The Nelson Giants are a New Zealand professional men's 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 NBS 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.
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.Keith Mair reflects on Rams' halcyon days In 1994, the Giants won their maiden championship with a 67–66 win over the Rams in the final.1994 NBL CHAMPIONS: NELSON GIANTS 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.1998 NBL CHAMPIONS: NELSON GIANTS 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. 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.Quake fears cause closure of Trafalgar Centre As a result, the Giants played out of Saxton Stadium in 2014 and 2015.A new cauldron for the Giants The team returned to the Trafalgar Centre in 2016 after the venue completed earthquake strengthening.Nelson Giants back at Trafalgar Centre for 2016 National Basketball League
Current roster
Notable players
/ Nenad Vučinić Phill Jones Mika Vukona Josh Pace Rod Grizzard Hunter Hale Dion Prewster Finn Delany Tony Rampton
Retired numbers Nelson Giants Retired NumbersNoPlayerPositionTenureCeremony date 4 Nenad Vučinić SF 1989–2007 10 June 2017Nelson Giants throw back to 1997 for final game of National Basketball League season 13 Phill Jones SG 1993–2017 10 June 2017Nelson Giants throw back to 1997 for final game of National Basketball League season 14 Mika Vukona PF 2000–2020 21 June 2023Nelson Weekly – June 21, 2023
References
External links Official team website
"Nelson Giants throw back to 1997 for final game of National Basketball League season" at stuff.co.nz Giants League History (February 2008) 2007 Nelson Gians team 2008 Nelson Gians team