Taranaki Airs
{{Short description|Basketball team in New Plymouth, New Zealand}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox Basketball club
| name = Taranaki Airs
| color1 = gold
| color2 = black
| logo = Taranaki Mountainairs logo.jpg
| league = NZNBL
| founded = 1981
| history = New Plymouth Bulls
1985–1991
New Plymouth Bears
1992–1993
Taranaki Bears
1994–1997
Taranaki Oilers
1998–1999
Taranaki Mountainairs
2003–2007
Taranaki Dynamos
2008–2009
Taranaki Mountainairs
2010–2021
Taranaki Airs
2022–present
| arena = TSB Stadium
| location = New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
| colours = Yellow & black
| sponsor = Steelformers
| chairman = Laine Hopkinson
| gm = Cole Brown
| coach = Sam Mackinnon
| owner = Media8 Sports
| championships = 0
| website = [https://taranakiairs.com TaranakiAirs.com]
| h_body = FFD700
| h_pattern_b =
| h_shorts = FFD700
| h_pattern_s =
| a_body =
| a_pattern_b =
| a_shorts =
| a_pattern_s =
}}
The Taranaki Airs are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in New Plymouth. The Airs compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at TSB Stadium. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Steelformers Airs.
Team history
A New Plymouth team played in the inaugural season of the Conference Basketball League (CBL) in 1981 and earned runners-up honours. The team went on to finish as runners-up in the CBL Northern Conference in 1983, before winning the CBL championship in 1984.{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/_r/uploads/2010/07/2010-conference-basketball-league-programme-as-at-25-jul-10.pdf|title=2010 Conference Basketball League|work=Basketball.org.nz|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126011833/http://www.basketball.org.nz/_r/uploads/2010/07/2010-conference-basketball-league-programme-as-at-25-jul-10.pdf|archivedate=26 January 2015|url-status=dead|page=4}}
The team was promoted to the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1985 season.{{cite web|url=http://nz.basketball/Portals/26/2015%20Bartercard%20National%20Basketball%20League%20Handbook.pdf|title=2015 Bartercard National Basketball League Handbook|work=nz.basketball|accessdate=12 July 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805203114/http://nz.basketball/Portals/26/2015%20Bartercard%20National%20Basketball%20League%20Handbook.pdf|archive-date=5 August 2018}} The team was originally known as the Bulls.{{cite web|url=https://nz.basketball/remembering-coach-mckean/|title=REMEMBERING COACH MCKEAN|work=nz.basketball|date=3 May 2022|access-date=22 March 2024}} The team became known as the New Plymouth Bears in 1992,{{cite web|url=https://basketball.australiabasket.com/team/New-Zealand/Taranaki-Mountainairs/2443?Page=5|title=Taranaki Mountainairs|work=Australiabasket.com|accessdate=14 August 2019}} the same year they were crowned regular season winners for the first time. The team was rebranded as Taranaki in 1994 and then became the Oilers in 1998. Following the 1999 season, the franchise withdrew from the NBL.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=106076|title=Basketball: Celebrations muted by off-court tension|work=nzherald.co.nz|year=1999|accessdate=14 August 2019|quote=The 2000 league will be missing the Taranaki Oilers, who quit on financial grounds this month...}}{{cite web |title=New Zealand Basketball League |url=http://www.plug.co.nz/sport/basketball/index.htm |website=plug.co.nz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000411020545/http://www.plug.co.nz/sport/basketball/index.htm |archive-date=11 April 2000}}
In 2001, a Taranaki team known as the Stormers were the winners of the CBL Central Conference.{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/conference-league/history/cbl-2001/|title=2001 Conference Basketball League|work=Basketball.org.nz|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121135158/http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/conference-league/history/cbl-2001/|archivedate=21 January 2015|url-status=dead}} The following year, the Stormers were once again winners of the CBL Central Conference,{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/conference-league/history/cbl-2002/|title=2002 Conference Basketball League|work=Basketball.org.nz|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121135145/http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/conference-league/history/cbl-2002/|archivedate=21 January 2015|url-status=dead}} earning an 18–0 season record before going on to win the CBL championship with an 85–81 victory over the Kaikoura Whale Riders in the final led by point guard Willie Banks and import forward Link Abrams.{{cite web|last=Bird|first=Tony|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/taranaki-daily-news/20080418/281835754424065|title=Abrams set to chalk up century|work=Taranaki Daily News|date=18 April 2008|accessdate=12 July 2019|quote=Abrams led the Stormers to a perfect 18-0 season and the Conference Basketball League title in 2002...}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbnz.org.nz/news.html?oid=423927|title=Taranaki Take Out CBL Title|work=bbnz.org.nz|date=25 August 2002|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021012004940/http://www.bbnz.org.nz/news.html?oid=423927|archivedate=12 October 2002|url-status=dead}}
In 2003, Taranaki returned to the NBL as the Mountainairs.{{cite web|title=2002 National Basketball League|work=Basketball.org.nz|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/nbl/nbl-2002/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114172019/http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/nbl/nbl-2002/|archivedate=14 January 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=2003 National Basketball League|work=Basketball.org.nz|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/nbl/nbl-2003/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120719200039/http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/nbl/nbl-2003/|archivedate=19 July 2012|url-status=dead}} In 2009 and 2015, the team had winless seasons. In 2016, they won eight games for the first time since 2008.{{cite web|last=Reive|first=Christopher|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/80420805/taranaki-mountain-airs-look-to-finish-nbl-season-strong|title=Taranaki Mountain Airs look to finish NBL season strong|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=26 May 2016|accessdate=26 May 2016}} The Mountainairs subsequently won just 10 of 54 games between 2017 and 2019.{{cite web|last=Egan|first=Brendon|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/129113564/taranaki-airs-becoming-the-feelgood-story-of-nbl-after-brilliant-weekend-wins|title=Taranaki Airs becoming the feel-good story of NBL after brilliant weekend wins|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=3 July 2022|accessdate=3 July 2022}}
In September 2019, it was revealed that the team had significant debt that could cause them to withdraw from the 2020 NBL season.{{cite web|last=Hanne|first=Ilona|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/stratford-press/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503388&objectid=12271094|title=Future of Taranaki's Mountain Airs basketball team is up in the air|work=nzherald.co.nz|date=26 September 2019|accessdate=29 September 2019}}{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=Helen|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/116140442/mountainairs-need-help-to-get-them-on-court-in-2020|title=Mountainairs need help to get them on court in 2020|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=30 September 2019|accessdate=1 October 2019}} The following month, naming rights partner Steelformers stepped in to save the team from collapse.{{cite web|url=https://www.nznbl.basketball/sponsor-helps-mountainairs-to-rise-up/|title=SPONSOR HELPS MOUNTAINAIRS TO RISE UP|work=nznbl.basketball|date=24 October 2019|accessdate=24 October 2019}}
In December 2021, the team name was changed from Mountainairs to Airs.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/TaranakiBasketball/posts/4724136460958043|title=OFFICIAL NAME CHANGE|work=facebook.com/TaranakiBasketball|date=16 December 2021|access-date=1 January 2022}} In 2022, the Airs finished on top of the regular-season standings with a 12–6 record to be crowned minor premiers for just the second time in franchise history and first since 1992.{{cite web|url=https://men.nznbl.basketball/game-recap-airs-claim-no-1-spot-with-win-over-giants/|title=GAME RECAP: AIRS CLAIM NO. 1 SPOT WITH WIN OVER GIANTS|work=nznbl.basketball|date=4 August 2022|accessdate=5 August 2022}}{{cite web|last=Hill|first=Elijah|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/129486141/giant-leap-takes-taranaki-airs-to-the-top-after-30-years|title=Giant leap takes Taranaki Airs to the top after 30 years|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=5 August 2022|accessdate=5 August 2022}}{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=Helen|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/129571207/taranaki-airs-2022-season-one-to-remember-even-without-fairytale-ending|title=Taranaki Airs 2022 season one to remember even without fairytale ending|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=15 August 2022|accessdate=15 August 2022}}
In September 2023, the team was acquired by Media8 Sports, an Australian sports media company.{{cite web|url=https://nznbl.basketball/media8-sports-to-acquire-taranaki-airs/|title=MEDIA8 SPORTS TO ACQUIRE TARANAKI AIRS|work=nznbl.basketball|date=18 September 2023|access-date=24 September 2023}}{{cite web|last=McLean|first=Glenn|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/132974405/taranaki-airs-nbl-side-sold-to-australian-media-company|title=Taranaki Airs NBL side sold to Australian media company|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=21 September 2023|access-date=24 September 2023}}
Current roster
{{Basketball roster nationality note}}
{{Basketball roster header|wt=n|age=n
| team=Taranaki Airs
| color1=#FFD700 | bg1=black | color2=#FFD700 | bg2=black}}
{{player3 | pos = G | num = 0 | nat = NZL | first = Jack | last = Exeter | m = 1.85 }}
{{player3 | pos = F | num = 1 | nat = NZL | first = Scott | last = Telfer | m = 1.96 }}
{{player3 | pos = G | num = 2 | nat = NZL | first = Carlin | last = Davison | m = 1.96 | note = C }}
{{player3 | pos = G | num = 3 | nat = NZL | first = Jaylen | last = Gerrand | m = 1.83 }}
{{player3 | pos = F | num = 4 | nat = NZL | first = Jerome | last = Tamatea | m = }}
{{player3 | pos = F | num = 6 | nat = NZL | first = Lyric | last = Tuhaka | m = }}
{{player3 | pos = G | num = 7 | nat = USA | first = Armon | last = Fletcher | m = 1.96 | note = I }}
{{player3 | pos = G | num = 8 | nat = NZL | first = Riley | last = Tuuta | m = 1.90 }}
{{player3 | pos = G | num = 9 | nat = NZL | first = Zavier | last = Adam | m = 1.86 }}
{{player3 | pos = G | num = 11 | nat = AUS | first = Deng | last = Dut | m = 1.93 | note = I }}
{{player3 | pos = F | num = 13 | nat = AUS | first = Craig | last = Moller | m = 2.03 | note = I }}
{{player3 | pos = C | num = 21 | nat = NZL | first = Jack | last = Andrew | dab = basketball | m = 2.08 }}
{{player3 | pos = F | num = 25 | nat = NZL | first = Dominique | last = Kelman-Poto | m = 2.01 }}
{{player3 | pos = F | num = 32 | nat = NZL | first = Quintin | last = Bailey | m = 2.01 }}
{{player3 | pos = F | num = 34 | nat = NZL | first = Cameron | last = Quinnell | m = 2.01 }}
{{player3 | pos = F | num = 60 | nat = NZL | first = Shaun | last = Te Rini | m = }}
{{Basketball roster footer
| head_coach =
- {{player||AUS|Sam Mackinnon}}
| asst_coach =
- {{player||NZL|Andrew Green}}
- {{player||NZL|Trent Adam}}
| DP = y
| I = y
| roster_url = https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/NZN/2591841/bs.html
| accessdate = 5 June 2025
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.taranakiairs.com/ Official team website]
- {{facebook|TaranakiBasketball}}
- [https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/9831219/Mountain-Airs-triple-threat "Mountain Airs' triple threat"] at stuff.co.nz
- [https://nznbl.basketball/straight-shot-time-for-the-airs-to-dream-big/ "Straight Shot: Time for the Airs to dream big"] at nznbl.basketball
{{National Basketball League (New Zealand)}}
Category:National Basketball League (New Zealand) teams
Category:Basketball teams in New Zealand
Category:Basketball teams established in 1981