2009 New Zealand NBL season

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.^[1]

2009 New Zealand NBL season
League	New Zealand NBL
Sport	Basketball
Duration	14 March – 25 June
Number of games	16
Number of teams	9
Regular season
Minor premiers	Waikato Pistons
Season MVP	Phill Jones (Nelson Giants)
Top scorer	Mike Efevberha (Wellington Saints)
Playoffs
Champions	Waikato Pistons
Runners-up	Nelson Giants
Finals MVP	Justin Bailey

Summary

Regular season standings

Pos
	Team	W	L
1	Waikato Pistons	14	2
2	Nelson Giants	12	4
3	Wellington Saints	12	4
4	Christchurch Cougars	10	6
5	Harbour Heat	9	7
6	Hawke's Bay Hawks	7	9
7	Manawatu Jets	4	12
8	Auckland Stars	4	12
9	Taranaki Dynamos	0	16

Playoff bracket

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
						1	Waikato Pistons	96
	4	Christchurch Cougars	106			4	Christchurch Cougars	89
	5	Harbour Heat	98									Waikato Pistons	81	94	–
												Nelson Giants	69	84	–
						2	Nelson Giants	83
	3	Wellington Saints	80			3	Wellington Saints	82
	6	Hawke's Bay Hawks	75

Awards

Player of the Week

Round	Player	Team	Ref
1	Mike Efevberha	Wellington Saints	[2]
2	Corey Webster	Harbour Heat	[3][4]
3	Thomas Abercrombie	Waikato Pistons	[5]
4	Jarryd Loyd	Nelson Giants	[6]
5	Mike Efevberha	Wellington Saints	[7]
6	Phill Jones	Nelson Giants	[8]
7	Paora Winitana	Christchurch Cougars	[9]
8	Marcel Jones	Manawatu Jets	[10]
9	Damon Thornton	Wellington Saints	[11]
10	Mychal Green	Harbour Heat	[12]
11	Tim Behrendorff	Christchurch Cougars	[13]
12	Mike Efevberha	Wellington Saints	[14]
13	Thomas Abercrombie	Waikato Pistons	[15]
14	Mike Efevberha	Wellington Saints	[16]

Statistics leaders

Stats as of the end of the regular season^[17]

Category	Player	Team	Stat
Points per game	Mike Efevberha	Wellington Saints	27.8
Rebounds per game	Jamil Terrell	Manawatu Jets	10.3
Assists per game	Paul Henare	Christchurch Cougars	6.5
Steals per game	Mychal Green	Harbour Heat	3.2
Blocks per game	Damon Thornton	Wellington Saints	1.9

Regular season

• Most Valuable Player: Phill Jones (Nelson Giants)^[18][19]
• NZ Most Valuable Player: Phill Jones (Nelson Giants)
• Most Outstanding Guard: Mike Efevberha (Wellington Saints)
• Most Outstanding NZ Guard: Phill Jones (Nelson Giants)
• Most Outstanding Forward: Thomas Abercrombie (Waikato Pistons)
• Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre: Thomas Abercrombie (Waikato Pistons)
• Scoring Champion: Mike Efevberha (Wellington Saints)
• Rebounding Champion: Jamil Terrell (Manawatu Jets)
• Assist Champion: Paul Henare (Christchurch Cougars)
• Rookie of the Year: Thomas Abercrombie (Waikato Pistons)
• Coach of the Year: Dean Vickerman (Waikato Pistons)
• All-Star Five:
  • G: Mike Efevberha (Wellington Saints)
  • G: Phill Jones (Nelson Giants)
  • F: Thomas Abercrombie (Waikato Pistons)
  • F: Adam Ballinger (Waikato Pistons)
  • C: Tim Behrendorff (Christchurch Cougars)

Playoffs

• Finals MVP: Justin Bailey (Waikato Pistons)^[20][21][22]