The Fico Finance Nelson Giants are a basketball team that play in the National Basketball League

National Basketball League (New Zealand)

The National Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NBL, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in New Zealand.There were 10 teams in the 2010 season with teams based in Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Nelson, New Plymouth, North Shore, Palmerston North,...

 in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. Their home games are played at the Trafalgar Centre (aka The Hangar) in Nelson

Nelson, New Zealand

Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....

.

One of the perennial powerhouses of the NZNBL, the Giants have made the playoffs in nine of the last ten seasons. In that time they made the finals five times. The Giants have won the championship three times in their history, in 1994, 1998, and 2007.

The Giants are led by Head Coach Chris Tupu, and his Assistant Lance Toma. Gary Williams is the team's manager. Tall Black

New Zealand national basketball team

The New Zealand national basketball team represents New Zealand in international basketball competitions. It is nicknamed the Tall Blacks, derived from the name of New Zealand's Rugby union team, the All Blacks.-History:...

s coach Nenad Vučinić

Nenad Vucinic

Nenad Vučinić , is the current head coach of the New Zealand national basketball team the Tall Blacks...

 is the owner and a former coach of the Nelson Giants and holds the NZNBL record for most wins. The team is currently led by Tall Black

New Zealand national basketball team

The New Zealand national basketball team represents New Zealand in international basketball competitions. It is nicknamed the Tall Blacks, derived from the name of New Zealand's Rugby union team, the All Blacks.-History:...

 Mike Fitchett

Michael Fitchett (basketball)

Michael Fitchett is a New Zealand professional basketball player. The Nelson Giants point guard is also a member of the New Zealand national basketball team. He participated in the FIBA Oceania Championship 2009 for the Tall Blacks, averaging 3.5 points per game for the team.-References:...

, and their roster also includes Phill Jones

Phill Jones

Phillip Charles George 'Phill' Jones is a New Zealand professional basketball player. Jones who stands at 1.96 metres tall, is the highest New Zealand points scorer in NBL history....

 and Mika Vukona

Mika Vukona

Mika Vukona is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Australasian National Basketball League's New Zealand Breakers and for the New Zealand Tall Blacks...

. Each team is allowed two non-Tasman imports and for the 2008 season they are Mike Harrison and Jamil Terrill. In their title winning 2007 season American Josh Pace

Josh Pace

Josh Pace is an American professional basketball player. A former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange, he playes for the Hawke's Bay Hawks in the New Zealand National Basketball League.-High school:...

 (Syracuse University) lead the team in scoring and was the league MVP.

The Giants have a loyal fan base, which is cheered on by a group of local hooligans known as the Nelson Giants Wannabes.

Current Roster

Notable former players

Josh Pace

Josh Pace

Josh Pace is an American professional basketball player. A former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange, he playes for the Hawke's Bay Hawks in the New Zealand National Basketball League.-High school:...

  Ed Book

Ed Book

Ed Book is a retired American-New Zealand professional basketball player. Book who stands at 2.10 metres tall, came from America to New Zealand in 1994 to play in the New Zealand National Basketball League.At the 2002 FIBA World Championship Book was a stand out player for the Tall Blacks,...

 Jeremiah Trueman

Jeremiah Trueman

Jeremiah Kloeten Trueman is a New Zealand professional basketball player currently with the Perth Wildcats. He was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, on 19 May 1987 to Marty and Cathy Trueman of Stratford, Taranaki. He spent his childhood in Brazil where his parents worked as Christian...

 Ian Cathcart

Ian Cathcart

Ian Cathcart is a professional basketball player from New Zealand. Cathcart starred for the North Otago Penguins in the CBL for many years and became an integral part of their squad. Cathcart also plays at the NBL level, previously playing for the Otago Nuggets and the Southland Sharks.-External...

 Jacob Holmes

Jacob Holmes

Jacob Holmes is an Australian professional basketball player who plays for the Townsville Crocodiles in the Australian National Basketball League. He has been playing for Sturt in the Australian Basketball Association in the NBL off-season. He won the Central ABL's Woollacott Medal for Best &...