Wellington Saints

Team history

The Wellington Saints were founded in 1981. In 1982, the Exchequer Saints won the second division title, which promoted them to the first division for the 1983 season. The Saints went on to play in six straight championship games upon joining the NBL, winning titles in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988. They played in their seventh final in 1991, where they lost to the Hutt Valley Lakers.

At the end of the 1996 season, both the Saints and the Lakers were struggling to survive. They amalgamated for the 1997 season, becoming TransAlta Wellington. With fans wanting a 'real' name, for the 1998 season, they became the TransAlta Wizards. For the 1999 season, they returned to the original identity of Saints.

The Saints returned to title contenders in the 2000s, winning their fifth championship in 2003 and finishing as runners-up in 2001 and 2008. In the 2010s, the Saints played in every championship game between 2010 and 2019, except 2013. They claimed back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011, before claiming their eighth championship in 2014. With their ninth title in 2016, the Saints matched the Auckland Stars for most championships in NBL history. In 2017, the Saints made NBL history by becoming the first team to complete a perfect regular season, going 18–0. They went on to defeat the Canterbury Rams in the semi-finals before becoming the first team to complete an unbeaten season, capping off a perfect 20–0 campaign by beating the Southland Sharks 108–75 in the final. Their tenth championship set a new record for most in NBL history. The Saints returned to the final in 2018, but missed the chance at their first three-peat with a 98–96 loss to the Sharks. In 2019, the Saints completed their second undefeated regular season in three years, going 18–0, before completing another perfect 20–0 campaign by defeating the Hawke's Bay Hawks 78–68 in the final to win their 11th title.

The Saints sat out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They returned in 2021 and won their 12th championship.

In November 2024, the Saints unveiled a rebranded logo and identity for the 2025 season to honour their 40-year legacy. The Saints went on to earn the minor premiership in 2025 with a first-place finish and a 16–4 record, before reaching the NBL final for the first time since 2021. In the final, the Saints defeated the Southland Sharks 88–83 to win their 13th championship.

Honour roll

Current roster

Notable players

• USA Kenny McFadden
• USA Kevin Braswell
• New Zealand Thomas Abercrombie
• New Zealand Steven Adams
• USA Brandon Bowman
• Australia Xavier Cooks
• USA Torrey Craig
• New Zealand Corey Webster
• New Zealand Lindsay Tait
• New Zealand Shea Ili
• USA Tai Wesley
• USA Kerry Boagni
• United States / New Zealand Casey Frank
• Australia Kyle Adnam
• USA Eric Devendorf
• USA Terrence Lewis
• AUS Nick Kay

Retired numbers

CBL team

The Saints began in the second-tiered Conference Basketball League (CBL), winning the CBL title in 1982. In 1997, Wellington's second division team, TransAlta Wellington, finished as runners-up in the CBL. In 2000, Wellington's second division CBL team was called Capital Punishment. In 2001, the Wellington College Saints finished as CBL runners-up. In 2008, the Saints' second division team won the CBL championship with a 90–84 win over the Waikato Titans in the final.

References

References

1. "Saints Legend Kenny McFadden becomes first NBL player with a retired jersey". Saints.co.nz.
2. Hyslop, Liam. (11 April 2019). "'Mr Wellington Saints' Kenny McFadden back as assistant coach". Stuff.co.nz.
3. "Who Are We". Saints.co.nz.
4. "Locations – Exodus Saints". Wotzon.com.
5. (16 March 1999). "The Saints are Back". plug.co.nz.
6. [http://www.basketball.org.nz/NBL-News/saints-claim-9th-nbl-title SAINTS CLAIM 9TH NBL TITLE]
7. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/93550831/wellington-saints-complete-perfect-national-basketball-league-regular-season Wellington Saints complete perfect National Basketball League regular season]
8. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/93555219/wellington-saints-nbl-season-wont-be-perfect-with-another-championship Wellington Saints' NBL season won't be perfect without another championship]
9. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11878317 Basketball: Wellington Saints complete perfect NBL season]
10. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/93596782/wellington-saints-complete-perfect-season-with-nbl-final-win-over-southland-sharks Wellington Saints complete perfect season with NBL final win over Southland Sharks]
11. [http://www.nznbl.basketball/sharks-claim-third-title-with-gutsy-win-over-defending-champion-saints/ SHARKS CLAIM THIRD TITLE WITH GUTSY WIN OVER DEFENDING CHAMPION SAINTS]
12. [https://www.nznbl.basketball/this-is-what-18-0-looks-like/ THIS IS WHAT 18-0 LOOKS LIKE]
13. [https://www.nznbl.basketball/saints-come-from-behind-to-finish-2019-undefeated/ SAINTS COME FROM BEHIND TO FINISH 2019 UNDEFEATED]
14. [https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/114400236/wellington-saints-claim-record-11th-nbl-title-with-stunning-comeback-win-over-hawks Wellington Saints claim 11th NBL title with stunning comeback win over Hawks]
15. [https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/114513582/paul-henare-on-undefeated-champion-saints-not-bad-for-a-bunch-of-roleplayers Paul Henare on undefeated champion Saints: 'Not bad for a bunch of role-players']
16. Hinton, Marc. (9 May 2020). "Saints, Southland Sharks non-starters as innovative Kiwi NBL battles to achieve liftoff". Stuff.co.nz.
17. (19 May 2020). "Seven teams confirmed for NBL basketball competition in June". Stuff.co.nz.
18. Rollo, Phillip. (20 May 2020). "'Too high of a risk': Why the champion Saints will not compete in the make-shift NBL". Stuff.co.nz.
19. (23 July 2021). "Wellington Saints continue NBL dominance with grand final win over Hawke's Bay Hawks". Stuff.co.nz.
20. (13 November 2024). "Saints Announce New Rebrand for the 2025 Season". saints.co.nz.
21. (3 July 2025). "Sal's NBL 2025: Finals Frenzy!!!". NZNBL.
22. (14 July 2025). "Saints Storm Into Grand Final After Dominant Semi-Final Win". saints.co.nz.
23. (17 July 2025). "Wellington Saints Grand Final Preview". nznbl.basketball.
24. (20 July 2025). "Hyrum Harris shines as Wellington Saints capture NBL title No 13". thepost.co.nz.
25. (20 July 2025). "Basketball: Wellington Saints beat Southland Sharks to clinch 13th National Basketball League title". NZ Herald.
26. (20 July 2025). "Basketball: Welington Saints player dedicates NBL victory to late coach". RNZ.
27. "2010 Conference Basketball League". Basketball.org.nz.
28. "Wellington Saints".
29. "Capital Punishment".
30. "2008 Annual Results". Basketball.org.nz.
31. Meikle, Hayden. (1 September 2008). "Basketball: Satisfactory placing for Penguins". odt.co.nz.
32. (2008). "Shot at big time too early for Suns". nzherald.co.nz.
33. "2008 Conference Basketball League Finals".