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Wellington Saints

The Wellington Saints are a New Zealand professional men's basketball team based in Wellington. The Saints compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at TSB Bank Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Mills Albert Wellington Saints.

Wellington Saints
Wellington Saints logo
LeagueNZNBL
Founded1981
HistoryWellington Saints
1983–1996
Wellington Wizards
1997–1998
Wellington Saints
1999–2019; 2021–
ArenaTSB Bank Arena
LocationWellington, New Zealand
Team coloursBlue & white
Main sponsorMills Albert
CEOJordan Mills
Head coachAaron Young
OwnershipNick Mills
Championships12 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Retired numbers1 (5)
WebsiteSaints.co.nz

Team history

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The Wellington Saints were founded in 1981. In 1982, the Exchequer Saints won the second division title, which promoted them to the first division for the 1983 season.[1][2] The Saints went on to play in six straight championship games upon joining the NBL, winning titles in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988.[3] They played in their seventh final in 1991, where they lost to the Hutt Valley Lakers.

At the end of the 1996 season, both the Saints and the Lakers were struggling to survive. They amalgamated for the 1997 season, becoming TransAlta Wellington. With fans wanting a 'real' name, for the 1998 season, they became the TransAlta Wizards. For the 1999 season, they returned to the original identity of Saints.[4][5] The Saints returned to title contenders in the 2000s, as they finished runners-up in 2001 and 2008, and won their fifth title in 2003.

The 2010s were dominated by the Saints, as they played in every championship game between 2010 and 2019, except 2013. They claimed back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011, before claiming their eighth title in 2014. With their ninth title in 2016, the Saints matched the Auckland Stars for most championships in NBL history.[6] In 2017, the Saints made NBL history by becoming the first team to complete a perfect regular season, going 18–0.[7][8] They went on to defeat the Canterbury Rams in the semi-finals before becoming the first team to complete an unbeaten season, capping off a perfect 20–0 campaign by beating the Southland Sharks 108–75 in the final. Their tenth championship set a new record for most in NBL history.[9][10] The Saints returned to the final in 2018, but missed the chance at their first three-peat with a 98–96 loss to the Sharks.[11] In 2019, the Saints completed their second undefeated regular season in three years, going 18–0,[12] before completing another perfect 20–0 campaign by defeating the Hawke's Bay Hawks 78–68 in the final to win their 11th title.[13][14][15]

The Saints sat out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16][17][18] They returned in 2021 and won their 12th championship.[19]

In November 2024, the Saints unveiled a rebranded logo and identity for the 2025 season to honour their 40-year legacy.[20]

Honour roll

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NBL Championships: 12 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Most Valuable Player: Lindsay Tait (2010, 2013), Corey Webster (2014, 2017), Torrey Craig (2015), Shea Ili, (2018), Nick Kay (2019), Dion Prewster (2021), Xavier Cooks (2022)
Kiwi MVP: Neil Stephens (1992), Lindsay Tait (2013, 2015), Corey Webster (2014, 2017), Shea Ili (2018)
All-Star Five: Kenny McFadden (1983, 1984, 1985, 1988), Darryl Johnson (1998), DeWayne McCray (1998), Terrence Lewis (1999, 2000), Mark Dickel (2002), Ben Knight (2004), Nick Horvath (2006, 2008), Michael Efevberha (2009), Lindsay Tait (2010, 2011, 2013), Eric Devendorf (2010), Corey Webster (2014, 2017), Torrey Craig (2015, 2016), Shea Ili (2017, 2018, 2019), Tai Wesley (2017), Nick Kay (2019), Dion Prewster (2021), Taane Samuel (2021), Xavier Cooks (2022)
Most Outstanding Guard: Kenny McFadden (1983, 1984), Terrence Lewis (1999), Michael Efevberha (2009), Lindsay Tait (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), Corey Webster (2014, 2017), Torrey Craig (2015), Dion Prewster (2021)
Most Outstanding Kiwi Guard: Lindsay Tait (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015), Corey Webster (2014, 2017), Shea Ili (2016, 2018, 2019), Dion Prewster (2021)
Most Outstanding Forward: Kerry Boagni (1988, 1990), Tai Wesley (2017), Nick Kay (2019), Xavier Cooks (2022)
Most Outstanding Kiwi Forward/Centre: Neil Stephens (1989, 1992), Terrence Lewis (2001), Robert Loe (2019)
Scoring Champion: Kenny McFadden (1983, 1984), Kerry Boagni (1992), Terrence Lewis (1999), Michael Efevberha (2009), Eric Devendorf (2010), Corey Webster (2017)
Assist Champion: Kenny McFadden (1985, 1987, 1991), Mark Dickel (1998), George Le'afa (2003), Lindsay Tait (2010, 2013, 2015), Jason Crowe (2012)
Rookie of the Year: Steven Adams (2011)
Coach of the Year: Mike McHugh (2003), Doug Marty (2008), Pero Cameron (2010), Kevin Braswell (2017), Zico Cornel (2021)

Current roster

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Wellington Saints roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G 1 New Zealand  Thata, Tyson 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 2 New Zealand  Le'afa, Izayah 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
F 3 New Zealand  Gold, Sam 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
F 4 United States  Benlevi, Malik (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
F 8 New Zealand  Plumtree, Troy 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
G 9 United States  Henderson, Terry (I) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
G 10 Australia  Ayre, Ben (I) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
F 11 South Sudan  Mayen, Lat (IN) 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
G 12 New Zealand  Dougall-Mita, Rangimarie 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 13 New Zealand  Harris, Hyrum 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
G/F 15 New Zealand  Prewster, Dion 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
F 18 New Zealand  Smith-Milner, Tohi (C) 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
F 22 New Zealand  Samuel, Taane 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
G 25 New Zealand  Evans, Kazlo 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
G 27 New Zealand  Pilcher, Arthur 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
F 33 New Zealand  Mckenzie, Noah
F 55 New Zealand  Lovell, Cory 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
F 99 New Zealand  Hippolite, Kawharu 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
G New Zealand  Silberstein, Dov 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
F New Zealand  Taylor, Alex 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Head coach
  • New Zealand  Zico Coronel
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured  Injured
Updated: 16 June 2024

Notable players

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CBL team

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The Saints began in the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL), winning the CBL title in 1982. In 1997, Wellington's second division team, TransAlta Wellington, finished as runners-up in the CBL.[21] In 2000, Wellington's second division CBL team was called Capital Punishment.[22][23] In 2001, the Wellington College Saints finished as CBL runners-up.[21] In 2008, the Saints' second division team won the CBL championship with a 90–84 win over the Waikato Titans in the final.[24][25][26][27]

References

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  1. ^ "Saints Legend Kenny McFadden becomes first NBL player with a retired jersey". Saints.co.nz. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
  2. ^ Hyslop, Liam (11 April 2019). "'Mr Wellington Saints' Kenny McFadden back as assistant coach". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 April 2019. Former Wellington Saints chief executive Justin Toebes, left, presents then assistant coach Kenny McFadden with the number five shirt, retired in his honour, in 2010.
  3. ^ "Who Are We". Saints.co.nz. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Locations – Exodus Saints". Wotzon.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
  5. ^ "The Saints are Back". plug.co.nz. 16 March 1999. Archived from the original on 11 October 1999.
  6. ^ SAINTS CLAIM 9TH NBL TITLE
  7. ^ Wellington Saints complete perfect National Basketball League regular season
  8. ^ Wellington Saints' NBL season won't be perfect without another championship
  9. ^ Basketball: Wellington Saints complete perfect NBL season
  10. ^ Wellington Saints complete perfect season with NBL final win over Southland Sharks
  11. ^ SHARKS CLAIM THIRD TITLE WITH GUTSY WIN OVER DEFENDING CHAMPION SAINTS
  12. ^ THIS IS WHAT 18-0 LOOKS LIKE
  13. ^ SAINTS COME FROM BEHIND TO FINISH 2019 UNDEFEATED
  14. ^ Wellington Saints claim 11th NBL title with stunning comeback win over Hawks
  15. ^ Paul Henare on undefeated champion Saints: 'Not bad for a bunch of role-players'
  16. ^ Hinton, Marc (9 May 2020). "Saints, Southland Sharks non-starters as innovative Kiwi NBL battles to achieve liftoff". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Seven teams confirmed for NBL basketball competition in June". Stuff.co.nz. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  18. ^ Rollo, Phillip (20 May 2020). "'Too high of a risk': Why the champion Saints will not compete in the make-shift NBL". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Wellington Saints continue NBL dominance with grand final win over Hawke's Bay Hawks". Stuff.co.nz. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Saints Announce New Rebrand for the 2025 Season". saints.co.nz. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  21. ^ a b "2010 Conference Basketball League" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2015.
  22. ^ "Wellington Saints". saints.co.nz. Archived from the original on 1 June 2000.
  23. ^ "Capital Punishment". saints.co.nz. Archived from the original on 24 January 2001.
  24. ^ "2008 Annual Results" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 4. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  25. ^ Meikle, Hayden (1 September 2008). "Basketball: Satisfactory placing for Penguins". odt.co.nz. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Shot at big time too early for Suns". nzherald.co.nz. 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  27. ^ "2008 Conference Basketball League Finals". basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008.
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