At the end of the 1996 season, both the Saints and the Lakers were struggling to survive. They amalgamated for the 1997 season, becoming TransAlta Wellington. With fans wanting a 'real' name, for the 1998 season, they became the TransAlta Wizards. For the 1999 season, they returned to the original identity of Saints.[4][5] The Saints returned to title contenders in the 2000s, as they finished runners-up in 2001 and 2008, and won their fifth title in 2003.
The 2010s were dominated by the Saints, as they played in every championship game between 2010 and 2019, except 2013. They claimed back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011, before claiming their eighth title in 2014. With their ninth title in 2016, the Saints matched the Auckland Stars for most championships in NBL history.[6] In 2017, the Saints made NBL history by becoming the first team to complete a perfect regular season, going 18–0.[7][8] They went on to defeat the Canterbury Rams in the semi-finals before becoming the first team to complete an unbeaten season, capping off a perfect 20–0 campaign by beating the Southland Sharks 108–75 in the final. Their tenth championship set a new record for most in NBL history.[9][10] The Saints returned to the final in 2018, but missed the chance at their first three-peat with a 98–96 loss to the Sharks.[11] In 2019, the Saints completed their second undefeated regular season in three years, going 18–0,[12] before completing another perfect 20–0 campaign by defeating the Hawke's Bay Hawks 78–68 in the final to win their 11th title.[13][14][15]
The Saints began in the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL), winning the CBL title in 1982. In 1997, Wellington's second division team finished as runners-up in the CBL, and in 2001, the Wellington College Saints finished as CBL runners-up.[20] In 2008, the Saints' second division team won the CBL championship with a 90–84 win over the Waikato Titans in the final.[21][22][23]
References
^. Saints.co.nz. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
^Hyslop, Liam (11 April 2019). "'Mr Wellington Saints' Kenny McFadden back as assistant coach". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 April 2019. Former Wellington Saints chief executive Justin Toebes, left, presents then assistant coach Kenny McFadden with the number five shirt, retired in his honour, in 2010.
^. Saints.co.nz. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013.
^. Wotzon.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013.
^. plug.co.nz. 16 March 1999. Archived from the original on 11 October 1999.
^SAINTS COME FROM BEHIND TO FINISH 2019 UNDEFEATED
^Wellington Saints claim 11th NBL title with stunning comeback win over Hawks
^Paul Henare on undefeated champion Saints: 'Not bad for a bunch of role-players'
^Hinton, Marc (9 May 2020). "Saints, Southland Sharks non-starters as innovative Kiwi NBL battles to achieve liftoff". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
^"Seven teams confirmed for NBL basketball competition in June". Stuff.co.nz. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
^Rollo, Phillip (20 May 2020). "'Too high of a risk': Why the champion Saints will not compete in the make-shift NBL". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
^"Wellington Saints continue NBL dominance with grand final win over Hawke's Bay Hawks". Stuff.co.nz. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
^(PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2015.
^"2008 Annual Results" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 4. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
^Meikle, Hayden (1 September 2008). "Basketball: Satisfactory placing for Penguins". odt.co.nz. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
^"Shot at big time too early for Suns". nzherald.co.nz. 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
Wellington Saints chairman Justin Toebes to miss last NBL finals
Wellington Saints captain Damien Ekenasio looking for perfect end to 15-year NBL career
Wellington Saints CEO Nick Mills contemplating going out on a high after 10th title
Is the ABL Expanding Further East to the Pacific?
Wellington Saints eye move to ASEAN Basketball League
May 04, 2023
wellington, saints, zealand, basketball, team, based, wellington, saints, compete, national, basketball, league, play, their, home, games, bank, arena, leaguenznblfounded1981history1983, 1996wellington, wizards1997, 19981999, 2019, 2021, arenatsb, bank, arenal. 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 Wellington SaintsLeagueNZNBLFounded1981HistoryWellington Saints1983 1996Wellington Wizards1997 1998Wellington Saints1999 2019 2021 ArenaTSB Bank ArenaLocationWellington New ZealandTeam coloursBlue amp whiteCEOJordan MillsPresidentNick MillsHead coachTroy McLeanOwnershipNick MillsChampionships12 1984 1985 1987 1988 2003 2010 2011 2014 2016 2017 2019 2021 Retired numbers1 5 WebsiteSaints co nzHomeAway Contents 1 Team history 2 Current roster 3 CBL team 4 References 5 External linksTeam history EditThe Wellington Saints were founded in 1981 In 1982 the Exchequer Saints won the second division title which promoted them to the first division for the 1983 season 1 2 The Saints went on to play in six straight championship games upon joining the NBL winning titles in 1984 1985 1987 and 1988 3 They played in their seventh final in 1991 where they lost to the Hutt Valley Lakers At the end of the 1996 season both the Saints and the Lakers were struggling to survive They amalgamated for the 1997 season becoming TransAlta Wellington With fans wanting a real name for the 1998 season they became the TransAlta Wizards For the 1999 season they returned to the original identity of Saints 4 5 The Saints returned to title contenders in the 2000s as they finished runners up in 2001 and 2008 and won their fifth title in 2003 The 2010s were dominated by the Saints as they played in every championship game between 2010 and 2019 except 2013 They claimed back to back championships in 2010 and 2011 before claiming their eighth title in 2014 With their ninth title in 2016 the Saints matched the Auckland Stars for most championships in NBL history 6 In 2017 the Saints made NBL history by becoming the first team to complete a perfect regular season going 18 0 7 8 They went on to defeat the Canterbury Rams in the semi finals before becoming the first team to complete an unbeaten season capping off a perfect 20 0 campaign by beating the Southland Sharks 108 75 in the final Their tenth championship set a new record for most in NBL history 9 10 The Saints returned to the final in 2018 but missed the chance at their first three peat with a 98 96 loss to the Sharks 11 In 2019 the Saints completed their second undefeated regular season in three years going 18 0 12 before completing another perfect 20 0 campaign by defeating the Hawke s Bay Hawks 78 68 in the final to win their 11th title 13 14 15 The Saints sat out the 2020 season due to the COVID 19 pandemic 16 17 18 They returned in 2021 and won their 12th championship 19 Current roster EditNote Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events Players may hold other non FIBA nationality not displayed Wellington Saints rosterPlayers CoachesPos No Nat Name Ht F 1 Mucius Isaiah I 2 03 m 6 ft 8 in F 2 Samuel Taane 2 00 m 6 ft 7 in G 4 Adnam Kyle I 1 86 m 6 ft 1 in G 7 Wineera Mulvihill Francis 1 92 m 6 ft 4 in G 8 Le afa Izayah 1 88 m 6 ft 2 in G 12 Dougall Mita Rangimarie 1 91 m 6 ft 3 in F 13 Salmon Nathaniel 1 98 m 6 ft 6 in G 14 Taylor Marlon I 1 96 m 6 ft 5 in F 15 Vodanovich Tom 2 01 m 6 ft 7 in F 16 Smith Milner Tohi C 2 05 m 6 ft 9 in F 20 Tuffin Kenneth 1 94 m 6 ft 4 in F 25 Ingwood Ashton 1 91 m 6 ft 3 in F 31 Heke Tyrael CageF 99 Hippolite KawharuG Berg McLean Carter Head coach Troy McLeanAssistant coach es Miles Pearce Jayden SmithLegend C Team captain DP Development player IN Inactive I Import player Injured Roster Updated 29 April 2023CBL team EditThe Saints began in the second tiered Conference Basketball League CBL winning the CBL title in 1982 In 1997 Wellington s second division team finished as runners up in the CBL and in 2001 the Wellington College Saints finished as CBL runners up 20 In 2008 the Saints second division team won the CBL championship with a 90 84 win over the Waikato Titans in the final 21 22 23 References Edit Saints Legend Kenny McFadden becomes first NBL player with a retired jersey Saints co nz Archived from the original on 9 February 2013 Hyslop Liam 11 April 2019 Mr Wellington Saints Kenny McFadden back as assistant coach Stuff co nz Retrieved 11 April 2019 Former Wellington Saints chief executive Justin Toebes left presents then assistant coach Kenny McFadden with the number five shirt retired in his honour in 2010 Who Are We Saints co nz Archived from the original on 22 June 2013 Locations Exodus Saints Wotzon com Archived from the original on 9 February 2013 The Saints are Back plug co nz 16 March 1999 Archived from the original on 11 October 1999 SAINTS CLAIM 9TH NBL TITLE Wellington Saints complete perfect National Basketball League regular season Wellington Saints NBL season won t be perfect without another championship Basketball Wellington Saints complete perfect NBL season Wellington Saints complete perfect season with NBL final win over Southland Sharks SHARKS CLAIM THIRD TITLE WITH GUTSY WIN OVER DEFENDING CHAMPION SAINTS THIS IS WHAT 18 0 LOOKS LIKE SAINTS COME FROM BEHIND TO FINISH 2019 UNDEFEATED Wellington Saints claim 11th NBL title with stunning comeback win over Hawks Paul Henare on undefeated champion Saints Not bad for a bunch of role players Hinton Marc 9 May 2020 Saints Southland Sharks non starters as innovative Kiwi NBL battles to achieve liftoff Stuff co nz Retrieved 19 May 2020 Seven teams confirmed for NBL basketball competition in June Stuff co nz 19 May 2020 Retrieved 19 May 2020 Rollo Phillip 20 May 2020 Too high of a risk Why the champion Saints will not compete in the make shift NBL Stuff co nz Retrieved 20 May 2020 Wellington Saints continue NBL dominance with grand final win over Hawke s Bay Hawks Stuff co nz 23 July 2021 Retrieved 23 July 2021 2010 Conference Basketball League PDF Basketball org nz p 4 5 Archived from the original PDF on 26 January 2015 2008 Annual Results PDF Basketball org nz p 4 Retrieved 16 June 2015 Meikle Hayden 1 September 2008 Basketball Satisfactory placing for Penguins odt co nz Retrieved 16 July 2019 Shot at big time too early for Suns nzherald co nz 2008 Retrieved 16 July 2019 External links EditOfficial team website Wellington Saints on Facebook Wellington Saints chairman Justin Toebes to miss last NBL finals Wellington Saints captain Damien Ekenasio looking for perfect end to 15 year NBL career Wellington Saints CEO Nick Mills contemplating going out on a high after 10th title Is the ABL Expanding Further East to the Pacific Wellington Saints eye move to ASEAN Basketball League Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wellington Saints amp oldid 1152275850, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
