The Manawatu Jets are a New Zealand
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
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 Property Brokers Manawatu Jets.
Team history
The Palmerston North Jets were a foundation member of the
National Basketball League (NBL) in 1982. After finishing eighth in the eight-team competition, the Jets were relegated to the second-tiered
Conference Basketball League
The Conference Basketball League (CBL) was a second-tiered men's semi-professional basketball league in New Zealand. During the 1980s and 1990s, the CBL served as a means of promotion and relegation between the National Basketball League (NBL) ...
(CBL) in 1983. After finishing as CBL runners-up in 1984, they were promoted back into the NBL in 1985. They finished fifth in both 1985 and 1986, but after finishing tenth in the ten-team competition in 1987, the Jets were relegated to the CBL in 1988. The 1988 season saw the Jets win the CBL championship, which saw them promoted back into the NBL in 1989. The Jets were regular season winners in 1989, but despite being the top seed at the finals weekend, they were defeated 92–84 in the semifinal by the
Canterbury Rams
The Canterbury Rams are a New Zealand basketball team based in Christchurch. The Rams compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Cowles Stadium. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as The Wheeler Motor Can ...
.
In 1992, the Jets reached the NBL final, where they were defeated 79–71 by the Rams.
In 2002, the team became known as the Manawatu Jets.
In November 2015, the Jets withdrew from the NBL due to reduced funding and an unsustainable business model.
[Manawatu Jets out of 2016 basketball league]
/ref> In April 2017, the Jets lodged their application to Basketball New Zealand to compete in the 2018 NBL season. Their application was successful, and on 29 August 2017, the Jets were readmitted into the league.
In 2020, the Jets reached the NBL final for the second time in their history, where they lost 79–77 to the Otago Nuggets.
Players
Current roster
Notable past players
* / Ed Book
* / Tony Brown
* / Tyrone Brown
* / Willie Burton
Willie Ricardo Burton (born May 26, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Miami Heat in the first round (9th overall pick) in the 1990 NBA draft from the University of Minnesota. Burton played for nume ...
* David Cooper
* Brad Davidson
* Chris Hagan
* Kaine HokiangaHokianga sent off in style, Manawatu turn it on
/ref>
* / Nick Horvath
* / James Hunter
* / Marcel Jones
Marcel Jones (born September 4, 1988) is a former American football offensive tackle. He was selected in the seventh round, 234th overall, by the Saints in the 2012 NFL Draft and On July 2, 2012, Jones signed a four-year deal with the Saints. He ...
* / Luke Martin
* DeWayne McCray
* Kent Mori
* Mika Vukona
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 wa ...
* Josh Pace
* Miles Pearce
* Brendon Polyblank
* Dylan Rigdon
* Jamil Terrell
* Jeremiah Trueman
* Rob Tuilave
References
External links
Official team website
Manawatu Jets could return to NBL in 2018
{{National Basketball League (New Zealand)
Basketball teams established in 1982
Basketball teams in New Zealand
National Basketball League (New Zealand) teams
Sport in Palmerston North
1982 establishments in New Zealand