2021 New Zealand NBL season

The 2021 NBL season was the 40th season of the National Basketball League.

2021 New Zealand NBL season
LeagueNew Zealand NBL
SportBasketball
Duration24 April – 23 July
Number of games18
Number of teams10
Regular season
  Minor premiersWellington Saints
Season MVPDion Prewster (Wellington Saints)
Top scorerHunter Hale (Nelson Giants)
Final Four
ChampionsWellington Saints
  Runners-upHawke's Bay Hawks
Grand Final MVPKerwin Roach
New Zealand NBL seasons

As a result of the modified, COVID-affected 2020 season, three of the top four teams in 2019 (Wellington Saints, Hawke's Bay Hawks and Southland Sharks) did not compete. All three teams re-entered in 2021 to increase the league's total number to 10 for the first time since 2014.[1][2]

The regular season commenced on 24 April in Dunedin with the Otago Nuggets (2020 champions) hosting the Wellington Saints (2019 champions) at the Edgar Centre. The season contained 12 weeks of regular season games followed by a two-day finals schedule in July.[2] The Saints won their 12th NBL championship in 2021 with a win over the Hawks in the grand final.

Team information

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Team City Arena Colours Head Coach Import Import
Auckland Huskies Auckland Eventfinda Stadium         Aaron Young   Justin Bibbs   Chris Johnson
Canterbury Rams Christchurch Cowles Stadium       Mick Downer   E. J. Singler   Deshon Taylor
Franklin Bulls Auckland Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre       Jamie Reddish   Zane Waterman
Hawke's Bay Hawks Napier Pettigrew Green Arena         Jacob Chance   Rhys Vague   Devondrick Walker
Manawatu Jets Palmerston North Arena Manawatu         Tim McTamney   DeAndre Daniels   Daishon Knight
Nelson Giants Nelson Trafalgar Centre       Michael Fitchett   Hunter Hale   Donte Ingram
Otago Nuggets Dunedin Edgar Centre         Brent Matehaere   Geremy McKay   Isaiah Moss
Southland Sharks Invercargill Stadium Southland         Rob Beveridge   Courtney Belger   Josh Cunningham
Taranaki Mountainairs New Plymouth TSB Stadium       Trent Adam
Wellington Saints Wellington TSB Bank Arena       Zico Coronel   Romaro Gill   Kerwin Roach

Summary

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In the final round of the regular season, due to an extreme weather event and major flooding across the top of the South Island, the games between the Manawatu Jets and Nelson Giants (Sunday 5pm) and Taranaki Mountainairs and Nelson Giants (Monday 7:30pm) were both cancelled. With the games not having an impact on the 2021 Final Four, the League advised neither clash would be rescheduled.[3]

Regular season standings

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Pos Team W L Qualification
1 Wellington Saints 16 2 Final Four
2 Hawke's Bay Hawks 13 5
3 Southland Sharks 13 5
4 Auckland Huskies 11 7
5 Canterbury Rams 9 9
6 Otago Nuggets 9 9
7 Nelson Giants 6 10
8 Franklin Bulls 5 13
9 Manawatu Jets 4 13
10 Taranaki Mountainairs 2 15
Updated to match(es) played on 17 July 2021. Source: NZNBL

Final Four

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Semi Finals Final
      
1 Wellington Saints 99
4 Auckland Huskies 73
  Wellington Saints 77
  Hawke's Bay Hawks 75
2 Hawke's Bay Hawks 98
3 Southland Sharks 91

Awards

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Statistics leaders

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Stats as of the end of the regular season[4][5][6]

Category Player Team Stat
Points per game Hunter Hale Nelson Giants 26.9
Rebounds per game Sam Timmins Otago Nuggets 13.9
Assists per game Courtney Belger Southland Sharks 5.7
Steals per game Hunter Hale Nelson Giants 2.6
Blocks per game DeAndre Daniels Manawatu Jets 2.3

Regular season

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Final Four

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References

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  1. ^ "SAL'S NBL ANNOUNCE 2021 MEN'S SEASON SCHEDULE". nznbl.basketball. 25 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "2021 SAL'S NBL MEN'S SEASON SCHEDULE". nznbl.basketball. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  3. ^ "JETS / AIRS VS GIANTS GAMES CANCELLED DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER AND FLOODING". nznbl.basketball. 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Your 2021 #SalsNBL league leaders and final regular season standings". facebook.com/NZNBL. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Statistics". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Leaders". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021.
  7. ^ "DION PREWSTER TOPS THE 2021 SAL'S NBL AWARDS". nznbl.basketball. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Saints' Dion Prewster wins MVP award as best National Basketball League player". Stuff.co.nz. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Your Sal's NBL Grand Final MVP for 2021 is..." twitter.com/nznbl. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Wellington Saints continue NBL dominance with grand final win over Hawke's Bay Hawks". Stuff.co.nz. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021. ...with grand final MVP Kerwin Roach Jnr (16 points and seven rebounds)...
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