The 2017 NBL season was the 36th season of the
National Basketball League. For the second year in a row, the league fielded seven teams.
The regular season commenced on Thursday 16 March in
Invercargill
Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...
with the
Southland Sharks
The Southland Sharks are a New Zealand basketball team based in Invercargill. The Sharks compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Stadium Southland. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the SBS Bank So ...
hosting the
Nelson Giants
The Nelson Giants are a New Zealand basketball team based in Nelson. The Giants compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Trafalgar Centre. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Mike Pero Nelson ...
at
Stadium Southland
ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill, New Zealand is a multi-purpose venue, capable of conducting a wide range of events from large scale concerts to sporting events and exhibitions. Incorporating the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome, the stadium com ...
. The season contained 13 weeks of regular season games followed by a Final Four weekend in June at
Tauranga
Tauranga () is a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region and the fifth most populous city of New Zealand, with an urban population of , or roughly 3% of the national population. It was settled by Māori late in the 13th century, colonised by ...
's ASB BayPark Arena. The seven teams played every team on three occasions to make up an 18-game round robin season.
With an 18–0 record, 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 ...
made NBL history by becoming the first team to complete a perfect regular season. They went on to post a perfect 20–0 campaign after sweeping the Final Four and collecting their 10th NBL championship in the process.
Team information
Summary
Regular season standings
Final Four
Awards
Player of the Week
Statistics leaders
''Stats as of the end of the regular season''
Regular season
*
Most Valuable Player
In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
:
Corey Webster
Corey Jonas Webster (born March 2, 1982) is a former American football cornerback who played for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft and later won two Super Bowls with the team, both ove ...
(Wellington Saints)
*
NZ Most Valuable Player:
Corey Webster
Corey Jonas Webster (born March 2, 1982) is a former American football cornerback who played for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft and later won two Super Bowls with the team, both ove ...
(Wellington Saints)
*
Most Outstanding Guard:
Corey Webster
Corey Jonas Webster (born March 2, 1982) is a former American football cornerback who played for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft and later won two Super Bowls with the team, both ove ...
(Wellington Saints)
*
Most Outstanding NZ Guard:
Corey Webster
Corey Jonas Webster (born March 2, 1982) is a former American football cornerback who played for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft and later won two Super Bowls with the team, both ove ...
(Wellington Saints)
*
Most Outstanding Forward:
Tai Wesley
Tai William Evans Wesley (born May 13, 1986) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Utah State Aggies, where he was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2011. After begin ...
(Wellington Saints)
*
Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre:
Marcel Jones (Canterbury Rams)
*
Scoring Champion:
Corey Webster
Corey Jonas Webster (born March 2, 1982) is a former American football cornerback who played for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft and later won two Super Bowls with the team, both ove ...
(Wellington Saints)
*
Rebounding Champion: Amir Williams (Hawke's Bay Hawks)
*
Assist Champion:
Jarrod Kenny
Jarrod Daniel Kenny (born 17 September 1985) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He played many seasons in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) for the Hawke's Bay Hawks and represented the New Zealand Tall Bl ...
(Hawke's Bay Hawks)
*
Coach of the Year Many sports leagues, sportswriting associations, and other organizations confer "Coach of the Year" awards. In some sports — including baseball and association football — the award is called the "Manager of the Year" award.
Some of the ...
:
Kevin Braswell
Kevin Lavelle Braswell (born January 23, 1979) is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for Georgetown University before playing professionally in Europe and New Zealand. He currently serves as a ...
(Wellington Saints)
*
All-Star Five:
** G:
Shea Ili
Shea Ili (born 6 October 1992) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). Ili was raised in Māngere Bridge, playing his basketball at Onehunga High School and appearing for Co ...
(Wellington Saints)
** G:
Corey Webster
Corey Jonas Webster (born March 2, 1982) is a former American football cornerback who played for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft and later won two Super Bowls with the team, both ove ...
(Wellington Saints)
** F:
Mitch McCarron
Mitchell James Robert McCarron (born 30 June 1992) is an Australian professional basketball player who plays for the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL).
College career
In 2010, McCarron attended the Australian Institute of ...
(Super City Rangers)
** F:
Marcel Jones (Canterbury Rams)
** C:
Tai Wesley
Tai William Evans Wesley (born May 13, 1986) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Utah State Aggies, where he was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2011. After begin ...
(Wellington Saints)
Final Four
*
Finals MVP:
Shea Ili
Shea Ili (born 6 October 1992) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). Ili was raised in Māngere Bridge, playing his basketball at Onehunga High School and appearing for Co ...
(Wellington Saints)
References
External links
2017 fixturesReplay of 2017 grand finalOtago side to play Southland SharksTauranga in contention to host NBL final four and join league in 2018Wellington Saints tipped to go back-to-back in National Basketball LeagueNZ NBL ready for stellar seasonHow the 2017 New Zealand Basketball League is shaping upSaints and Sharks head to Grand-FinalWellington Saints perfect till the end in historic undefeated season
{{DEFAULTSORT:2017 New Zealand Nbl season
National Basketball League (New Zealand) seasons
NBL