Otago Nuggets

{{Infobox basketball club

| name = Otago Nuggets

| logo = Otago Nuggets logo.jpg

| leagues = NZNBL

| founded = 1990

| folded =

| history = Otago Nuggets
1990–2008; 2010–2014; 2020–present

| arena = Edgar Centre

| location = Dunedin, Otago,
New Zealand

| colors = Navy blue, sky blue, gold

| sponsor = Night 'n Day

| gm = Angela Ruske

| coach = Mike Kelly

| manager =

| ownership = Sports Entertainment Network New Zealand

| championships = 2 (2020, 2022)

| website = [https://www.otagonuggets.com/ OtagoNuggets.com]

| h_body =

| h_pattern_b =

| h_shorts =

| h_pattern_s =

| a_body =

| a_pattern_b =

| a_shorts =

| a_pattern_s =

}}

The Otago Nuggets are a New Zealand professional men's basketball team based in Dunedin. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at the Edgar Centre. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Night 'n Day Otago Nuggets.

Team history

The Nuggets entered the National Basketball League (NBL) for the first time in 1990. After finishing in the top six in five of their first eight seasons, and making the semi-finals three times in that span,{{cite web|last=Woodcock|first=Fred|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/8704223/Otago-Nuggets-the-new-golden-boys-of-NBL|title=Otago Nuggets the new golden boys of NBL|work=Stuff |date=23 May 2013|access-date=6 February 2016}} the Nuggets finished in the bottom four in their next 14 seasons, including being perennial wooden spooners.{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/Portals/26/2015%20Bartercard%20National%20Basketball%20League%20Handbook.pdf|title=2015 Bartercard National Basketball League Handbook|work=basketball.org.nz|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909105526/http://www.basketball.org.nz/Portals/26/2015%20Bartercard%20National%20Basketball%20League%20Handbook.pdf|archive-date=9 September 2015}} Following a tumultuous 2008 season, where the Nuggets collected their fourth consecutive wooden spoon and had mass player turnover throughout the year,{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/basketball-otago-nuggets-season-review|title=Basketball: Otago Nuggets' season in review|work=Otago Daily Times |date=11 June 2008|access-date=23 November 2019}} Basketball Otago withdrew the Nuggets from the 2009 season, citing financial concerns.{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/260676/basketball-money-makes-nuggets-go-round|title=Basketball: Money makes the Nuggets go round|work=Otago Daily Times |date=12 June 2013|access-date=6 February 2016}} They returned to the league in 2010{{cite web|url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/basketball-otago-announces-new-corporate-partnership-otago-nuggets-2010-season/5/27360|title=Basketball Otago Announces New Corporate Partnership For Otago Nuggets 2010 Season|work=Voxy.co.nz|date=15 October 2009|access-date=6 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/gold-nuggets/|title=GOLD NUGGETS|work=basketball.org.nz|date=16 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029065121/http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/gold-nuggets/|archive-date=29 October 2009|access-date=12 November 2022}} and subsequently finished with a winless record (0–18), becoming just the third team in NBL history to finish a season without a win (joining the 1998 Northland Suns and the 2009 Taranaki Mountainairs).{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/108364/basketball-nuggets-closing-unwanted-record|title=Basketball: Nuggets closing on unwanted record|work=Otago Daily Times |date=31 May 2010|access-date=6 February 2016}} The Nuggets also had a 33-game losing streak that spanned April 2008 to May 2011.{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/161528/first-win-otago|title=Otago Nuggets break 33-game losing streak|work=Otago Daily Times |date=21 May 2011|access-date=6 February 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Preston|first1=Scott|last2=Anderson|first2=Ian|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/5037199/Otago-Nuggets-end-33-game-NBL-losing-streak|title=Otago Nuggets end 33-game NBL losing streak|work=Stuff |date=21 May 2011|access-date=6 February 2016}}

In 2013, the Nuggets made it to the post-season for the first time since 1997. They finished the regular season in second place with a 12–4 record,{{cite web|url=http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?a=LADDER&compID=261128&c=11-8336-0-447731-0|title=Ladder for 2013 Bartercard National Basketball League|work=SportsTG.com|access-date=12 July 2019}} before losing 87–72 to the Nelson Giants in the semifinal.{{cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/basketball-nuggets-fall-giants-semifinal|title=Basketball: Nuggets fall to Giants in semifinal|work=Otago Daily Times |date=13 July 2013|access-date=12 July 2019}}{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/basketball-dickel-we-didnt-play-well-enough|title=Basketball: Dickel - We didn't play well enough|work=Otago Daily Times |date=15 July 2013|access-date=12 July 2019}} In 2014, the Nuggets missed the finals with a 7–11 record.

In November 2014, Basketball Otago withdrew the Nuggets from the NBL for a second time.{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/322962/nuggets-pull-out-nbl|title=Nuggets pull out of NBL|work=Otago Daily Times |date=11 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111003134/http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/322962/nuggets-pull-out-nbl|archive-date=11 November 2014}}{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/322932/basketball-nuggets-right-pull-pin|title=Basketball: Nuggets 'right to pull pin'|work=Otago Daily Times |date=11 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111011447/http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/322932/basketball-nuggets-right-pull-pin|archive-date=11 November 2014}} In September 2015, Basketball Otago announced their decision to keep the Nuggets out of the NBL in 2016, looking instead to bringing them back in 2017.{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/356419/basketball-otago-nuggets-targeting-nbl-comeback-2017|title=Basketball: Otago Nuggets targeting NBL comeback in 2017|work=Otago Daily Times |date=19 September 2015|access-date=6 February 2016}} However, in September 2016, they opted not to apply for a position in the 2017 competition.{{cite web | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/basketball/news/article.cfm?c_id=21&objectid=11714970|title=Basketball: Otago Nuggets taking cautious approach to NBL return|work=The New Zealand Herald |date=22 September 2016|access-date=22 September 2016}}{{cite web|last=Cheshire|first=Jeff|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/softly-softly-rebuilding-nuggets|title=Softly, softly in rebuilding the Nuggets|work=Otago Daily Times |date=22 September 2016|access-date=22 September 2016}} In February 2018, plans to resurrect the Nuggets were further put on hold.{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/plans-resurrect-otago-nuggets-put-backburner|title=Plans to resurrect Otago Nuggets put on the backburner|work=Otago Daily Times |date=14 February 2018|access-date=2 May 2019}}

In April 2019, Basketball Otago were granted approval to make an NBL bid for the 2020 season.{{cite web|last=Cheshire|first=Jeff|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/otago-wins-approval-make-nbl-bid|title=Otago wins approval to make NBL bid|work=Otago Daily Times |date=27 April 2019|access-date=2 May 2019}} The Nuggets were granted provisional entry back into the NBL in July 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.nznbl.basketball/otago-nuggets-set-for-return-to-the-nbl/|title=OTAGO NUGGETS SET FOR RETURN TO THE NBL|work=nznbl.basketball|date=4 July 2019|access-date=4 July 2019}} but the following month, their formal entry was deferred to the 2021 season, with both the league and the organisation feeling an additional 12 months would help the team to better lay the foundations needed for success.{{cite web|url=https://www.nznbl.basketball/otago-nuggets-target-2021-for-nbl-return/|title=OTAGO NUGGETS TARGET 2021 FOR NBL RETURN|work=nznbl.basketball|date=7 August 2019|access-date=7 August 2019}} However, in May 2020, the Nuggets formally returned to the league in a 2020 competition that was revised and modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|last=Seconi|first=Adrian|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/nuggets-could-return-soon-rejigged-national-league|title=Nuggets could return soon to rejigged national league|work=odt.co.nz|date=16 May 2020|access-date=19 May 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nznbl.basketball/auckland-to-host-2020-sals-nbl-tipping-off-23-june/|title=AUCKLAND TO HOST 2020 SAL'S NBL, TIPPING OFF 23 JUNE|work=nznbl.basketball|date=19 May 2020|access-date=19 May 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/121555880/seven-teams-confirmed-for-nbl-basketball-competition-in-june|title=Seven teams confirmed for NBL basketball competition in June|work=Stuff |date=19 May 2020|access-date=19 May 2020}}

The Nuggets had a successful return to the NBL in 2020 as they finished the regular season in first place with a 9–5 record behind Coach of the Year winner Brent Matehaere.{{cite web|url=https://www.nznbl.basketball/tom-vodanovich-wins-skycity-mvp-at-sals-nbl-awards-dinner/|title=TOM VODANOVICH WINS SKYCITY MVP AT SAL'S NBL AWARDS DINNER|work=nznbl.basketball|date=26 July 2020|access-date=26 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/122253218/manawatu-jets-standout-tom-vodanovich-named-nbl-showdown-mvp|title=Manawatu Jets' standout Tom Vodanovich named NBL Showdown MVP|work=Stuff |date=26 July 2020|access-date=26 July 2020}} They went on to reach their first ever NBL final behind the likes of Jordan Hunt, Jarrod Kenny and Jordan Ngatai,{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300070415/sals-nbl-showdown-otago-nuggets-golden-run-continues-manawatu-jets-also-into-final|title=Sal's NBL Showdown: Otago Nuggets' golden run continues; Manawatu Jets also into final|work=Stuff |date=30 July 2020|access-date=30 July 2020}}{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300070752/sals-nbl-showdown-secret-behind-otago-nuggets-golden-run--bats-banter-and-brotherhood|title=Sal's NBL Showdown: Secret behind Otago Nuggets' golden run — Bats, banter and brotherhood|work=Stuff |date=31 July 2020|access-date=31 July 2020}} where they defeated the Manawatu Jets 79–77 to win their maiden NBL championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.nznbl.basketball/nuggets-strike-gold-in-sals-nbl-showdown/|title=NUGGETS STRIKE GOLD IN SAL'S NBL SHOWDOWN|work=nznbl.basketball|date=1 August 2020|access-date=1 August 2020}}{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300071896/sals-nbl-showdown-otago-nuggets-grab-first-title-as-they-shade-manawatu-jets-in-thriller|title=Sal's NBL Showdown: Otago Nuggets grab first title as they shade Manawatu Jets in thriller|work=Stuff |date=1 August 2020|access-date=1 August 2020}}{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300072104/sals-nbl-showdown-otagos-golden-nuggets-hope-historic-title-can-launch-bright-new-era|title=Sal's NBL Showdown: Otago's golden Nuggets hope historic title can launch bright new era|work=Stuff |date=2 August 2020|access-date=2 August 2020}}

In November 2021, the Nuggets were purchased by Sports Entertainment Network New Zealand (SENZ), a subsidiary of Australia's Sports Entertainment Group (SEG).{{cite web|url=https://men.nznbl.basketball/sports-entertainment-network-secures-otago-nuggets/|title=SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK SECURES OTAGO NUGGETS|work=nznbl.basketball|date=8 November 2021|access-date=8 November 2021}}

In 2022, the Nuggets finished the regular season in third place with a 10–8 record{{cite web|last=Nelson|first=Justin|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/129527092/taranaki-airs-are-tops-for-now-but-the-race-to-nbl-glory-is-wide-open|title=Taranaki Airs are tops for now but the race to NBL glory is wide open|work=Stuff |date=9 August 2022|access-date=10 August 2022}} and went on to reach the NBL final behind the likes of Tray Boyd III, Keith Williams, Todd Withers and Sam Timmins.{{cite web|last=Egan|first=Brendon|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/129563920/otago-nuggets-outrebound-and-outplay-nelson-giants-to-make-nbl-grand-final|title=Otago Nuggets outrebound and outplay Nelson Giants to make NBL grand final|work=Stuff |date=12 August 2022|access-date=13 August 2022}} In the final, they won their second championship in three years with an 81–73 victory over the Auckland Tuatara.{{cite web|url=https://men.nznbl.basketball/nuggets-down-tuatara-to-claim-2022-sals-nbl-title/|title=NUGGETS DOWN TUATARA TO CLAIM 2022 SAL'S NBL TITLE|work=nznbl.basketball|date=13 August 2022|accessdate=13 August 2022}}

On 6 June 2025, it was announced that SEG would transfer ownership of the team to a collective of local Dunedin community supporters on 31 July 2025.{{cite news |title=New Era for Nuggets, Driven by Local Leadership |url=https://nznbl.basketball/newera6525/ |access-date=6 June 2025 |work=nznbl.basketball |date=6 June 2025}}

Current roster

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 0 | nat = NZL | first = Patrick | last = Freeman | m = 1.98 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 2 | nat = NZL | first = Jonathan | last = Janssen | m = 2.06 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 4 | nat = NZL | first = Harrison | last = Bezett | m = }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 6 | nat = NZL | first = Michael | last = Ruske | m = 1.80 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 7 | nat = NZL | first = Matthew | last = Bardsley | m = 1.89 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 9 | nat = NZL | first = Darcy | last = Knox | m = 1.86 | note = C }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 10 | nat = NZL | first = Caleb | last = Smiler | m = 1.91 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 11 | nat = USA | first = Donald | last = Carey | m = 1.96 | note = I }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 12 | nat = NZL | first = Mac | last = Stodart | m = 2.03 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 13 | nat = NZL | first = Josh | last = Aitcheson | m = 1.97 }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 14 | nat = NZL | first = Danyon | last = Ashcroft | m = }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 21 | nat = NZL | first = Christian | last = Martin | dab = basketball | m = 1.87 }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 22 | nat = NZL | first = Liam | last = Boomer | m = }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = 24 | nat = NZL | first = Noah | last = Mcdowall | m = }}

{{player3 | pos = F | num = 42 | nat = USA | first = Jaylen | last = Sebree | m = 2.01 | note = I }}

{{player3 | pos = G | num = | nat = NZL | first = Oak | last = Chisholm | m = }}

{{Basketball roster footer

| head_coach =

{{player||USA|Mike Kelly}}

| asst_coach =

{{player||NZL|Levi Cockroft}}
{{player||NZL|Jeffery Sparrow}}

| DP = y

| I = y

| roster_url = https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/NZN/2591860/bs.html

| accessdate = 13 June 2025

}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20111013125353/http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/181840/greatest-moments-otago-sport-number-28 "Greatest moments in Otago sport - Number 28"] at odt.co.nz
[https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/passion-here-nuggets-impresses "Passion here for Nuggets impresses"] at odt.co.nz

Category:National Basketball League (New Zealand) teams

Category:Basketball teams in New Zealand

Category:Basketball teams established in 1990

Category:1990 establishments in New Zealand