Auckland Tuatara (basketball) explained

Auckland Tuatara
League:NZNBL
Founded:December 2018
History:Southern Huskies
2019
Auckland Huskies
2020–2021
Auckland Tuatara
2022–
Arena:Eventfinda Stadium
Location:Auckland, New Zealand
Colours:Teal and navy blue
Coach:Aaron Young
Owner:Regan Wood
Championships:0
Website:tuatarabasketball.com

The Auckland Tuatara are a New Zealand professional men's basketball team based in Auckland. The Tuatara compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Eventfinda Stadium. Founded in Tasmania in 2019 as the Southern Huskies, the team relocated to Auckland in 2020 and for two years were known as the Auckland Huskies. In December 2021, the team was purchased by the owners of the Auckland Tuatara baseball team.

History

In Tasmania

In 2016, sights were set on an Australian NBL franchise returning to Tasmania.[1] The Hobart Chargers of the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) wanted to be "NBL ready" in three years.[2] In 2018, plans to get the Chargers into the Australian NBL morphed into an overarching Tasmanian bid for a proposed new franchise to be called Southern Huskies led by former Hobart Devils player, Justin Hickey.[3] The Huskies bid ultimately fell through when Hickey failed to acquire the Derwent Entertainment Centre (DEC),[4] compounded with the league believing there were several hurdles and shortcomings with the bid.[5] The licence subsequently went to the South East Melbourne Phoenix for the 2019–20 season[6] and later the Tasmania JackJumpers were accepted into the Australian NBL for the 2021–22 season.[7]

In November 2018, reports began to surface that the Southern Huskies would be entering the New Zealand NBL in 2019, with the Huskies viewing the New Zealand league as a launch pad to the Australian NBL and the stronger competition more appealing than the various Australian state leagues.[8] [9] The inclusion, while an exciting one for the New Zealand league, did present a number of unprecedented challenges for the competition, with flights to Tasmania problematic for New Zealand's less financially well-off franchises, while double or triple-headers on New Zealand trips for the Huskies were a looming issue. Despite these concerns, the move had the support of the existing eight NZNBL franchises. On 5 December 2018, a five-year contract was signed between the New Zealand NBL and the Southern Huskies,[10] marking the first time in New Zealand sporting history that an overseas team had joined a New Zealand owned league.[11]

The 2019 season saw each New Zealand team visit Tasmania to play the Huskies at least once, while the Huskies played every New Zealand team in New Zealand as well, playing double-headers each time. As part of the agreement, the Huskies assisted with the cost for New Zealand teams to travel to Tasmania to play, with the NZNBL Board not wanting to increase the New Zealand teams' expenses through this move.[12] The Huskies' nine home games in 2019 were split between the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart and the Silverdome in Launceston.[13] Coached by former Australian NBL player Anthony Stewart, the inaugural squad included imports Jalen Billups and Tre Nichols alongside Harry Froling, Marcel Jones, Craig Moller and Jordan Vandenberg.[14] The Huskies concluded their first season in the NZNBL missing the post-season with a fifth-place finish and a 9–9 record.[15]

On 27 June 2019, the Huskies announced that they would rebrand as the Tasmanian Huskies for the 2020 season in order to remove any stigma of a division within the state.[16] This announcement came days after it was revealed that any new team from the state in the Australian NBL must be branded Tasmanian. However, on 9 August 2019, the Huskies withdrew from the New Zealand NBL after they claimed their relationship with Basketball Tasmania became untenable,[17] with mounting debts also cited as a factor for disbanding.[18]

NBL1

On 17 December 2018, following the Hobart Chargers' decision to not enter the new NBL1 competition, the Southern Huskies entered the Hobart Huskies into the inaugural 2019 NBL1 season with both men's and women's teams.[19] The Hobart Huskies were abolished after one season following the demise of the Southern Huskies.[20]

In Auckland

In May 2020, the Southern Huskies re-emerged and relocated permanently to Auckland, New Zealand, and became the Auckland Huskies.[21] [22] They subsequently entered the 2020 New Zealand NBL season, a competition that was revised and modified due the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] Coached by former Australian and New Zealand NBL player Kevin Braswell, the 2020 squad featured Leon Henry, Izayah Le'afa and Tohi Smith-Milner.[24] The Huskies' 2020 campaign saw them lose in the second elimination final[25] after finishing third with an 8–6 record.[26]

For the 2021 New Zealand NBL season, the Huskies played at Eventfinda Stadium.[27] The 2021 squad featured Justin Bibbs,[28] Chris Johnson, Jeremy Kendle and Tom Vodanovich.[29]

In December 2021, the owners of the Auckland Tuatara baseball team purchased the NZNBL licence from the Huskies owners and re-named the team the Auckland Tuatara.[30] Behind the likes of Chris Johnson, Robert Loe and Dontae Russo-Nance, the Tuatara finished fifth in the 2022 regular season with a 10–8 record[31] and went on to reach the NBL final for the first time in franchise history.[32] In the final, they lost 81–73 to the Otago Nuggets.[33]

In 2023, the squad was highlighted by Australian imports Cameron Gliddon and Jarrad Weeks alongside Robert Loe and Reuben Te Rangi.[34] The Tuatara finished the regular season with a league-best 13–5 record behind Loe's MVP season.[35] They went on to reach their second straight NBL final,[36] where they lost 93–82 to the Canterbury Rams.[37]

In 2024, the squad was highlighted by Corey Webster, Robert Loe, Reuben Te Rangi,[38] Cameron Gliddon and Tom Vodanovich.[39] The team reached their third straight NBL final, where they again lost to the Canterbury Rams, this time 102–87. The Tuatara became the first team in the 43-year history of the NBL to lose three straight grand finals.[40]

Current roster

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas-Wilson. Simeon. Former premier David Bartlett takes over as Hobart Chargers president. TheMercury.com.au. 20 September 2016. 5 December 2018.
  2. Web site: Smith. Adam. New look Hobart Chargers hit DEC with high hopes. TheMercury.com.au. 29 November 2016. 5 December 2018.
  3. Web site: Rowbottom. Chris. Tasmania's bid to secure a team in the NBL riding an unprecedented popularity in the game. ABC.net.au. 1 August 2018. 5 December 2018.
  4. Web site: Mallis. Ben. Southern Huskies join New Zealand NBL, sign Harry Froling. pickandroll.com.au. 5 December 2018. 5 December 2018.
  5. Web site: Rowbottom. Chris. Hurdles emerge for Southern Huskies' NBL bid, as 2019 season start looks unlikely. ABC.net.au. 8 August 2018. 5 December 2018.
  6. Web site: Anderson. Niall. Basketball: Tasmania's Southern Huskies set to join New Zealand National Basketball League. NZHerald.co.nz. 26 November 2018. 5 December 2018.
  7. Web site: Anderson. Niall. Tasmanian NBL team revealed as JackJumpers, to mixed reception from fans and players. abc.net.au. 1 October 2020. 6 December 2021.
  8. Web site: Tasmanian franchise eyeing place in New Zealand's National Basketball League. Stuff.co.nz. 27 November 2018. 5 December 2018.
  9. Web site: SOUTHERN HUSKIES SET TO COMPETE IN NZNBL. aussiehoopla.com. 28 November 2018. 10 March 2019.
  10. Web site: Anderson. Niall. Basketball: Southern Huskies confirmed to join New Zealand NBL. NZHerald.co.nz. 5 December 2018. 5 December 2018.
  11. Web site: AUSTRALIA'S SOUTHERN HUSKIES SIGNED TO JOIN SAL'S NBL IN 2019. nznbl.basketball. 5 December 2018. 5 December 2018.
  12. Web site: Australian team joins New Zealand basketball league. Stuff.co.nz. 5 December 2018. 5 December 2018.
  13. Web site: McGuane. Jarryd. Bragg joins Huskies New Zealand NBL journey. TheAdvocate.com.au. 5 December 2018. 5 December 2018.
  14. Web site: Mathieson. Andrew. Southern Huskies take big win over Taranaki Mountaineers in Harry Froling's debut. examiner.com.au. 29 June 2019. 15 May 2020.
  15. Web site: STATEMENT: SOUTHERN HUSKIES OUT OF ALL COMPETITIONS. nznbl.basketball. 9 August 2019. 9 August 2019.
  16. Web site: Smith. Adam. The Huskies will incorporate Tasmania into their official name for next year's New Zealand NBL. TheMercury.com.au. 27 June 2019. 28 June 2019. subscription.
  17. Web site: Smith. Adam. Basketball bombshell as Southern Huskies withdraw from NZNBL and NBL1. TheMercury.com.au. 9 August 2019. 9 August 2019. subscription.
  18. Web site: Kay. Oliver. Justin Nelson: The franchise whisperer. pickandroll.com.au. 30 November 2019. 5 December 2019. The Huskies were in a dispute with Basketball Tasmania and reported to have mounting debts of their own....
  19. Web site: Hobart Huskies to join Senior Elite League. BasketballVictoria.com.au. 17 December 2018. 17 December 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20181217090819/http://basketballvictoria.com.au/hobart-huskies-senior-elite-league/. 17 December 2018.
  20. Web site: Stubbs. Brett. Chargers' return to the NBL1 competition all but confirmed in new role ahead of state's NBL return. TheMercury.com.au. 1 October 2019. 2 October 2019. subscription. The rebirth of the Hobart Chargers is almost complete with the club submitting its application for entry into the NBL1 next season. The Chargers, with support from Basketball Tasmania, put in their submission on Monday....
  21. Web site: AUCKLAND HUSKIES – AUSTRALIAN OWNERS LAUNCH NEW SAL'S NBL TEAM. nznbl.basketball. 15 May 2020. 15 May 2020.
  22. Web site: Hinton. Marc. Auckland Huskies unveiled as the latest new addition to New Zealand's NBL. Stuff.co.nz. 15 May 2020. 15 May 2020.
  23. Web site: AUCKLAND TO HOST 2020 SAL'S NBL, TIPPING OFF 23 JUNE. nznbl.basketball. 19 May 2020. 19 May 2020. 19 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200519044434/https://www.nznbl.basketball/auckland-to-host-2020-sals-nbl-tipping-off-23-june/. dead.
  24. Web site: AUCKLAND HUSKIES | TEAM ROSTER. nznbl.basketball. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200625102251/https://www.nznbl.basketball/auckland-huskies-team-roster/. 25 June 2020.
  25. Web site: RAMS KEEP DREAM ALIVE BY HOLDING HUSKIES TO THEIR BARK. nznbl.basketball. 29 July 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200729140542/https://www.nznbl.basketball/rams-keep-dream-alive-by-holding-huskies-to-their-bark/. 29 July 2020.
  26. Web site: Williams. Peter. 2020 Sal's NBL Finals structure: Nuggets and Jets in prime positions. basketball.draftcentral.com.au. 27 July 2020. 30 March 2021.
  27. Web site: 2021 SAL'S NBL MEN'S SEASON SCHEDULE. nznbl.basketball. 25 February 2020. 30 March 2021.
  28. News: HUSKIES SIGN JUSTIN BIBBS TO FILL JEREMY KENDLE VOID . May 18, 2021 . nznbl.basketball . May 18, 2021.
  29. Web site: AUCKLAND HUSKIES | 2021. nznbl.basketball. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210710075514/https://men.nznbl.basketball/sky-tower-auckland-huskies-2021-team-roster/. 10 July 2021.
  30. Web site: AUCKLAND TUATARA TURNS TO HOOPS AND JOINS THE 2022 SAL'S NBL. nznbl.basketball. 6 December 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206100849/https://men.nznbl.basketball/auckland-tuatara-turns-to-hoops-and-joins-the-2022-sals-nbl/. 6 December 2021.
  31. Web site: Nelson. Justin. Taranaki Airs are tops for now but the race to NBL glory is wide open. stuff.co.nz. 9 August 2022. 10 August 2022.
  32. Web site: TUATARA WINS OVERTIME THRILLER THANKS TO LOE'S HEROICS; GRAND FINALS AWAITS. nznbl.basketball. 11 August 2022. 12 August 2022.
  33. Web site: NUGGETS DOWN TUATARA TO CLAIM 2022 SAL'S NBL TITLE. nznbl.basketball. 13 August 2022. 13 August 2022.
  34. Web site: Hinton. Marc. Auckland Tuatara prove a hit in the Kiwi NBL – now can they make it last?. stuff.co.nz. 2 April 2023. 3 April 2023.
  35. Web site: Egan. Brendon. Auckland Tuatara big man Rob Loe reigns supreme in NBL season awards. stuff.co.nz. 19 July 2023. 19 July 2023.
  36. Web site: Egan. Brendon. NBL playoffs: Jarrad Weeks stars as Tuatara ease their way into final. stuff.co.nz. 21 July 2023. 21 July 2023.
  37. Web site: Egan. Brendon. Canterbury Rams upset Tuatara to capture first NBL title in 31 years. Stuff.co.nz. 23 July 2023. 23 July 2023.
  38. Web site: Hinton. Marc. Auckland Tuatara haul in Franklin Bulls to make third straight NBL final. Stuff.co.nz. 24 July 2024. 25 July 2024.
  39. Web site: Hinton. Marc. Auckland Tuatara big movers in NBL off-season, inking Tom Vodanovich, Rob Loe. Stuff.co.nz. 12 December 2023. 25 July 2024.
  40. Web site: Egan. Brendon. National Basketball League final: Canterbury Rams too good for Auckland Tuatara. Stuff.co.nz. 28 July 2024. 28 July 2024.

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