OceanaGold Nuggets
| OceanaGold Nuggets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| OceanaGold Nuggets logo | |||
| Leagues | NBL | ||
| Founded | 1990 | ||
| History | 1990–2008, 2010–2014 | ||
| Arena | The Edgar Centre | ||
| Location | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | ||
| Team colors | Navy Blue, Gold | ||
| Main sponsor | OceanaGold | ||
| Championships | 0 | ||
| Website | OceanaGoldNuggets.co.nz | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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The OceanaGold Nuggets, formerly the Otago Nuggets, were a New Zealand professional basketball team that played in the National Basketball League (NBL). They played their home games at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
The Nuggets franchise has not seen much success since their inception in 1990,[1] having made the NBL playoffs just four times and has pulled out the 2009 and 2015 NBL seasons, both due to financial constraints.[2]
Contents
History
2006 season
After a series of eight losses, the Nuggets managed a convincing 19 point win over the Harbour Heat. In Rounds 8 and 9, they had consecutive wins against two top of the table teams, but this was not enough to move them off the bottom of the table as they finished the season 3-15. At the season's end, Shaun Tilby was named Rookie of the Year and Miles Pearce was named the rebounding champion.[3]
2007 season
Despite signing Australian NBL import Justin Bailey for the season, the disappointment of 2006 continued in 2007 as the Nuggets finished the season with just two wins and 16 losses.
2008 season
Despite hiring American head coach Don Simms for 2008,[4] the Nuggets had another unsuccessful season, finishing with 2-16 for the second straight year. Two players, Nat Connell and Steve Robinson, were suspended mid-season for breaching the league's drug protocols.[5]
2009 season
Due to lack of funds, the Nuggets pulled out of the 2009 season.
2010 season
After backing from OceanaGold Corporation, who are a significant Pacific Rim gold producer who have a large mine at Macraes north of Dunedin, the newly named OceanaGold Nuggets returned in 2010. Basketball Otago appointed Alf Arlidge as head coach of the Nuggets for the 2010 season. Arlidge had been coaching at club level in the region for the 20 years.[6] However, just like their seasons prior to folding, the Nuggets were dismal in their first year back, going winless on the season.
2011 season
On 21 May 2011, the Nuggets defeated the Manawatu Jets 74-67 to end the team's 33-game losing streak in the NBL. The Nuggets' last win before this game was also against the Jets, on 12 April 2008.[7] It was again a very average season as they finished on the bottom of the ladder for the sixth straight season, winning just two games.
2012 season
The Nuggets showed signs of life in 2012 with imports Antoine Tisby and Akeem Wright, as they finished seventh on the ladder with six wins and ten losses, recording the team's best season since 2003.[8]
2013 season
In what was a turning point year for the team in 2012, the Nuggets went on to establish themselves as one of the teams to beat in 2013 as they won their first eight games of the season before finishing the season second on the ladder with a 12-4 record. The Nuggets thus made the playoffs for the first time since 1997 with the help of B. J. Anthony, Antoine Tisby, Akeem Wright, Brendon Polyblank and Mark Dickel. The Nuggets faced the Nelson Giants in the semi-finals but they lost 72-87, as the Giants moved on to face the Southland Sharks in the grand final. During the season, 15-year-old centre Sam Timmins became the youngest player to debut for the club since Mark Dickel did so in 1993 as a 16-year-old.[9]
2014 season
After losing B. J. Anthony during the off-season to the Wellington Saints, the Nuggets took a huge step back in 2014 as they missed the playoffs with a record of 7-11. Despite Mark Dickel leading them as player/coach, the Nuggets never got going as they had mid-season import changes, bringing in Brandon Bowdry for Troy Payne, and injury problems with Marques Whippy's season-ending Achilles injury following the first game of the season.[10]
2015 season
Shortly after Mark Dickel and Marques Whippy departed the club, the Nuggets announced their decision to pull out of the 2015 season on 11 November 2014 due to financial reasons.[11]
Last roster
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References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Basketball: Nuggets 'right to pull pin'
- ↑ 2006 | Basketball New Zealand
- ↑ NZL - Otago still searching for Nuggets
- ↑ Basketball: Nuggets pair get six-week sanctions
- ↑ Basketball: New Nuggets coach welcomes challenge of NBL return
- ↑ Otago Nuggets break 33-game losing streak
- ↑ Otago Nuggets the new golden boys of NBL
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Basketball: Achilles injury puts Whippy out for season
- ↑ Nuggets pull out of NBL
External links
- Official website
- Team profile at Australiabasket.com
