2020 New Zealand NBL season

2020 New Zealand NBL season
LeagueNew Zealand NBL
SportBasketball
Duration23 June – 1 August
Number of games14
Number of teams7
Regular season
  Minor premiersOtago Nuggets
Season MVPTom Vodanovich (Manawatu Jets)
Top scorerDerone Raukawa (Taranaki Mountainairs)
Finals
ChampionsOtago Nuggets
  Runners-upManawatu Jets
Grand Final MVPJordan Hunt
New Zealand NBL seasons

The 2020 NBL season (officially known as the 2020 NBL Showdown[1]) was the 39th season of the National Basketball League.

The regular season was set to commence on Thursday 9 April and end on Sunday 12 July, with the finals then taking place between 16–24 July.[2][3][4] However, following the coronavirus outbreak in early to mid March 2020, the season was suspended indefinitely.[5][6] After two months of deliberation and in the wake of easing coronavirus restrictions, the league announced a revised competition format for 2020 beginning on Tuesday 23 June and ending with the grand final on Saturday 1 August.[7][8]

The 2020 season was initially set to feature eight teams following the withdrawal of the Southern Huskies and Super City Rangers[9] and the inclusion of the Franklin Bulls for the first time. However, three of the top four teams in 2019 (Wellington Saints, Hawke's Bay Hawks and Southland Sharks) decided not to enter the modified competition.[10] This left the door open for the inclusion of the Otago Nuggets, a team who were looking to re-enter the league in 2021 for the first time since 2014,[11][12][13] and the Huskies. Coinciding with the announcement of a revised 2020 competition, the Huskies franchise relocated from Tasmania to Auckland and became the Auckland Huskies.[14][15]

The 2020 season began on 23 June, with all seven teams playing up to three games per week over six weeks. The season concluded on 1 August with the Otago Nuggets defeating the Manawatu Jets in the grand final to win their maiden NBL championship.[16] All teams were based in Auckland,[7] with all games played out of The Trusts Arena.[17]

Team information

Team City origin Arena Colours Head coach
Auckland Huskies Auckland The Trusts Arena, Auckland       United States Kevin Braswell
Canterbury Rams Christchurch     Australia Mick Downer
Franklin Bulls Auckland     Australia Liam Simmons
Manawatu Jets Palmerston North       New Zealand Tim McTamney
Nelson Giants Nelson     New Zealand Michael Fitchett
Otago Nuggets Dunedin       New Zealand Brent Matehaere
Taranaki Mountainairs New Plymouth     New Zealand Doug Courtney

Summary

Regular season standings

Pos Team W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Otago Nuggets 9 5 1293 1233 +60 18 Qualifying Final
2 Manawatu Jets 8 6 1346 1305 +41 16[a]
3 Auckland Huskies 8 6 1207 1219 −12 16[a] Elimination Final 2 and 3
4 Taranaki Mountainairs 8 6 1382 1375 +7 16[a]
5 Franklin Bulls 7 7 1150 1134 +16 14
6 Nelson Giants 5 9 1171 1252 −81 10 Elimination Final 1
7 Canterbury Rams 4 10 1201 1232 −31 8
Source: New Zealand National Basketball League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head results; 3) Points difference; 4) Points scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Head-to-head results: Manawatu 4–0, Auckland 2–2, Taranaki 0–4

Finals

Tuesday 28 July

  • Elimination Final 1 – 6th vs 7th[18]

5:30 pm
Nelson Giants 89, Canterbury Rams 93
Scoring by quarter: 30–26, 17–23, 19–27, 23–17
Pts: Mike Karena 19
Rebs: Mika Vukona 16
Asts: Karena, Trathen 3 each		 Pts: Quintin Bailey 19
Rebs: Bailey, Britt 8 each
Asts: Taylor Britt 7
Canterbury advances to Elimination Final 2
  • Qualifying Final – 1st vs 2nd

7:30 pm
Otago Nuggets 105, Manawatu Jets 80
Scoring by quarter: 30–19, 23–16, 27–17, 25–28
Pts: Jordan Hunt 23
Rebs: Kane Keil 12
Asts: Jordan Ngatai 6		 Pts: Taane Samuel 17
Rebs: 3 players 6 each
Asts: Hyrum Harris 4

Wednesday 29 July

  • Elimination Final 2 – 3rd vs Winner EF1

5:30 pm
Auckland Huskies 84, Canterbury Rams 98
Scoring by quarter: 26–23, 16–13, 20–39, 22–23
Pts: Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa 39
Rebs: Bailey-Nowell, Henry 8 each
Asts: Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa 5		 Pts: Thomas Webley 21
Rebs: Toby Gillooly 12
Asts: Taylor Britt 10
Canterbury advances to Semi Final 1
  • Elimination Final 3 – 4th vs 5th

7:30 pm
Taranaki Mountainairs 99, Franklin Bulls 90
Scoring by quarter: 26–18, 22–27, 24–19, 27–26
Pts: Marcel Jones 31
Rebs: Marcel Jones 10
Asts: Raukawa, Jones 7 each		 Pts: Dominique Kelman-Poto 31
Rebs: Dominique Kelman-Poto 10
Asts: Everard Bartlett 5
Taranaki advances to Semi Final 2

Thursday 30 July

  • Semi Final 1 – Winner QF vs Lowest EF Winner

5:30 pm
Otago Nuggets 97, Canterbury Rams 79
Scoring by quarter: 29–22, 25–17, 27–18, 16–22
Pts: Jordan Hunt 33
Rebs: Jordan Hunt 11
Asts: Kenny, Ngatai 7 each		 Pts: Samuel Smith 13
Rebs: Talma, Webley 7 each
Asts: Taylor Britt 5
Otago advances to Grand Final
  • Semi Final 2 – Loser QF vs Highest EF Winner

7:30 pm
Manawatu Jets 105, Taranaki Mountainairs 95
Scoring by quarter: 34–23, 21–27, 12–20, 38–25
Pts: Tom Vodanovich 28
Rebs: Hyrum Harris 11
Asts: Hyrum Harris 7		 Pts: Derone Raukawa 32
Rebs: Marcel Jones 12
Asts: Marcel Jones 6
Manawatu advances to Grand Final

Saturday 1 August

  • Grand Final – Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2

7:30 pm
Otago Nuggets 79, Manawatu Jets 77
Scoring by quarter: 15–17, 22–24, 15–14, 27–22
Pts: Jordan Hunt 21
Rebs: 3 players 7 each
Asts: Jarrod Kenny 8		 Pts: Tom Vodanovich 24
Rebs: Hyrum Harris 12
Asts: Harris, Samuel 4 each
Otago wins NBL championship

Awards

Statistics leaders

Stats as of the end of the regular season[19]

Category Player Team Stat
Points per game Derone Raukawa Taranaki Mountainairs 22.8
Rebounds per game Marcel Jones Taranaki Mountainairs 13.4
Assists per game Derone Raukawa Taranaki Mountainairs 7.6
Steals per game Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa Auckland Huskies 2.7
Blocks per game Sam Timmins Franklin Bulls 1.9

Regular season

Finals

References

  1. ^ "2020 SEASON TO BE KNOWN AS SAL'S NBL SHOWDOWN". nznbl.basketball. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. ^ "FINALS TO BE PLAYED ON HOME COURT IN 2020". nznbl.basketball. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  3. ^ "SAL'S NBL SEASON 2020 SCHEDULE RELEASED". nznbl.basketball. 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  4. ^ "SAL'S NBL SET 2020 GRAND FINAL DATE". nznbl.basketball. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Coronavirus: NZ NBL considers options ahead of planned season start". Stuff. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  6. ^ "SAL'S NBL MEN POSTPONE 2020 SEASON, NOW LOOKING AT A MODIFIED COMPETITION TO COMMENCE IN MAY OR JUNE". nznbl.basketball. 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b "AUCKLAND TO HOST 2020 SAL'S NBL, TIPPING OFF 23 JUNE". nznbl.basketball. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  8. ^ "SAL'S NBL 2020 FIXTURE ANNOUNCED". nznbl.basketball. 21 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  9. ^ "NBL ALIGNS GROWTH STRATEGY WITH RECENT CHANGES". nznbl.basketball. 14 August 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  10. ^ "@BasketballNZ GM Justin Nelson has confirmed the..." twitter.com/newstalkzbsport. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  11. ^ Seconi, Adrian (16 May 2020). "Nuggets could return soon to rejigged national league". odt.co.nz. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Seven teams confirmed for NBL basketball competition in June". Stuff. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  13. ^ Hinton, Marc (10 June 2020). "Otago Nuggets to pick first as Kiwi NBL gets the ball rolling with historic draft". Stuff. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  14. ^ Hinton, Marc (15 May 2020). "Auckland Huskies unveiled as the latest new addition to New Zealand's NBL". Stuff. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  15. ^ "AUCKLAND HUSKIES – AUSTRALIAN OWNERS LAUNCH NEW SAL'S NBL TEAM". nznbl.basketball. 15 May 2020. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b "NUGGETS STRIKE GOLD IN SAL'S NBL SHOWDOWN". nznbl.basketball. 1 August 2020. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  17. ^ "2020 SAL'S NBL WILL BE PLAYED AT THE TRUSTS ARENA IN AUCKLAND". nznbl.basketball. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  18. ^ "HOW DO THE SAL'S NBL SHOWDOWN FINALS WORK". nznbl.basketball. 23 July 2020. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Stats Leaders". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  20. ^ "TOM VODANOVICH WINS SKYCITY MVP AT SAL'S NBL AWARDS DINNER". nznbl.basketball. 26 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  21. ^ "SEASON AWARDS – WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?". nznbl.basketball. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.