Canterbury Rams

Canterbury Rams
Canterbury Rams logo
LeagueNZNBL
Founded1982
HistoryCanterbury Rams
1982–2008; 2014–present
ArenaCowles Stadium
LocationChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Team coloursBlack & red
Main sponsorWheeler Motor Company
General managerCaleb Harrison
Head coachJudd Flavell
OwnershipAndrew and Nicky Harrison
Championships6 (1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023, 2024)
Websitecanterburyrams.basketball/

The Canterbury Rams are a New Zealand professional men's 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.

Team history

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The Canterbury Rams were a foundation member of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1982.[1] Between 1986 and 1994, the Rams made the NBL final seven times, winning championships in 1986, 1989, 1990 and 1992. Import players Kenny Perkins, Clyde Huntley, Eddie Anderson and Angelo Hill were central to the success of the Rams, as was the New Zealand core of John "Dutchie" Rademakers, Gilbert Gordon, Andy Bennett, Graham Timms, John Hill, Ian Webb, Glen Denham and Ralph Lattimore.[2] The architects of this success were coaches Garry Pettis, who led the team from 1986 to 1988, and Keith Mair, who took over in 1989.[3] In 1999, the Rams made their eighth NBL final under coach Bert Knops,[4] where they lost to the Auckland Rebels.[5]

In 2000, Dr John Watson took over the Rams organisation from the cash-strapped Canterbury Basketball Association (CBA).[6] His takeover of the team created some deep divisions within the basketball community.[7] In 2006, the CBA signed a three-year management contract with Watson.[8] In December 2008, after the CBA advised Watson that they would not be completing the third year of the contract, the Rams withdrew from the NBL,[8] with the Christchurch Cougars taking their place in the 2009 NBL season.[9] The Cougars lasted just two seasons after withdrawing on the eve of the 2011 season due to the Christchurch earthquake.[10]

In November 2013, the Canterbury Rams were granted re-entry into NBL under the leadership of Christchurch businessman Andrew Harrison,[11][12] making their return during the 2014 NBL season.[13]

In 2016, the Rams were regular season winners for the first time since 1993[14] and made their first playoff appearance since 2002,[15] where they lost in the semi-final to the Super City Rangers.[16][17]

In 2023, the Rams reached their first NBL final since 1999 behind the likes of Troy Baxter Jr., Tevin Brown and Corey Webster.[18] They won their fifth championship and first since 1992 with a 93–82 win over the Auckland Tuatara.[19]

In 2024, the Rams returned to the NBL final, where they once again defeated the Auckland Tuatara 102–87 behind Australian centre Lachlan Olbrich, the league MVP and grand final MVP. Olbrich contributed 29 points, 18 rebounds, and six assists in the final, while US forward KJ Buffen added 21 points on 8-9 shooting.[20][21]

Honour roll

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NBL Championships: 6 (1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023, 2024)
NBL Playoff appearances: 18 (1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024)
NBL Grand Final appearances: 10 (1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2023, 2024)
Most Valuable Player: McKenzie Moore (2016), Lachlan Olbrich (2024)
Kiwi MVP: John Rademakers (1984), Terrence Lewis (2002), Marcel Jones (2016)
All-Star Five: Clyde Huntley (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987), Eddie Anderson (1991), Terrence Lewis (2002), John Whorton (2002), McKenzie Moore (2016), Marcel Jones (2016, 2017), Winston Shepard (2018), Cameron Gliddon (2019), Tevin Brown (2023), Lachlan Olbrich (2024), Taylor Britt (2024)
Most Outstanding Guard: Clyde Huntley (1986), Eddie Anderson (1991), Terrence Lewis (2002), McKenzie Moore (2016), Cameron Gliddon (2019)
Most Outstanding Kiwi Guard: John Rademakers (1986), Chris Tupu (1994), Terrence Lewis (2002), Taylor Britt (2024)
Most Outstanding Forward: John Whorton (2002), Marcel Jones (2016), Lachlan Olbrich (2024)
Most Outstanding Kiwi Forward/Centre: Glen Denham (1990), Marcel Jones (2016, 2017)
Scoring Champion: John Whorton (2003), Dennis Trammell (2006)
Rebounding Champion: John Whorton (2002, 2003)
Assist Champion: Clyde Huntley (1984), Scott Stewart (1996), Carlo Varicchio (2002), McKenzie Moore (2016)
Rookie of the Year: Arthur Trousdell (2000), Richie Edwards (2014), Max Darling (2018)
Youth Player of the Year: Walter Brown (2023), Lachlan Olbrich (2024)
Coach of the Year: John Watson (2002), Mick Downer (2019), Judd Flavell (2024)

Players

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Current roster

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Canterbury Rams roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G 00 New Zealand Bond, Jonty
F 0 New Zealand Tonge, Aidan 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
G/F 1 United States Walker, M. J. (I) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
F 3 United States Buffen, K. J. (I) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
F 4 New Zealand Martin, Mana 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
G 5 New Zealand Britt, Taylor (C) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
F 7 New Zealand Brown, Walter 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
G 8 New Zealand Isaac, Tama (DP) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G 9 New Zealand Gonzales Garcia, Hugo 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 10 New Zealand Cate, Ihaka (DP) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
G 11 Australia Isaac, Kaia 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
F 12 New Zealand Darling, Maxwell 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
G/F 13 Samoa Nickel, Joshua 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
F/C 14 New Zealand Booth, Reuben 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
F 15 New Zealand Stodart, Mac 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
F 16 New Zealand Blight, Will 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
G/F 20 New Zealand Fahrensohn, Taki 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
F/C 21 Australia Olbrich, Lachlan (I) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
F/C 24 New Zealand Mason, Corban 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Head coach
  • New Zealand Judd Flavell
Assistant coach(es)
  • New Zealand Quinn Clinton
  • New Zealand Liam Connelly
  • New Zealand Adam Morgan
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 7 April 2024

Notable past players

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Coaches

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Head coaches

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  • New Zealand Murray McKay (1982–1983)
  • New Zealand Darrell Todd (1984–1985)
  • New Zealand Garry Pettis (1986–1988)
  • New Zealand Keith Mair (1989–1995)
  • New Zealand Bert Knops (1996–1999)
  • New Zealand Matt Ruscoe (2000–2001)
  • United States John Watson (2002–2004)
  • New Zealand Pete McAllister (2004–2005)
  • United States Chris Sparks (2006–2007)
  • New Zealand Bert Knops (2008)
  • New Zealand Dave Harrison (2014)
  • New Zealand Mark Dickel (2015–2018)
  • Australia Mick Downer (2019–2021)
  • New Zealand Judd Flavell (2022–present)

Source: canterburyrams.basketball

References

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  1. ^ "About The Canterbury Rams". canterburyrams.basketball. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019.
  2. ^ Longley, Geoff (14 May 2010). "Rams memories live on for Angelo Hill". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  3. ^ Egan, Brendon (4 April 2014). "Keith Mair reflects on Rams' halcyon days". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Finance woes limit Knops' revival plans". Stuff.co.nz. 28 February 2008. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016.
  5. ^ Smith, Tony (20 July 2019). "NBL: Bumper Christchurch crowd expected to inspire Rams and rivals". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  6. ^ Longley, Geoff (18 July 2012). "Canterbury Rams may be back in the game". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
  7. ^ Longley, Geoff (13 December 2008). "Cougars in as Rams opt out". The Press. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b "New cats clawing for place on basketball court". Stuff.co.nz. 3 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Former Rams owner Watson dies age 45". The Press. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Christchurch Cougars withdraw from NBL". Stuff.co.nz. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  11. ^ Canterbury Rams to make NBL return in 2014
  12. ^ Harrison targets defence as key for new Rams
  13. ^ Saints deny Rams in Christchurch
  14. ^ Team spirit driving Canterbury Rams' success – McKenzie Moore
  15. ^ Rams sign up Knops
  16. ^ Canterbury Rams coach rules out semi-final nerves after NBL exit
  17. ^ Season review: Canterbury Rams set for bright National Basketball League future
  18. ^ Hinton, Marc (22 July 2023). "Canterbury Rams outlast Otago Nuggets to book spot in NBL grand final". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  19. ^ Egan, Brendon (23 July 2023). "Canterbury Rams upset Tuatara to capture first NBL title in 31 years". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  20. ^ "CANTERBURY RAMS ARE BACK-TO-BACK SAL'S NBL CHAMPIONS". nznbl.basketball. 28 July 2024. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024.
  21. ^ Egan, Brendon (29 July 2024). "Back-to-back NBL champion Canterbury Rams set up for sustained success". The Press. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024.
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