BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND MESSAGES 5 CONTENTS From the Chair and Chief Executive 5 2019 HIGHLIGHTS 8 NATIONAL TEAMS 10 MBO Tall Blacks 10 Sky Sport Tall Ferns 12 Junior Tall Blacks 14 National Junior Teams U17 15 FIBA and NBA Basketball Without Borders 16 National 3x3 Teams 18 NATIONAL LEAGUES AND CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS 20 Sal’s National Basketball League 20 BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Women’s Basketball Championship 21 Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 57 National Championship Tournaments 22 Consolidated Statement of Cashflows 58 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 59 NATIONAL ACTIVITIES 28 Independent Auditor’s Report 70 Alumni 28 Awards 28 MEET THE TEAM 72 3x3 Quest Tour 30 BBNZ Kaumatua 72 3X3.EXE Premier 30 BBNZ Board 72 Community 31 BBNZ FIBA Representation, Patron, Staff, Life Members and Roll of Honour 74 TEAMS AND RESULTS 32 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 54 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Revenue and Expenses 55 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets 56 BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND CONTENTS 3 BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND 4 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND MESSAGES FROM THE CHAIR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE During 2019 basketball in New Basketball in New Zealand is capturing Zealand was elevated further, more fans every year. Overseas becoming one of New Zealand’s basketball entertainment such as the major sports. More people played NBA and the Australian NBL helps, but in Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) our New Zealand leagues and events tournaments than ever before, are also growing a reliable fanbase. demand for the game on New The Sal’s NBL is a great example of Zealand’s screens increased, and this. Five years ago, BBNZ put in place commercial growth saw a surplus a strategy to grow viewership and after two previous years of small commercial interest. With investment, deficits. working closely with media partners Greg Williamson and sponsors, and taking back the The game thrived at almost every Chair administration of the league, the Sal’s level and there is much to celebrate, NBL now has a major sponsor and a but also much we can improve. Our robust broadcast deal. Now we need vision of a ‘hoop in the heart of every to think of the next five years and the neighbourhood’ will be realised if we many challenges the league still faces. can continue progressing, but we must remain vigilant and prioritise To add to the growth opportunities, sustainability. in 2019 BBNZ announced a new NBL Women’s League to replace the Basketball is New Zealand’s second Women’s Basketball Championship most played sport at secondary school, (WBC). This is an innovative move to with 13% growth in the last five years raise the brand and awareness of the (2015-2019). The statistics show Kiwi Women’s League. The new league will males are flocking to the game like Iain Potter be a step up, but one that is important never before. Yet we are still struggling Chief Executive for the women’s game to thrive. to see the same rate of growth among females. BBNZ has become more The MBO Tall Blacks and Sky Sport proactive in appealing to female players Tall Ferns enjoyed another significant with the creation of the Girls Got Game boost in coverage, especially at the programme, increasing our promotion FIBA World Cup for the men and at and service of the women’s teams the Pre-Olympic Qualifier for the and leagues, and pushing to get more women. This coverage is helping women’s stories in the New Zealand BBNZ commercially and building the media spotlight. To encourage more profiles of our elite players, with the girls to play basketball, we must tailor hope that they will become household the game for them, basing the game in names and ambassadors for our sport. the early years on fun and friends, with Internationally, the New Zealand teams’ At the time of this Annual Report less emphasis on competition. Seeing profiles grew, especially the Tall Blacks, going to print, New Zealand and more female basketballers remains a who were incredible and yet so unlucky nations around the world were big goal and one we hope the whole at the FIBA World Cup. They received adapting to major economic basketball community works towards. amazing coverage in China and were one of only three teams to get prime and social change as a result of Overall, 2019 was another year of great time live coverage of their pool games the COVID-19 pandemic. This demand. BBNZ ran 23 events with on China’s largest free-to-air sports Annual Report has been left as many resulting in record registrations channel – CCTV5. it was originally written, before and playing numbers. A big thanks to COVID-19. It covers how BBNZ our tournaments team and supporting The team’s performance was finished 2019, with insight into partners for doing a superb job putting inspirational, playing a fast-paced game the priorities that were being on these great occasions – creating where every player was a shooting planned before 2020 began. memorable experiences for teams and threat. The exciting style saw the the crowds that attend. Tall Blacks stun Turkey, Montenegro and BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND MESSAGES 5 Japan, and come close to beating Brazil A lack of meaningful high performance your dedication to basketball. Everything and Greece. These results delighted our funding was again a topic of discussion you do in your region helps drive it at a sponsors and also helped lift our brand’s with politicians, government officials national level. Thanks to the staff within presence in this large market, one we and other stakeholders. BBNZ has each Association and their volunteers hope to continue working within. positioned basketball as well as possible who help us put on tournaments and other events. We understand it is more BBNZ took on the challenge of hosting as the Government reviews the future work on top of an already busy life, but a FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying event of high performance funding. The the needs of a rapidly growing player featuring the Tall Ferns. The team did outcome, which will be known in late population make this a necessary task – all that was asked of them by winning 2020, will depend on the Government thank you all. two of their three games, including accepting a wider definition of sporting a stunning performance against success. They share our view that Finally, thanks to a very hard-working South Korea. Unfortunately, Korea inspiring New Zealanders should not be team at BBNZ who continue to make unexpectedly beating China saw the limited to an Olympic medal every four more things happen, often without Tall Ferns Olympic dream halted due years, so we are hopeful. added resources. to a points count back. Still, the event Funding senior elite teams is not just was a brilliant step up for the women’s a challenge for BBNZ. The realities of game. sending teams to Oceania, Asia and Despite the cost pressures of hosting world events in both 5x5 and 3x3 is a major women’s event in November, difficult at an age group level too. A great deal of support comes from taking back the administration of the Greg Williamson NBL, and sending 24 teams to compete the many parents whose children are Chair overseas, a surplus of $251,232 was selected to represent their country. achieved. This is vital to help build our The costs of this opportunity are high. reserves and, therefore, the long-term The families that support these kids sustainability of the organisation. are the big drivers of our age group programmes. Add to that all the support We benefitted from adding more from volunteers, coaches, officials and sponsors, including selling properties referees, especially those in the regions like the Tall Ferns naming rights to Sky who help our Associations – all deserve Sport, adding a host of backers to the our sincere thanks. Tall Blacks support, and seeing Major Iain Potter Events, Sport NZ and the TAB help fund And to our partners in the game across Chief Executive projects, alongside other sponsors and New Zealand and our 36 Associations Community Trusts. – we are in this together! Thank you for BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND 6 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 BASKETBALL NEW ZEALAND MESSAGES 7 2019 HIGHLIGHTS BROADCASTING GENERAL WBC CROWNED MAJOR INCREASE 19 BBNZ AWARDS DIVISION 1 IN LIVE COVERAGE THROUGH presented at sold out event in Wellington. CHAMPIONS SKY SPORT, STUFF Record 14 Kiwis A record 22 former or current AND MĀORI TV invited to ‘Basketball Tall Ferns played during the season. • Tall Ferns at Asia Cup and Without Borders’ Pre-Olympic Qualifiers 14 camp. Charlisse Leger- 22 livestreamed games, in Auckland. Walker and Samuel 146% 64,931 views (146% KIWIS Mennenga go to the increase increase in viewership). • Tall Blacks tour of Japan, NBA Global Camp. Australia and China. • Schick Championships. SKY SPORT AND STUFF • Aon U17 Grand Finals. broadcast the grand final for the first time. Burton Shipley named • WBC Grand Final. Vice President of FIBA. • Sal’s NBL. AGE GROUP TEAMS 122 KIWI BASKETBALLERS on college scholarships abroad. U17 NATIONAL TEAMS Both U17 national teams won silver medals at U17 FIBA Oceania Championships. PRESIDENT’S AWARD Both qualified to compete in 2020 U18 FIBA BBNZ awarded FIBA’s ‘President’s Award’ Asia Championships. for positive impact on basketball, and commitment and contributions to the Junior Tall Blacks beat Lithuania, Senegal region (Oceania). and Philippines during the U19 FIBA World Cup. 3X3 Junior Tall Blacks received an official invitation to prestigious Albert 3X3.EXE PREMIER Schweitzer Tournament in Germany. TEAM SWISH New Zealand joined 3x3.EXE Premier won the Open Men’s FIBA 3x3 World League (world’s largest 3x3 league – four Tour Qualifier and played at FIBA World countries, 12 conferences, 72 teams).