets, North Harbour Vikings, Waitakere Rangers, Waikato Warriors and Northland Suns.
The 1994 season saw another team claim their first NBL championship. The Nelson Giants, led by Darryl Johnson, would go on to claim the minor premiership before defeating the Canterbury Rams in another gripping all-South Island decider.
12 teams contested the 1994 season (final standings): Nelson Giants, Canterbury Rams, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Auckland Stars, Otago Nuggets, Palmerston North Jets, North Harbour Vikings, Taranaki Bears (previously New Plymouth Bears), Waikato Warriors, Wellington Saints, Hutt Valley Lakers and Waitakere Rangers.
Nelson Giants (67) defeated Canterbury Rams (66) (Referees: Stan Battock & Donnette Daly)
The Hutt Valley Lakers (renamed the Mobil Shakers for the 1993 season) secured their second NBL championship, defeating minor premiers the Canterbury Rams in the Grand Final. 1993 was also memorable for being a breakout season for future star Pero Cameron, named as NZ’s Most Valuable Player at just 19 years of age.
12 teams contested the 1993 season (final standings): Hutt Valley Lakers (Mobil Shakers), Canterbury Rams, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, New Plymouth Bears, Auckland Stars, Palmerston North Jets, Nelson Giants, Waikato Warriors, Wellington Saints, Otago Nuggets, North Harbour Vikings and Waitakere Rangers.
Hutt Valley Lakers (68) defeated Canterbury Rams (66) (Referees: Stan Battock & Keith Milligan)
1992 would see the Canterbury Rams equal the Wellington Saints record of four NBL titles. After finishing fourth in the regular season, the Rams would go on to defeat Otago and Hutt Valley before toppling the Palmerston North Jets in the decider.
12 teams contested the 1992 season (final standings): Canterbury Rams, Palmerston North Jets, New Plymouth Bears, Hutt Valley Lakers, Nelson Giants, Otago Nuggets, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Auckland Stars (previously Auckland Cannons), Waitakere Rangers, Waikato Warriors, Wellington Saints and North Harbour Vikings.
Canterbury Rams (79) defeated Palmerston North Jets (71) (Referees: Keith Milligan & Donnette Daly)
The 1991 edition of the league featured the same 12 teams as the previous year. The Hutt Valley Lakers would go on to claim their first NBL title, defeating the Wellington Saints in the Grand Final.
12 teams contested the 1991 season (final standings): Hutt Valley Lakers, Wellington Saints, New Plymouth Bulls, Otago Nuggets, Nelson Giants, Canterbury Rams, North Harbour Vikings, Waitakere Rangers, Palmerston North Jets, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Waikato Warriors and Auckland Cannons.
Hutt Valley Lakers (103) defeated Wellington Saints (92) (Referees: Keith Milligan & Stan Battock)
The 1990 season was expanded to include twelve teams, with Hutt Valley, Otago and Waitakere joining the league. Waitemata was the team to drop out of the league. The Canterbury Rams went back-to-back for the first time, defeating the Nelson Giants in the first Grand Final that featured both South Island teams.
12 teams contested the 1990 season (final standings): Canterbury Rams, Nelson Giants, Palmerston North Jets, Hutt Valley Lakers, New Plymouth Bulls, North Harbour Vikings (previously North Shore), Wellington Saints, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Waitakere Rangers, Waikato Warriors, Otago Nuggets and Auckland Cannons.
Canterbury Rams (76) defeated Nelson Giants (73) (Referees: John Burton & Robin Milligan)
The Palmerston North Jets returned to the league in 1989 after claiming the Conference Basketball League (CBL) title in 1988. They replaced Ponsonby who were relegated to the CBL after their last place finish the previous year. Led by Willie Burton and Tyrone Brown, the Jets returned with a bang, finishing as regular season winners only to fall short in the semi-finals. The Canterbury Rams would go on to claim their second NBL title, defeating Auckland in the Grand Final.
10 teams contested the 1989 season (final standings): Canterbury Rams, Auckland, Palmerston North Jets, Wellington Saints, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Waikato Warriors, New Plymouth Bulls, Nelson Giants, Waitemata and North Shore.
Canterbury Rams (91) defeated Auckland (83) (Referees: John Burton & Keith Milligan)
The only change in the 1988 season saw Waitemata return to the league after winning the Conference Basketball League (CBL) championship the previous year. The Palmerston North Jets were relegated to the CBL. The Wellington Saints claimed their second straight NBL title, their fourth in total, as they defeated North Shore in a close encounter.
10 teams contested the 1988 season (final standings):: Wellington Saints, North Shore, New Plymouth Bulls, Waikato Warriors, Canterbury Rams, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Waitemata, Auckland, Nelson Giants and Ponsonby.
Wellington Saints (81) defeated North Shore (78) (Referees: Keith Milligan & Robin Milligan)
The 1987 season served up a replay of the ’86 final with the Rams and Saints meeting for the second straight year in the championship decider. The Saints would go on to claim their third title, becoming the most successful team in the leagues short history to date.
10 teams contested the 1987 season (final standings):: Wellington Saints, Canterbury Rams, North Shore, New Plymouth Bulls, Auckland, Ponsonby, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, Waikato Warriors (previously Hamilton), Nelson Giants and Palmerston North Jets.
Wellington Saints (100) defeated Canterbury Rams (87) (Referees: Stan Battock & Keith Milligan)
The 1986 NBL season was contested by ten 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.
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 and Hawke’s Bay Hawks.
Canterbury Rams (87) defeated Wellington Saints (82) (Referees: Robin Milligan & John Burton)
In 1985 the competition expanded from eight to ten teams. 1984 Conference Basketball League (CBL) champions New Plymouth were promoted along with 1984 CBL runners-up, Palmerston North. 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!
10 teams contested the 1985 season (final standings): Wellington Saints, Auckland, Canterbury Rams, Hamilton, Palmerston North Jets, Nelson Giants, Ponsonby, New Plymouth Bulls, Centrals and Napier Sunhawks.
Wellington Saints (114) defeated Auckland (111) (Referees: Keith Milligan & John Burton)
Two new teams were promoted to the 1984 NBL season – Ponsonby and CBL champions from the previous year, Hamilton. Porirua and Waitemata, the bottom two sides from the 1983 NBL season, were relegated. In a repeat of the 1983 Grand Final, the Wellington Saints avenged their defeat to Auckland to claim their first NBL championship.
8 teams contested the 1984 season (final standings): Wellington Saints, Auckland, Hamilton, Canterbury Rams, Ponsonby, Nelson Giants, Napier Sunhawks and Centrals.
Wellington Saints (96) defeated Auckland (83) (Referees: Keith Milligan & Robin Milligan)
The 1983 season was the second year of the NBL. The two bottom teams from the 1982 season, Palmerston North and Hamilton, were relegated to the Conference Basketball League (CBL). 1982 CBL Champions Wellington, and fellow CBL team Napier were both promoted to the NBL. Auckland claimed consecutive titles, defeating Wellington in the in the Championship Final.
8 teams contested the 1983 season (final standings): Auckland, Wellington Saints, Napier Sunhawks, Waitemata, Canterbury Rams, Centrals, Nelson Giants and Porirua.
Auckland (80) defeated Wellington Saints (77) (Referees: Keith Milligan & Robin Milligan)
1982 was the inaugural season of the NBL, known then as the ‘Countrywide League’. Auckland would go on to win the the competitions first title, defeating Waitemata in the decider.
8 teams contested the 1982 season (final standings): Auckland, Waitemata, Canterbury Rams, Centrals, Nelson Giants, Porirua, Hamilton and Palmerston North Jets.
Auckland defeated Waitemata (Referees: John Burton & Keith Milligan)
