Auckland Tuatara (basketball)

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Auckland Tuatara
Auckland Tuatara logo
LeagueNational Basketball League
FoundedDecember 2018
HistorySouthern Huskies
2019
Auckland Huskies
2020–2021
Auckland Tuatara
2022–
ArenaEventfinda Stadium
LocationAuckland, New Zealand
Team coloursTeal and navy blue    
CEORegan Wood
Head coachAaron Young
OwnershipAuckland Tuatara baseball
Championships0
Websitetuatarabasketball.com

The Auckland Tuatara are a semi-professional basketball team based in Auckland, New Zealand. 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 Auckland Tuatara baseball team.

History[]

Huskies brand[]

Tasmania[]

Australian NBL hopes[]

In 2016, sights were set on an Australian NBL franchise returning to Tasmania,[1] with the state having no representation in the national league since the demise of the Hobart Devils in 1996. The Hobart Chargers of the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) wanted to be "NBL ready" in three years.[2] By 2018, basketball was considered on the rise in Tasmania, with the popularity of the sport hitting peak interest for the first time since the 1990s.[3] In mid-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.[3] The bid and its NBA-style branding was well received upon being unveiled, with born-and-bred Tasmanian, and former Devils player, Justin Hickey deciding to back the team financially as franchise owner. At the crux of his proposal was the Derwent Entertainment Centre (DEC), having made an unsolicited bid to buy the arena and renovate it.[3] The Huskies bid ultimately fell through when Hickey failed to acquire the DEC,[4] compounded with the league believing there were several hurdles and shortcomings with the bid.[5] As a result, the Australian NBL licence for the 2019–20 season instead went to the South East Melbourne Phoenix.[6] In 2020, a new entity the Tasmania JackJumpers were accepted into the Australian NBL for the 2021–22 season.[7]

New Zealand NBL[]

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.[6][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.[6] Despite these concerns, NZNBL chairman Iain Potter said the move had the support of the existing eight franchises.[8]

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 they crossed the Tasman. 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.[4][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.[16] 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 withdraw from the Victorian-managed NBL1, an affiliate program known as the Hobart Huskies was entered into the NBL1 by the Southern Huskies organisation.[19] In conjunction with the Southern Huskies withdrawing from the New Zealand NBL on 9 August 2019, the organisation also abolished their Hobart Huskies NBL1 teams after one season.[17]

Auckland[]

In May 2020, the Southern Huskies reemerged and relocated permanently to Auckland, New Zealand, and became the Auckland Huskies.[20][21] They subsequently entered the 2020 New Zealand NBL season, a competition that was revised and modified due the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] Coached by former Australian and New Zealand NBL player Kevin Braswell, the 2020 squad featured Leon Henry and Tohi Smith-Milner.[23] The Huskies' 2020 campaign saw them lose in the second elimination final[24] after finishing third with an 8–6 record.[25]

For the 2021 New Zealand NBL season, the Huskies were based out of Eventfinda Stadium.[26] The 2021 squad featured Justin Bibbs,[27] Chris Johnson, Jeremy Kendle and Tom Vodanovich.[28]

Tuatara brand[]

In December 2021, the Auckland Tuatara baseball team purchased the NZNBL licence from the Huskies owners and re-branded the team as the Tuatara.[29]

Current roster[]

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Auckland Tuatara roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G 3 New Zealand 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
F/C 14 New Zealand 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
G 22 New Zealand 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
G 24 New Zealand 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
G New Zealand 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
F/C New Zealand Loe, Robert 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in)
Head coach
  • New Zealand Aaron Young
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 1 March 2022

References[]

  1. ^ Thomas-Wilson, Simeon (20 September 2016). "Former premier David Bartlett takes over as Hobart Chargers president". TheMercury.com.au. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  2. ^ Smith, Adam (29 November 2016). "New look Hobart Chargers hit DEC with high hopes". TheMercury.com.au. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Rowbottom, Chris (1 August 2018). "Tasmania's bid to secure a team in the NBL riding an unprecedented popularity in the game". ABC.net.au. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b Mallis, Ben (5 December 2018). "Southern Huskies join New Zealand NBL, sign Harry Froling". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  5. ^ Rowbottom, Chris (8 August 2018). "Hurdles emerge for Southern Huskies' NBL bid, as 2019 season start looks unlikely". ABC.net.au. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Anderson, Niall (26 November 2018). "Basketball: Tasmania's Southern Huskies set to join New Zealand National Basketball League". NZHerald.co.nz. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  7. ^ Anderson, Niall (1 October 2020). "Tasmanian NBL team revealed as JackJumpers, to mixed reception from fans and players". abc.net.au. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Tasmanian franchise eyeing place in New Zealand's National Basketball League". Stuff.co.nz. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  9. ^ "SOUTHERN HUSKIES SET TO COMPETE IN NZNBL". aussiehoopla.com. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  10. ^ Anderson, Niall (5 December 2018). "Basketball: Southern Huskies confirmed to join New Zealand NBL". NZHerald.co.nz. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  11. ^ "AUSTRALIA'S SOUTHERN HUSKIES SIGNED TO JOIN SAL'S NBL IN 2019". nznbl.basketball. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Australian team joins New Zealand basketball league". Stuff.co.nz. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  13. ^ McGuane, Jarryd (5 December 2018). "Bragg joins Huskies New Zealand NBL journey". TheAdvocate.com.au. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  14. ^ Mathieson, Andrew (29 June 2019). "Southern Huskies take big win over Taranaki Mountaineers in Harry Froling's debut". examiner.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  15. ^ "STATEMENT: SOUTHERN HUSKIES OUT OF ALL COMPETITIONS". nznbl.basketball. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  16. ^ a b Smith, Adam (27 June 2019). "The Huskies will incorporate Tasmania into their official name for next year's New Zealand NBL". TheMercury.com.au. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  17. ^ a b Smith, Adam (9 August 2019). "Basketball bombshell as Southern Huskies withdraw from NZNBL and NBL1". TheMercury.com.au. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  18. ^ Kay, Oliver (30 November 2019). "Justin Nelson: The franchise whisperer". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 5 December 2019. The Huskies were in a dispute with Basketball Tasmania and reported to have mounting debts of their own...
  19. ^ "Hobart Huskies to join Senior Elite League". BasketballVictoria.com.au. 17 December 2018. Archived from the original on 17 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  20. ^ "AUCKLAND HUSKIES – AUSTRALIAN OWNERS LAUNCH NEW SAL'S NBL TEAM". nznbl.basketball. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  21. ^ Hinton, Marc (15 May 2020). "Auckland Huskies unveiled as the latest new addition to New Zealand's NBL". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  22. ^ "AUCKLAND TO HOST 2020 SAL'S NBL, TIPPING OFF 23 JUNE". nznbl.basketball. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  23. ^ "AUCKLAND HUSKIES | TEAM ROSTER". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020.
  24. ^ "RAMS KEEP DREAM ALIVE BY HOLDING HUSKIES TO THEIR BARK". nznbl.basketball. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020.
  25. ^ Williams, Peter (27 July 2020). "2020 Sal's NBL Finals structure: Nuggets and Jets in prime positions". basketball.draftcentral.com.au. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  26. ^ "2021 SAL'S NBL MEN'S SEASON SCHEDULE". nznbl.basketball. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  27. ^ "HUSKIES SIGN JUSTIN BIBBS TO FILL JEREMY KENDLE VOID". nznbl.basketball. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  28. ^ "AUCKLAND HUSKIES | 2021". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021.
  29. ^ "AUCKLAND TUATARA TURNS TO HOOPS AND JOINS THE 2022 SAL'S NBL". nznbl.basketball. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.

External links[]

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