National Basketball League (New Zealand)
Honours -- List of Champions
Table:
Team

Win

Loss

Total

Year(s) won

Year(s) lost

Wellington Saints
11
8
19
1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
1983, 1986, 1991, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2018

Auckland Stars
9
4
13
1982, 1983, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005
1984, 1985, 1989, 2006

Canterbury Rams
4
4
8
1986, 1989, 1990, 1992
1987, 1993, 1994, 1999

Waikato Pistons
4
2
6
2001, 2002, 2008, 2009
2003, 2010

Nelson Giants
3
8
11
1994, 1998, 2007
1990, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2013

Southland Sharks
3
1
4
2013, 2015, 2018
2017

Hutt Valley Lakers
2
0
2
1991, 1993

Hawke's Bay Hawks
1
6
7
2006
1995, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2019

Auckland Pirates
1
0
1
2012

Harbour Heat
0
2
2

1988, 1998

Waitemata Dolphins
0
1
1

1982

Manawatu Jets
0
1
1

1992

Super City Rangers
0
1
1

2016

Consulting the tabular data and the context snippets listed below.

Provide an answer to this question: What is the sponsored name of the team with eleven championships ? Provide just your answer in a JSON object {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Base your answer solely on the given information.

The Wellington Saints are a New Zealand basketball team based in Wellington . The Saints compete in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and play their home games at TSB Bank Arena . For sponsorship reasons , they are known as the Cigna Saints .
The 1984 NBL season was the third season of the National Basketball League . The addition of Ponsonby and the readmittance of Hamilton for the 1984 season coincided with Porirua and Waitemata dropping out of the league . Wellington won the championship in 1984 to claim their first league title , beating out an Auckland side who were back-to-back defending champions .
The 1985 NBL season was the fourth season of the National Basketball League . Two new teams entered the league in 1985 , expanding the number of teams from eight to ten . 1984 Conference Basketball League ( CBL ) champions New Plymouth were promoted to the NBL for the 1985 season , while 1984 CBL runners-up Palmerston North were readmitted to the league after being demoted following their last place finish in 1982 . The mid-1980s was considered the league 's halcyon period , with Auckland , Canterbury and Wellington the benchmark teams . The 1985 Final was one of the league 's most memorable , with Wellington and Auckland facing off against each other for the third straight year . The game was televised live and most were expecting Auckland to revenge their 1984 defeat after garnering two 20-point wins over Wellington during the regular season . The game was a thriller , having to be sent into overtime after the scores were locked at 100 a piece after four quarters . Saints legend Kenny McFadden went on to hit the winning three-point shot at the buzzer in the extra period to claim a 114-111 win and back-to-back championships .
The 1987 NBL season was the sixth season of the National Basketball League . Only one change occurred heading into the 1987 season , with Hamilton now called Waikato . Wellington won the championship in 1987 to claim their third league title .
The 1988 NBL season was the seventh season of the National Basketball League . With the relegation of Palmerston North in 1988 , Waitemata returned to the NBL following a four-year hiatus after winning the Conference Basketball League ( CBL ) championship in 1987 . Wellington won the championship in 1988 to claim their fourth league title .
The 2003 NBL season was the 22nd season of the National Basketball League . 2003 marked the first year a league-wide MVP award winner was named , allowing imports the opportunity to be recognised ; in all previous seasons , only a Kiwi MVP was named , an award given to the best New Zealand player . Australian import David Cooper of the Manawatu Jets was subsequently awarded the first league MVP . 2003 also marked the return of Taranaki after a three-year hiatus . The Wellington Saints won the championship over the Waikato Titans in overtime , as the Saints claimed their fifth league title .
The 2010 NBL season was the 29th season of the National Basketball League . Foundation member and nine-time NBL champions the Auckland Stars withdrew from the league in 2010 , while the Otago Nuggets returned after a one-year absence and the Southland Sharks joined for the first time . The regular season began on Thursday 4 March and concluded on Friday 19 June . The playoffs began on Tuesday 22 June and concluded on Thursday 1 July , with the Wellington Saints taking home their sixth NBL title after defeating the Waikato Pistons 2-1 in the best-of-three finals series . Saints ' guard Lindsay Tait was recognised as the most valuable player of the regular season and of the finals series .
The 2011 NBL season was the 30th season of the National Basketball League . In 2011 , the Auckland Pirates debuted in the league but the Christchurch Cougars did not take part due to the effects of the 2011 Canterbury earthquake . The Harbour Heat also did not compete in the 2011 season , leaving the total number of teams at nine . The regular season commenced on Wednesday 13 April with the Auckland Pirates hosting the Otago Nuggets at ASB Stadium in Auckland . Six teams qualified for the NBL Playoffs , with the third and fourth seeds hosting quarterfinal games against the sixth and fifth seeds , respectively , on Tuesday 12 July . The winners then joined the first and second seeds at the final four weekend . Wellington 's waterfront TSB Bank Arena hosted the 2011 NBL Final Four , with two semifinals on Friday 15 July and the championship game on Sunday 17 July .
The 2014 NBL season was the 33rd season of the National Basketball League . The Canterbury Rams returned to the league in 2014 after a five-year hiatus . The 2014 pre-season tournament was held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Saturday 22 March and Sunday 23 March . The Manawatu Jets were the only team to go undefeated over the two days , finishing with a 4-0 record . In 2014 , the NBL Final Four made a triumphant return to Wellington . The Final Four weekend was held at TSB Bank Arena , with the semifinals on Friday 4 July , followed by the championship game on Saturday 5 July .
The 2016 NBL season was the 35th season of the National Basketball League . The league 's team total dropped to an all-time low for the 2016 season , with the departure of the Manawatu Jets leaving the competition with seven teams . The 2016 pre-season tournament was held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua from Friday 26 February through Sunday 28 February . The four-team event featured the Canterbury Rams ( 2-1 ) , Nelson Giants ( 3-0 ) , Wellington Saints ( 0-3 ) and a Porirua invitational team ( 1-2 ) . The regular season commenced on Thursday 10 March in Wellington with the Wellington Saints hosting the Super City Rangers at TSB Bank Arena . The season contained 12 weeks of regular season games and a Final Four series on Queens ' Birthday weekend in June . As the only team based north of Hawke 's Bay , the Rangers utilised two new 'home ' venues around the Upper North Island , Te Awamutu and Whangarei , providing increased exposure for elite basketball in that area of the country . The regular season concluded with the Rams earning a playoff berth for the first time since 2002 and their first minor premiership since 1993 , while the Hawks recorded their first winless season in franchise history and joined the 1998 Northland Suns , 2009 Taranaki Mountainairs , 2010 Otago Nuggets and 2015 Taranaki Mountainairs as the only sides in NBL history to go an entire season without a win . For the first time in the competition 's history , Invercargill hosted the Final Four weekend , with the semifinals on Friday 3 June , followed by the championship game on Saturday 4 June .
The 2017 NBL season was the 36th season of the National Basketball League . For the second year in a row , the league fielded seven teams . The regular season commenced on Thursday 16 March in Invercargill with the Southland Sharks hosting the Nelson Giants at Stadium Southland . The season contained 13 weeks of regular season games followed by a Final Four weekend in June at Tauranga 's ASB BayPark Arena . The seven teams played every team on three occasions to make up an 18-game round robin season . With an 18-0 record , the Wellington Saints made NBL history by becoming the first team to complete a perfect regular season . They went on to post a perfect 20-0 campaign after sweeping the Final Four and collecting their 10th NBL championship in the process .
The 2019 NBL season was the 38th season of the National Basketball League . The competition increased to nine teams in 2019 with the Southern Huskies joining the league for the first time , marking the first time ever that an Australian team has joined a New Zealand competition . The regular season commenced on Thursday 11 April in Palmerston North with the Manawatu Jets hosting the Super City Rangers at Arena Manawatu . The season contained 14 weeks of regular season games followed by a Final Four weekend in July . The Saints won their 11th NBL championship in 2019 behind their second 20-0 campaign in three seasons .
The 1983 NBL season was the second season of the National Basketball League . With the relegation of Hamilton and Palmerston North to the Conference Basketball League ( CBL ) , Wellington and Napier were promoted to the NBL for the 1983 season . Auckland won the championship in 1983 to claim their second league title .
The 1986 NBL season was the fifth season of the National Basketball League . Two changes occurred for the 1986 season , with Napier now called Hawke 's Bay , while Centrals were dropped from the league and replaced by 1985 Conference Basketball League ( CBL ) champions North Shore . Canterbury won 16 of their 18 round-robin games , qualifying for the finals in top spot . While Wellington contested their fourth straight final , Canterbury won the championship to claim their first league title . John Dutchie Rademakers top scored for Canterbury in the final with 22 points , while American point guard Clyde Huntley added 20 and fellow import , Angelo Hill , 15 . Youngster Ian Webb also contributed 13 points , as Canterbury defeated Wellington 87-82 .
The 1991 NBL season was the 10th season of the National Basketball League . Hutt Valley won the championship in 1991 to claim their first league title .
The 2001 NBL season was the 20th season of the National Basketball League . The Waikato Titans won the championship in 2001 to claim their first league title . The Titans set an NBL record with a 15-game winning streak during the season , a streak that was not broken until the 2015 Southland Sharks squad recorded a 16-game winning streak .
The 2008 NBL season was the 27th season of the National Basketball League . The Waikato Pistons won the championship in 2008 to claim their third league title .
The 2012 NBL season was the 31st season of the National Basketball League . While the Harbour Heat returned for the 2012 season , the Waikato Pistons dropped out of the league . It marked the first time the league had no Waikato presence since 1983 . The Hawke 's Bay Hawks were regular season winners in 2012 . The Final Four weekend was held in Wellington , with the semifinals on Saturday 26 May , followed by the championship game on Sunday 27 May . In the final , the Auckland Pirates were victorious over the two-time defending champion Wellington Saints .
The 2015 NBL season was the 34th season of the National Basketball League . The season draw was supposed to be released in December 2014 , but the withdrawal of Otago and Waikato prompted a rethink for the 2015 competition format . In the past , each team played each other twice in a 10-team competition , meaning each franchise had nine home games . However , with two fewer teams in 2015 , it was decided the new format would be played over two and half rounds to keep incomes at a similar rate for the remaining sides . Each team was scheduled to play each other twice and play three of the sides in a third game . The 2015 pre-season tournament was held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Saturday 21 March and Sunday 22 March . The Wellington Saints were the only team to go undefeated over the two days , finishing with a 3-0 record . The regular season commenced on Wednesday 1 April in Invercargill with the Southland Sharks hosting the Manawatu Jets at Stadium Southland . In the regular-season finale on Sunday 28 June , Taranaki Mountainairs import Aaron Fuller set the National Basketball League record for points scored in a game . With 54 points , Fuller broke John Whorton 's record of 50 points , which was set in 2003 . Despite Fuller 's 54 points and 19 rebounds , the Mountainairs lost to the Super City Rangers to finish the season with a winless record ( 0-18 ) . The 2015 Mountainairs side joined the 1998 Northland Suns , 2009 Mountainairs and 2010 Otago Nuggets as the only sides in NBL history to go an entire season without a win .
The 2018 NBL season was the 37th season of the National Basketball League . In 2018 , the league welcomed back the Manawatu Jets after a two-season hiatus . The regular season commenced on Thursday 26 April in Napier with the Hawke 's Bay Hawks hosting the Southland Sharks at Pettigrew Green Arena . The season contained 14 weeks of regular season games followed by a Final Four weekend in August . The competition included a one-week international break , from 25 June to 1 July , and started later than normal due to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games .
The Auckland Stars were a New Zealand basketball team based in Auckland . The Stars competed in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and played their home games at ASB Stadium .
The 1982 NBL season was the inaugural season of the National Basketball League . A total of eight teams contested the league in its first season , with Auckland claiming the league 's first championship .
The 1995 NBL season was the 14th season of the National Basketball League . Only one change occurred heading into the 1995 season , with 1994 Conference Basketball League ( CBL ) champions Northland joining the top-flight league for the first time . Thirteen teams competed in 1995 , the most the league has fielded during a season in its history . Auckland won the championship in 1995 to claim their third league title .
The 1996 NBL season was the 15th season of the National Basketball League . Only one change occurred heading into the 1996 season , with Waitakere leaving the NBL for the second-tiered Conference Basketball League ( CBL ) . Auckland won the championship in 1996 to claim their fourth league title . In the best-of-three championship series , Nelson took Game 1 110-95 , before Auckland came back to take Game 2 109-98 and Game 3 94-90 .
The 1997 NBL season was the 16th season of the National Basketball League . Basketball in New Zealand began to dwindle during the 1990s , with TV coverage reduced , sponsorships scarce , and crowd numbers on the decline . At the end of the 1996 season , with both Wellington and Hutt Valley struggling to survive , the two teams amalgamated for the 1997 season . Auckland won the championship in 1997 to claim their fifth league title , as they became the first team in league history to record a three-peat . Auckland had a near-perfect season , with their only loss in 24 regular-season games coming against Canterbury at Cowles Stadium when American import Adrian Boyd was called for a contentious travelling call while going for an uncontested lay-up in the game 's final seconds .
The 1999 NBL season was the 18th season of the National Basketball League . The 1999 season saw just nine teams compete , with Hawke 's Bay joining the second-tiered Conference Basketball League ( CBL ) and Northland ceasing operations after four dismal seasons in the NBL . Auckland won the championship in 1999 to claim their sixth league title .
The 2000 NBL season was the 19th season of the National Basketball League . Only one change occurred heading into the 2000 season , with the Hawke 's Bay Hawks returning to the league after a one-year hiatus to replace the outgoing Taranaki , who withdrew due to financial concerns . Palmerston North were also on the brink of collapse , but they secured a sponsorship deal at the last minute to ensure their participation . The Auckland Rebels won the championship in 2000 to claim their seventh league title .
The 2004 NBL season was the 23rd season of the National Basketball League . The Auckland Stars won the championship in 2004 to claim their eighth league title .
The 2005 NBL season was the 24th season of the National Basketball League . The Auckland Stars won the championship in 2005 to claim their ninth league title .
The 1989 NBL season was the eighth season of the National Basketball League . Ponsonby 's last-place finish in 1988 saw them dropped from the league and replaced by 1988 Conference Basketball League ( CBL ) champions Palmerston North . Canterbury won the championship in 1989 to claim their second league title . They came from fourth place at the finals weekend to claim the championship , knocking over the top-seeded Palmerston North 92-84 in the semi-finals , before defeating Auckland 91-83 in the final .
The 2006 NBL season was the 25th season of the National Basketball League . The Hawke 's Bay Hawks won the championship in 2006 to claim their first league title .
The Canterbury Rams are a New Zealand basketball team based in Christchurch . The Rams compete in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and play their home games at Cowles Stadium . For sponsorship reasons , they are known as The Wheeler Motor Canterbury Rams .
The 1990 NBL season was the ninth season of the National Basketball League . The league expanded to 12 teams in 1990 , with Hutt Valley , Otago and Waitakere joining the ranks . Waitakere replaced the outgoing Waitemata after Waitemata City amalgamated to form Waitakere City . In addition , North Shore was renamed North Harbour . Canterbury won the championship in 1990 to claim their third league title . In the NBL 's first all-South Island final , Canterbury prevailed over Nelson in a gripping game , winning 76-73 to go back-to-back .
The 1992 NBL season was the 11th season of the National Basketball League . Canterbury won the championship in 1992 to claim their fourth league title . They qualified in fourth place for the six-team finals and beat Otago and Hutt Valley to book a spot in the decider . Canterbury 's grand final experience proved decisive , overcoming Palmerston North by eight points , 79-71 .
The 1993 NBL season was the 12th season of the National Basketball League . Hutt Valley won the championship in 1993 to claim their second league title . Head coach Jeff Green guided Hutt Valley over Canterbury in the final with Peter Pokai hitting the game-winning jumper . It was a special triumph for Green , who was sensationally sacked by the team early in the season , but brought back with seven games to go .
The 1994 NBL season was the 13th season of the National Basketball League . Only one change occurred heading into the 1994 season , with New Plymouth now called Taranaki . Nelson won the championship in 1994 to claim their first league title .
The Waikato Pistons were a New Zealand basketball team based in Hamilton . The Pistons competed in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and played their home games at Hamilton Boys ' High School . After sitting out the 2012 NBL season , the Pistons returned to play in 2013 and 2014 , before permanently withdrawing again in November 2014 .
The 2002 NBL season was the 21st season of the National Basketball League . Two name changes occurred heading into the 2002 season , with Palmerston North now called Manawatu , and North Harbour now called Harbour . The Waikato Titans won the championship in 2002 to claim their second league title . In the final , Titans ' forward Dillon Boucher made two free throws with 1.7 seconds to lift Waikato over the Nelson Giants 85-83 .
The 2009 NBL season was the 28th season of the National Basketball League . Two changes occurred for the 2009 season , with the Christchurch Cougars replacing the Canterbury Rams , and the Otago Nuggets also withdrawing . The Waikato Pistons won the championship in 2009 to claim their fourth league title .
The Nelson Giants are a New Zealand basketball team based in Nelson . The Giants compete in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and play their home games at the Trafalgar Centre . For sponsorship reasons , they are known as the Mike Pero Nelson Giants . The Giants are the only remaining original team from the league 's inaugural season , as all other teams have spent at least one year out of the league , for various reasons .
The 1998 NBL season was the 17th season of the National Basketball League . Nelson won the championship in 1998 to claim their second league title . A mid-season game between Canterbury and Northland produced the highest ever scoreline in league history , with Canterbury recording a 179-124 win . Northland also became the first team in league history to record a winless campaign .
The 2007 NBL season was the 26th season of the National Basketball League . The Nelson Giants won the championship in 2007 to claim their third league title .
The 2013 NBL season was the 32nd season of the National Basketball League . The 2013 season saw the withdrawal of the Auckland Pirates and Harbour Heat , but saw the return of the Waikato Pistons after a one-year hiatus as well as the Super City Rangers , who returned to the league for the first time since 1995 . The 2013 NBL Final Four saw the top four teams play off on Saturday 13 July in a semifinals round , with the winner of each game playing in the final on Sunday 14 July at Pettigrew Green Arena in Napier .
The Southland Sharks are a New Zealand basketball team based in Invercargill . The Sharks compete in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and play their home games at Stadium Southland . For sponsorship reasons , they are known as the SIT Zero Fees Southland Sharks .
The Hutt Valley Lakers were a New Zealand basketball team based in Hutt Valley , Wellington . The Lakers competed in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) .
The Hawke 's Bay Hawks are a New Zealand 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 .
The Auckland Pirates were a New Zealand basketball team based in Auckland . The Pirates competed in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and played their home games at ASB Stadium .
The Harbour Heat were a New Zealand basketball team based in Auckland . The Heat competed in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and played their home games at North Shore Events Centre .
The Waitemata Dolphins were a New Zealand basketball team based in Auckland . The Dolphins competed in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and played their home games at Auckland YMCA .
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 Arena Manawatu . For sponsorship reasons , they are known as the See Me Media Manawatu Jets .
The Super City Rangers were a New Zealand basketball team based in Auckland . The Rangers competed in the National Basketball League ( NBL ) and played their home games across multiple venues in Auckland .