| Nelson Giants | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| League | NZNBL | ||
| Founded | 1982 | ||
| History | Nelson Giants 1982–present | ||
| Arena | Trafalgar Centre | ||
| Location | Nelson, New Zealand | ||
| Team colours | Blue & white | ||
| Main sponsor | Nelson Building Society | ||
| General manager | Michael Fitchett | ||
| Head coach | Michael Fitchett | ||
| Ownership | Basketball Development Nelson Trust | ||
| Championships | 3 (1994,1998,2007) | ||
| Retired numbers | 3 (4,13,14) | ||
| Website | nelsongiants.basketball | ||
TheNelson Giants are a New Zealand professional men'sbasketball team based inNelson. The Giants compete in theNational Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at theTrafalgar Centre. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as theNBS Nelson Giants. The Giants are the only remaining original team from the league'sinaugural season, as all other teams have spent at least one year out of the league, for various reasons.
The Nelson Giants were a foundation member of theNational Basketball League (NBL) in 1982. The Giants made their first NBL final in1990, where they lost to theCanterbury Rams in what was the NBL's first all-South Island final.[1] In 1994, the Giants won their maidenchampionship with a 67–66 win over the Rams in the final.[2] 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 theNorth Harbour Kings in the final.[3] 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 theHawke's Bay Hawks.[4][5][6] In 2009 and 2013, the Giants were runners-up.
TheTrafalgar Centre was Nelson's home stadium from 1982 until being closed because of its earthquake risk in December 2013.[7] As a result, the Giants played out of Saxton Stadium in 2014 and 2015.[8] The team returned to the Trafalgar Centre in 2016 after the venue completed earthquake strengthening.[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility atFIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
| Nelson Giants roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: 16 May 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility atFIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
| Criteria |
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To appear in this section a player must have either:
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| Nelson Giants Retired Numbers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Nat. | Player | Position | Tenure | Ceremony date |
| 4 |   | Nenad Vučinić | SF | 1989–2007 | 10 June 2017[10] |
| 13 | | Phill Jones | SG | 1993–2017 | 10 June 2017[11] |
| 14 | | Mika Vukona | PF | 2000–2020 | 21 June 2023[12] |
