The 2003 NBL season was the 22nd season of the National Basketball League. 2003 marked the first year a league-wide MVP award winner was named, allowing imports the opportunity to be recognised; in all previous seasons, only a Kiwi MVP was named, an award given to the best New Zealand player. Australian import David Cooper of the

Manawatu Jets The Manawatu Jets are a New Zealand basketball team based in Palmerston North. The Jets compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Central Energy Trust Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Pro ...

was subsequently awarded the first league MVP. 2003 also marked the return of

Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth D ...

after a three-year hiatus. The

Wellington Saints The Wellington Saints are a New Zealand basketball team based in Wellington. The Saints compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at TSB Bank Arena. Team history The Wellington Saints were founded in 1981. In 1 ...

won the championship over the

Waikato Titans The Waikato Pistons were a New Zealand basketball team based in Hamilton. The Pistons competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) and played their home games at Hamilton Boys' High School. After sitting out the 2012 NBL season, the Pist ...

in overtime, as the Saints claimed their fifth league title.

Summary

Regular season standings

Playoff bracket

Awards

Player of the Week

Statistics leaders

''Stats as of the end of the regular season''

Regular season

* Most Valuable Player: David Cooper (Manawatu Jets) * NZ Most Valuable Player:

Dillon Boucher Dillon Matthew Boucher (born 27 December 1975) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. His 13 combined career championships is the most in ANBL/NZNBL history. Early life Growing up in Bell Block, a small township just outside ...

(Waikato Titans) * Most Outstanding Guard:

Lindsay Tait Lindsay Michael Tait (born 8 January 1982) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. Early life Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Tait moved to Auckland as a four-year-old and later attended Avondale College where he was a member o ...

(Auckland Stars) * Most Outstanding NZ Guard:

(Auckland Stars) * Most Outstanding Forward: David Cooper (Manawatu Jets) * Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre:

(Waikato Titans) * Scoring Champion: John Whorton (Canterbury Rams) * Rebounding Champion: John Whorton (Canterbury Rams) * Assist Champion: George Le'afa (Wellington Saints) * Rookie of the Year:

Adrian Majstrovich Adrian "A. J." Majstrovich (born 9 February 1980) is a New Zealand-Australian former professional basketball player. He spent the majority of his 20-year career playing in the Australian NBL, New Zealand NBL and State Basketball League (SBL) ...

(Hawke's Bay Hawks) * Coach of the Year: Mike McHugh (Wellington Saints) * All-Star Five: ** G: Paul Henare (Hawke's Bay Hawks) ** G:

(Auckland Stars) ** F:

(Waikato Titans) ** F:

Link Abrams Lincoln "Link" Abrams (born 11 July 1973) is an American-New Zealand former basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States for New Mexico Military Institute and Centenary College. He debuted in the New Zealand National Bask ...

(Taranaki Mountainairs) ** C: David Cooper (Manawatu Jets)

References

External links

2003 NBL Teams and DrawTeam stats links2003 season links
{{DEFAULTSORT:2003 New Zealand Nbl Season National Basketball League (New Zealand) seasons 2003 in New Zealand basketball