Giants’ season gets real At A Glance
The crowds will be filling the stands again and the players are descending on centre court – all that remains for the Nelson Giants in their national league return is to get on court next week.
The shortened six-week national basketball league is set to get under way at Auckland’s Trusts Arena on Tuesday, with the seven sides assembling at their Sky City base this week to prepare, and in some cases, acquaint themselves with their on-court colleagues.
For Giants head coach Mike Fitchett, the recent league draft has provided him with a balanced squad of local talent and NBL experience.
He was able to pre-select nine of his 12-strong roster based on local ties to the franchise, securing valuable biggame services of Mika Vukona, Mike Karena and Josh Bloxham.
However, it was also pleasing to reward six Nelson-based players with places in the team.
‘‘I’m stoked that those guys can have a season, because they’ve done
Nelson Giants NBL squad for the 2020 Sal’s NBL season:
Mika Vukona, Mike Karena, Dane Brooks, Tom Ingham, Josh Bloxham, Nick Trathen, Riley Bensemann, Tysxun Aiolupotea, Zeb Lovell, Thane O’Leary, Theo Johnson, Tommy Gargiulo.
such good work in the pre-season.’’
The Giants’ three draft spots were filled by former Taranaki Airs guard Dane Brooks, Thane O’Leary and Theo Johnson.
‘‘He’ll have some highlight plays for us, I think – he was a really good high jumper when he was young, so it was good to pick him up,’’ Fitchett said of Brooks.
The Giants have counted themselves fortunate to have secured big centre O’Leary as a round 10 pick. Fitchett said he would work well behind Vukona and Karena, while 2019 Saints player Theo Johnson rounded out the squad as the round 11 pick.
‘‘[Johnson] didn’t play a lot last year, but he has that championship pedigree that is nice to add to the team as well.’’
Bloxham has flown to Nelson to train alongside local squad members Tom Ingham, Tommy Gargiulo, Zeb Lovell, Nick Trathen, Riley Bensemann and Tysxun Aiolupotea.
‘‘Having seven guys training together over the last fortnight has been great for us and will give us a leg up over some of the other teams,’’ says Fitchett.
‘‘It’s starting to get real – there were so many balls up in the air [earlier on] and talk we might do this or that with the league – now we’ve got our flights, a place to stay and our team kit – it’s all come together and is pretty exciting for us.’’
The team will connect with Vukona on arrival in Auckland today, as the 38-year-old Brisbane-based power forward completes his quarantine at an Auckland hotel.
They will then have three days to train and gel before the season tips off on Tuesday evening against the Airs.
From there, it’s a full-on programme with three games a week to look forward to in the subsequent run to the finals.
However, with all teams involved in the finals’ series, Fitchett said the key to success was not hitting peak performance too early.
While the 2020 season was now a total away-game scenario, Fitchett said he was aware of friends, former players, sponsors and family making the trip to Auckland to support the team in the coming weeks.