# 2024 New Zealand NBL season

The 2024 NBL season was the 43rd season of the National Basketball League. The competition increased to 11 teams in 2024 with the Tauranga Whai joining the league for the first time.
The 2024 season saw the return of a pre-season blitz for the first time since 2018 as well as the introduction of a mid-season trade window.
The regular season commenced on 27 March in Christchurch, with the Canterbury Rams hosting the Nelson Giants at Cowles Stadium, and contained 16 weeks. The 2024 Final 6 featured in home venues, with five games being played on the home court of the highest seeded team from 17 to 28 July. The Rams won their second straight championship in 2024.

## Team information

| Team | City | Arena | Head Coach | Import | Import | Import |
| Auckland Tuatara | Auckland | Eventfinda Stadium | Aaron Young | Cameron Gliddon | | |
| Canterbury Rams | Christchurch | Cowles Stadium | Judd Flavell | K. J. Buffen | Lachlan Olbrich | M. J. Walker |
| Franklin Bulls | Auckland | Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre | Sebastian Gleim | Luther Muhammad | Joshua Scott | Lee Skinner |
| Hawke's Bay Hawks | Napier | Pettigrew Green Arena | Sam Gruggen | Isaiah Moore | Josh Roberts | Lucas Sutherland |
| Manawatu Jets | Palmerston North | Arena Manawatu | Natu Taufale | Mustapha Heron | Quashawn Lane | Kahlil Whitney |
| Nelson Giants | Nelson | Trafalgar Centre | Michael Fitchett | Theo Akwuba | Daniel Grida | Kobe Langley |
| Otago Nuggets | Dunedin | Edgar Centre | Brent Matehaere | Zaccheus Darko-Kelly | Ben Henshall | Kimani Lawrence |
| Southland Sharks | Invercargill | Stadium Southland | Guy Molloy | Caleb Asberry | Cooper Robb | |
| Taranaki Airs | New Plymouth | TSB Stadium | Sam Mackinnon | Sam Froling | Mitch McCarron | Elijah Minnie |
| Tauranga Whai | Tauranga | Mercury Baypark | Matt Lacey | Phillip Carr | Demarcus Holland | |
| Wellington Saints | Wellington | TSB Bank Arena | Zico Coronel | Ben Ayre | Malik Benlevi | Terry Henderson |

## Summary
### Regular season standings

| Pos | Team | W | L | Qualification |
| 1 | Canterbury Rams | 17 | 3 | Semi Finals |
| 2 | Auckland Tuatara | 16 | 4 | Semi Finals |
| 3 | Taranaki Airs | 14 | 6 | Play-in |
| 4 | Wellington Saints | 14 | 6 | Play-in |
| 5 | Franklin Bulls | 13 | 7 | Play-in |
| 6 | Nelson Giants | 8 | 12 | Play-in |
| 7 | Hawke's Bay Hawks | 8 | 12 | |
| 8 | Tauranga Whai | 8 | 12 | |
| 9 | Otago Nuggets | 7 | 13 | |
| 10 | Southland Sharks | 4 | 16 | |
| 11 | Manawatu Jets | 1 | 19 | |

### Finals

| Play-In Matches | Play-In Matches | Play-In Matches | Semi Finals | Semi Finals | Semi Finals | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | Canterbury Rams | 112 | | |
| 3 | Taranaki Airs | 87 | 3 | Taranaki Airs | 111 | | |
| 6 | Nelson Giants | 74 | | | | Canterbury Rams | 102 |
| | | | | | | Auckland Tuatara | 87 |
| | | | 2 | Auckland Tuatara | 78 | | |
| 4 | Wellington Saints | 67 | 5 | Franklin Bulls | 75 | | |
| 5 | Franklin Bulls | 104 | | | | | |

## Awards
### Performance of the Week

| Round | Player | Team |
| 1 | Hyrum Harris | Wellington Saints |
| 2 | Keanu Rasmussen | Hawke's Bay Hawks |
| 3 | M. J. Walker | Canterbury Rams |
| 4 | Lachlan Olbrich | Canterbury Rams |
| 5 | Isaiah Moore | Hawke's Bay Hawks |
| 6 | Tai Webster | Otago Nuggets |
| 7 | Isaiah Moore | Hawke's Bay Hawks |
| 8 | Isaac Davidson | Franklin Bulls |
| 9 | Te Tuhi Lewis | Tauranga Whai |
| 10 | Izayah Le'afa | Wellington Saints |
| 11 | Ben Ayre | Wellington Saints |
| 12 | Izayah Le'afa | Wellington Saints |
| 13 | K. J. Buffen | Canterbury Rams |
| 14 | Callum McRae | Southland Sharks |
| 15 | Josh Roberts | Hawke's Bay Hawks |
| 16 | Isaiah Moore | Hawke's Bay Hawks |

### Statistics leaders

Stats as of the end of the regular season
| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
| Points per game | Luther Muhammad | Franklin Bulls | 25.7 |
| Rebounds per game | Josh Roberts | Hawke's Bay Hawks | 13.2 |
| Assists per game | Corey Webster | Auckland Tuatara | 7.7 |
| Steals per game | Kobe Langley | Nelson Giants | 2.7 |
| Blocks per game | Josh Roberts Sam Timmins | Hawke's Bay Hawks Otago Nuggets | 1.7 |

### Regular season

* Most Valuable Player: Lachlan Olbrich (Canterbury Rams)
* Most Outstanding Guard: Luther Muhammad (Franklin Bulls)
* Most Outstanding NZ Guard: Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams)
* Most Outstanding Forward: Lachlan Olbrich (Canterbury Rams)
* Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre: Robert Loe (Auckland Tuatara)
* Scoring Champion: Luther Muhammad (Franklin Bulls)
* Rebounding Champion: Josh Roberts (Hawke's Bay Hawks)
* Assist Champion: Corey Webster (Auckland Tuatara)
* Most Improved Player: Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams)
* Defensive Player of the Year: Robert Loe (Auckland Tuatara)
* Youth Player of the Year: Lachlan Olbrich (Canterbury Rams)
* Coach of the Year: Judd Flavell (Canterbury Rams)
* All-Star Five:
** G: Taylor Britt (Canterbury Rams)
** G: Isaiah Moore (Hawke's Bay Hawks)
** F: Luther Muhammad (Franklin Bulls)
** F: Robert Loe (Auckland Tuatara)
** C: Lachlan Olbrich (Canterbury Rams)

### Finals

* Grand Final MVP: Lachlan Olbrich (Canterbury Rams)