Manawatu_Jets
Manawatu Jets
Basketball team in Palmerston North, New Zealand
The Manawatu Jets are a New Zealand basketball team based in Palmerston North. The Jets compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and play their home games at Central Energy Trust Arena. For sponsorship reasons, they are known as the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets.
| Manawatu Jets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| League | NZNBL | ||
| Founded | 1982 | ||
| History | Palmerston North Jets 1982; 1985–1987; 1989–2001 Manawatu Jets 2002–2015; 2018–present | ||
| Arena | Central Energy Trust Arena | ||
| Location | Palmerston North, Manawatū, New Zealand | ||
| Team colours | Green, white, black | ||
| Main sponsor | Property Brokers | ||
| General manager | Darryl June | ||
| Head coach | Natu Taufale | ||
| Ownership | Basketball Manawatu Property Brokers | ||
| Championships | 0 | ||
| Retired numbers | 1 (12)[1] | ||
| Website | thejets.co.nz | ||
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The Palmerston North Jets were a foundation member of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1982. After finishing eighth in the eight-team competition, the Jets were relegated to the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL) in 1983. After finishing as CBL runners-up in 1984, they were promoted back into the NBL in 1985. They finished fifth in both 1985 and 1986, but after finishing tenth in the ten-team competition in 1987, the Jets were relegated to the CBL in 1988. The 1988 season saw the Jets win the CBL championship, which saw them promoted back into the NBL in 1989.[2] The Jets were regular season winners in 1989, but despite being the top seed at the finals weekend, they were defeated 92–84 in the semifinal by the Canterbury Rams.[3] In 1992, the Jets reached the NBL final, where they were defeated 79–71 by the Rams.[3] In 2002, the team became known as the Manawatu Jets.[4]
In November 2015, the Jets withdrew from the NBL due to reduced funding and an unsustainable business model.[5][6] In April 2017, the Jets lodged their application to Basketball New Zealand to compete in the 2018 NBL season.[7] Their application was successful, and on 29 August 2017, the Jets were readmitted into the league.[8][9]
In 2020, the Jets reached the NBL final for the second time in their history,[10][11] where they lost 79–77 to the Otago Nuggets.[12][13]
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
| Manawatu Jets roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: 14 April 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable past players
/ 
Ed Book- / Tony Brown
- / Tyrone Brown
- / Willie Burton
David Cooper- Brad Davidson
- Chris Hagan
- Kaine Hokianga[14]
- / Nick Horvath
- / James Hunter
- / Marcel Jones
- / Luke Martin
- DeWayne McCray
- Kent Mori
- Mika Vukona
- Josh Pace
- Miles Pearce
- Brendon Polyblank
- Dylan Rigdon
- Jamil Terrell
- Jeremiah Trueman
- Rob Tuilave
- "A touching tribute for Jake McKinlay, as the @manawatujets retire his No. 12 jersey". twitter.com/nznbl. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- Lampp, Peter (13 November 2015). "Historical debt and reduced trust funding forcing Jets to take a season out". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017.
Aside from spells in two seasons in division two in 1983-84 and 1988, Palmerston North has had a team in the first division since it started in 1982.
- Egan, Brendon (4 April 2014). "Keith Mair reflects on Rams' halcyon days". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- Hinton, Marc (30 July 2020). "Sal's NBL Showdown: Otago Nuggets' golden run continues; Manawatu Jets also into final". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- Hinton, Marc (31 July 2020). "Sal's NBL Showdown: Soaring Manawatu Jets enjoying life in the hoops fast lane". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- "NUGGETS STRIKE GOLD IN SAL'S NBL SHOWDOWN". nznbl.basketball. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- Hinton, Marc (1 August 2020). "Sal's NBL Showdown: Otago Nuggets grab first title as they shade Manawatu Jets in thriller". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 August 2020.