Hawke's Bay Hawks

Hawke's Bay Hawks
Hawke's Bay Hawks logo
LeagueNZNBL
HistoryNapier Sunhawks
1983–1985
Hawke's Bay Hawks
1986–1998; 2000–2019; 2021–
ArenaPettigrew Green Arena
LocationNapier, Hawke's Bay,
New Zealand
Team coloursBlack, grey, orange
Main sponsorTaylor Corporation
PresidentSally Crown
General managerJarrod Kenny
Head coachSam Gruggen
Championships1 (2006)
WebsiteHawks.org.nz

The Hawke's Bay Hawks are a New Zealand professional basketball team based in Napier. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Pettigrew Green Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Taylor Hawks.

Team history

The Hawke's Bay Hawks, then known as the Napier Sunhawks, started in the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL). After winning the CBL Invitation championship in 1982,[1] the team was promoted to the National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1983 season.[2] They made the semi-finals in 1983, before going on a nine-year playoff hiatus. The Hawks made the semi-finals every year between 1993 and 1997,[3] including playing in their first NBL championship series in 1995, where they lost 2–0 to the Auckland Stars.[4]

In 1998, the Hawks finished tenth in the 11-team competition. They subsequently withdrew from the NBL and joined the CBL for the 1999 season. After finishing as CBL runners-up in 1999,[1][5] the Hawks returned to the NBL in 2000.

In 2004, the Hawks made their first NBL playoff appearance since 1997.[3] They went on to reach the championship round three years in a row between 2005 and 2007, which included them winning their maiden NBL championship in 2006 with an 84–69 victory over the Auckland Stars in the final.[6][7] The Hawks continued to play in the post-season every year between 2008 and 2012, including making the final in 2011 and winning their first minor premiership in 2012. After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Hawks' 2014 season saw them win second minor premiership and reach the championship round for the sixth time.

Between 2015 and 2017, the Hawks had a three-year playoff hiatus, including a winless campaign in 2016.[8] They returned to the playoffs in 2018, before reaching the NBL final in 2019, where they lost 78–68 to the Wellington Saints despite leading 59–38 midway through the third quarter.[9][10][11]

The Hawks sat out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] They returned in 2021 and reached their eighth NBL final, where they once again lost to the Wellington Saints.[13]

Honour roll

NBL Championships: 1 (2006)
NBL Playoff appearances: 19 (1983, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021)
NBL Grand Final appearances: 8 (1995, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2019, 2021)
Most Valuable Player: Adrian Majstrovich (2004), Paora Winitana (2006)
Kiwi MVP: Adrian Majstrovich (2004), Paora Winitana (2007)
All-Star Five: Thomas DeMarcus (1983), Willie Burton (1987, 1988), Jamie Dixon (1989, 1990), Kerry Boagni (1993), Terry Giles (1993), Darryl Johnson (1995), Paul Henare (2003, 2005), Adrian Majstrovich (2004), Paora Winitana (2006, 2012), Dustin Scott (2014), Angus Brandt (2018), E. J. Singler (2019), Brandon Bowman (2019)
Most Outstanding Guard: Jamie Dixon (1989, 1990), Terry Giles (1993), Paora Winitana (2006)
Most Outstanding Kiwi Guard: Byron Vaetoe (1993), Paora Winitana (2006)
Most Outstanding Forward: Willie Burton (1989), Kerry Boagni (1993), Adrian Majstrovich (2004)
Most Outstanding Kiwi Forward/Centre: Willie Burton (1997), Adrian Majstrovich (2004)
Scoring Champion: Jamie Dixon (1989, 1990), Kerry Boagni (1993), Troy Coleman (2000)
Rebounding Champion: Willie Burton (1987, 1994), Robert Wilson (1998), Amir Williams (2017)
Assist Champion: Jamie Dixon (1989), Terry Giles (1993), Shaun McCreedy (2000), Paul Henare (2004, 2005, 2007), Jarrod Kenny (2017, 2019)
Rookie of the Year: Adrian Majstrovich (2003)
Coach of the Year: Curtis Wooten (1989), James Logan (1993), Shawn Dennis (2004), Paul Henare (2012), Tab Baldwin (2014)
Most Improved Player: Ethan Rusbatch (2019)

Source: Hawks NBL Role of Honour

Players

Current roster

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

Hawke's Bay Hawks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
F 3 New Zealand Kara, Kobe 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 11 New Zealand Ngatai, Jordan 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
G New Zealand Ball, Jackson 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
G New Zealand Rasmussen, Keanu 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
F/C United States Roberts, Josh (I) 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
Head coach
  • Australia Sam Gruggen
Assistant coach(es)
  • New Zealand Kaine Hokianga
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 3 February 2024

Notable past players

References

  1. ^ a b "2010 Conference Basketball League" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2015.
  2. ^ "2005 League Handbook" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. pp. 32–36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2006.
  3. ^ a b "Team Awards". hawks.org.nz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019.
  4. ^ "1995 NBL CHAMPIONS: AUCKLAND STARS". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019.
  5. ^ "CBL Final". plug.co.nz. 25 August 1999. Archived from the original on 18 January 2000.
  6. ^ "2006 NBL CHAMPIONS: HAWKE'S BAY HAWKS". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Hawks win NZNBL title". NBL.com.au. 10 July 2006. Archived from the original on 27 August 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  8. ^ Anderson, Niall (9 May 2016). "Promise for Bay Hawks despite 0-14 record". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Saints vs Hawks". FIBALiveStats.com. 21 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  10. ^ Smith, Tony (21 July 2019). "Wellington Saints claim 11th NBL title with stunning comeback win over Hawks". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  11. ^ Singh, Anendra (21 July 2019). "Basketball: Wellington Saints claw back to end Hawks' fairy-tale Final 4 run for 11th NBL title". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Taylor Hawks will not enter the modified 2020 Sal's NBL Competition". hawks.org.nz. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Wellington Saints continue NBL dominance with grand final win over Hawke's Bay Hawks". Stuff.co.nz. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.

External links