Mika Vukona Explained

Mika Vukona
Position:Power forward
Height Cm:197
Weight Kg:103
Nationality:New Zealand
Birth Date:1982 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Suva, Fiji
High School:
Career Start:2000
Career End:2021
Coach Start:2021
Years1:2000–2002
Team1:Nelson Giants
Years2:2003
Team2:Manawatu Jets
Years3:2003–2008
Team3:New Zealand Breakers
Years4:2004–2007
Team4:Nelson Giants
Years5:2008
Team5:Harbour Heat
Years6:2008–2009
Team6:South Dragons
Years7:2009–2010
Team7:Gold Coast Blaze
Years8:2010–2015
Team8:Nelson Giants
Years9:2010–2018
Team9:New Zealand Breakers
Years10:2014
Team10:Byblos
Years11:2015
Team11:Virtus Roma
Years12:2016
Team12:Super City Rangers
Years13:2018–2020
Team13:Nelson Giants
Years14:2018–2020
Team14:Brisbane Bullets
Years15:2020–2021
Team15:Southern Districts Spartans
Cyears1:2021
Cteam1:Southern Districts Spartans (asst.)
Highlights:

Mika John Vukona (born 13 May 1982) is a Fijian-born New Zealand former professional basketball player. Between 2003 and 2018, he spent 13 seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL and helped them win four championships. He was also a regular with the Nelson Giants in the New Zealand NBL and was a long-time New Zealand Tall Black.

Early life

Vukona was born in Suva, Fiji.[1] He was adopted by his birth mother's brother, a Fijian named Clem.[2] Clem and his wife, a New Zealander named Marion, moved their family to New Zealand in 1987 following the Fiji coup.[3] They settled down in the coastal city of Tauranga, Marion's hometown.

Vukona attended Bethlehem College in Tauranga for both primary and secondary school. He played rugby until third form at Bethlehem College, when his anti-rugby mother forced him to stop. He subsequently followed his brother's footsteps and took up basketball.[4] He went on to become a member of the national under 16, 18 and 20 sides.[5] Basketball took him to Nelson in his final school year after earning a scholarship to go to Nelson College.

Playing career

Australian NBL

Vukona made his debut in the Australian NBL as a development player during the New Zealand Breakers' inaugural season in 2003–04. He was elevated from a development player to a full-time contracted player for the 2005–06 season.[6] He played five seasons for the Breakers before joining the South Dragons in 2008.[7] He won a championship with the Dragons in 2008–09. After the Dragons collapsed, Vukona joined the Gold Coast Blaze for the 2009–10 season.[8]

In 2010, Vukona made a return to the Breakers,[9] [10] and over the next five seasons, he helped the team win four championships, including three straight between 2010–11 and 2012–13. The 2015–16 season saw the Breakers play in a fifth grand final in six years, where they lost to the Perth Wildcats. In November 2017, Vukona played his 400th NBL game.[11] [12] After eight seasons with the Breakers, Vukona joined the Brisbane Bullets in 2018.[13] Vukona ended the 2018–19 season on 449 games after tearing his Achilles in game one of the Bullets' semi-final series against the Wildcats and thus missing game two.[14] His contract with the Bullets ended at the end of the 2019–20 season.[15]

New Zealand NBL, QSL/NBL1, Lebanon and Italy

Vukona made his New Zealand NBL debut in 2000. He played for the Nelson Giants between 2000 and 2002 before playing for the Manawatu Jets in 2003. He then played for the Giants between 2004 and 2007 before playing for the Harbour Heat in 2008. He played for the Giants between 2010 and 2015, then with the Super City Rangers in 2016, and then again with the Giants in 2018, 2019 and 2020.[16]

In April 2014, Vukona ventured outside New Zealand or Australia for the first time, joining Lebanese team Byblos.[17] Twelve months later, he moved to Italy to play for Virtus Roma.[18] [19] [20]

In 2020, Vukona played for the Southern Districts Spartans of the Queensland State League (QSL).[21] In 2021, he served as an assistant coach for the Spartans in the NBL1 North[22] and joined the playing squad midway through the season.[23] [24]

In June 2023, Vukona's number 14 jersey was retired by the Nelson Giants.[25] [26]

National team

Vukona debuted for the Tall Blacks in 2005.[27] [28] He retired from international duties in February 2021 after 152 games for the Tall Blacks.[29] [30]

Executive career

Tasmania JackJumpers

In March 2021, Vukona joined the Tasmania JackJumpers' basketball programme as a consultant.[31] He was elevated to a full time capacity as general manager of basketball operations on 31 October 2023.[32]

Franklin Bulls

Vukona served as general manager of the Franklin Bulls during the 2023 New Zealand NBL season.[33] [34] [35]

Personal life

Vukona and his wife Vanessa have two children.[36] Vukona holds a Fijian passport.[37]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rattue. Chris. My life in sport: Mika Vukona. The New Zealand Herald. 19 March 2009. 20 February 2019.
  2. Web site: Wilson. Caley. Mika puts his hard hat on and goes to work. e-tangata.co.nz. 17 December 2014. 20 February 2019.
  3. Web site: White. Peter. Mika Vukona returns home to play. The New Zealand Herald. 29 July 2017. 20 February 2019.
  4. Web site: Take 40: Mika Vukona. NBL.com.au. 27 February 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140306195713/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1uam4tkukivgx18kgyyrryrij8. 6 March 2014.
  5. Web site: Meet Mika Vukona - Lantern Insurance Ambassador. blueheat.co.nz. 13 November 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150114005954/http://blueheat.co.nz/Home/Article/3. 14 January 2015.
  6. Web site: NZ Breakers add duo to NBL list. racingandsports.com.au. 10 June 2005. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221101330/https://www.racingandsports.com.au/en/sports-basketball/nz-breakers-add-duo-to-nbl-list-story-64527. 21 February 2014.
  7. News: Howell. Stephen. South Dragons snare Smith and Vukona. The Age. 15 April 2008. 24 November 2014.
  8. Web site: Blaze secure Vukona. abc.net.au. 10 June 2009. 20 February 2019.
  9. http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/3576780/Vukona-heading-back-to-Breakers Vukona heading back to Breakers
  10. http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/3892732/Giants-score-with-Vukona-signing Giants score with Vukona signing
  11. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/98790814/fire-still-burns-bright-for-ultimate-warrior-mika-vukona-as-breakers-leader-chalks-up-game-no-400 Fire still burns bright for 'ultimate warrior' Mika Vukona as Breakers leader chalks up game No 400
  12. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/98810591/breakers-make-it-eight-straight-with-win-over-defending-champion-perth-wildcats Breakers make it eight straight with win over defending champion Perth Wildcats
  13. http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/41547-brisbane-continue-recruitment-with-mika-vukona-signing Brisbane Continue Recruitment with Mika Vukona Signing
  14. Web site: White, Cotton, Kay Fire Wildcats into Grand Final. NBL.com.au. 2 March 2019. 2 March 2019.
  15. Web site: Hinton. Marc. 'Addicted' to hoops: Tall Blacks veteran Mika Vukona commits to Kiwi NBL. stuff.co.nz. 30 May 2020. 14 January 2022.
  16. Web site: GIANTS TOO GOOD FOR WRETCHED RAMS. nznbl.basketball. 18 July 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200718122421/https://www.nznbl.basketball/giants-too-good-for-wretched-rams/. 18 July 2020.
  17. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/9974172/Vukona-leaves-Giants-for-Lebanon-deal/ Vukona leaves Giants for Lebanon deal
  18. http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/159011/virtus-roma-announces-mika-vukona.html Virtus Roma announces Mika Vukona
  19. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/67871573/mika-vukona-takes-shortterm-option-to-play-in-italy Mika Vukona takes short-term option to play in Italy
  20. http://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-newspapers/central-north-island/sport/sport-region-6459/68551029/Mika-Vukona-on-fast-track-back-to-Nelson-Giants Mika Vukona on fast track back to Nelson Giants
  21. Web site: QSL Men's Division One – Round One Preview. basketballqld.com.au. 7 August 2020. 7 September 2020.
  22. Web site: Game Day Program Round Two. brisbanebasketball.com.au. 22 May 2021. 11 August 2021.
  23. Web site: Mika Vukona. nbl1.com.au. 11 August 2021.
  24. Web site: Parham breaking new ground as Spartans' NBL1 Men's coach. nbl1.com.au. 11 August 2021. 11 August 2021. ...with NBL legend Mika Vukona also featuring both on the sidelines and on the court..
  25. Web site: Woods. Dan. NBL Legend to Be Honoured. NBL.com.au. 16 June 2023. 16 June 2023.
  26. Web site: Mika Vukona's No. 14 is raised to the rafters in Nelson!. twitter.com/nznbl. 16 June 2023. 16 June 2023.
  27. https://web.archive.org/web/20060824052316/http://www.basketball.org.nz/index.cgi?sID=43&intArticleID=2022&det=1 Mika Vukona – Basketball New Zealand
  28. https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/54099/sid/4508/tid/337/tid2//_/2008_FIBA_Olympic_Qualifying_Tournament_for_Men/index.html Mika Vukona – FIBA
  29. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/124312605/mika-vukona-retires-after-winning-152nd-cap-in-tall-blacks-loss-to-australia Mika Vukona retires after winning 152nd cap in Tall Blacks loss to Australia
  30. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/124373692/vukonas-value-measured-by-former-nelson-teammate Vukona's value measured by former Nelson teammate
  31. Web site: Mika Vukona Joins the March. NBL.com.au. 30 March 2021. 30 March 2021.
  32. Web site: Former NBL stars Smith and Vukona join JackJumpers in new roles. jackjumpers.com.au. 31 October 2023. 31 October 2023.
  33. Web site: New GM of Basketball ready to take on 2023 SalsNBL challenge. bullsbasketball.nz. 14 November 2022. 18 November 2022.
  34. Web site: YOUR 2023 FRANKLIN BULLS. bullsbasketball.nz. 27 November 2023.
  35. Web site: STRAIGHT SHOT: TIME FOR THE BULLS TO SETTLE IN FOR A LONGER RIDE. nznbl.basketball. 19 March 2024. 20 March 2024. General Manager of Basketball, the great Mika Vukona, also left the building after just one season (2023)..
  36. http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/63854736/Veteran-Vukona-stays-glued-to-Giants-cause/ Veteran Vukona stays glued to Giants' cause
  37. https://www.theweekendsun.co.nz/news/2650-a-favourite-son-mika-vukona.html A favourite son Mika Vukona

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