Auckland Pirates | |||
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Leagues | NBL | ||
Founded | 1982 | ||
History |
Auckland 1982–1989 Auckland Cannons 1990–1991 Auckland Stars 1992–1996 Auckland Rebels 1997–2000 Auckland Stars 2001–2009 Auckland Pirates 2011–2012 |
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Arena | ASB Stadium (capacity: 2,200) |
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Location | Kohimarama, Auckland, New Zealand | ||
Team colors | Navy, Orange, Grey, White |
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Championships | 10 (1982, 83, 95, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 04, 05, 12) | ||
Uniforms | |||
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The Auckland Pirates were a New Zealand professional basketball team that represented the Auckland Region in the National Basketball League (NBL). They played their home games at the ASB Stadium in Kohimarama, Auckland.
Auckland have won more NBL championships than any other team. A key reason for their outstanding success in the 1980s and 1990s was the coaching of former Tall Blacks head coach Tab Baldwin and the outstanding play of Pero Cameron and Kenny Stone. The team won back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005 thanks to the play of Casey Frank, Dillon Boucher, Aaron Olson, Lindsay Tait and Mike Homik.
The Stars were kicked out of the 2010 season after being suspended by the league in February 2010 because of financial problems.
In 2011, the team came under new ownership and re-entered the league under the new name of the Pirates. The following year, the franchise won their 10th championship title with an 89–83 grand final win over the Wellington Saints. Despite the success of 2012, the franchise again withdrew from the league prior to the start of the 2013 season.