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North Melbourne Giants

North Melbourne Giants
North Melbourne Giants logo
LeaguesNBL
Founded1980
Dissolved1998
HistoryCoburg Giants
1980–1986
North Melbourne Giants
1987–1998
ArenaThe Glass House
Capacity7,200
LocationMelbourne, Victoria
Team colorsTeal and White; originally Maroon, Gold, Silver and White
Championships2 (1989, 1994)

The North Melbourne Giants, previously known as the Coburg Giants, were an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne. The Giants competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 1980 and 1998, and played their home games at The Glass House.

The Coburg Giants entered the league in its second season (1980) and would change their name to the North Melbourne Giants in 1987. Under its new name, the Giants had much success, winning two championships, only to dissolve in 1998 to ultimately become a domestic association.[1][2]

Honour roll

NBL Championships: 2 (1989, 1994)
NBL finals appearances: 7 (1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995)
NBL Grand Final appearances: 4 (1988, 1989, 1994, 1995)
NBL Most Valuable Player: Ray Borner (1985), Scott Fisher (1989, 1992)
NBL Grand Final MVP: Scott Fisher (1989), Paul Rees (1994)
All-NBL First Team: Ray Borner (1985), Jim Foster (1986), Tim Dillon (1988), Scott Fisher (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992), Darryl McDonald (1994, 1995, 1996)
NBL Coach of the Year: Bruce Palmer (1988), Brett Brown (1994)
NBL Rookie of the Year: David Smith (1998)
NBL Most Improved Player: None
NBL Best Defensive Player: None
NBL Best Sixth Man: None
NBL Good Hands Award: Darryl McDonald (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)

Season by season

NBL champions League champions Runners-up Finals berth
Season Tier League Regular season Post-season Head coach
Finish Played Wins Losses Win %
Coburg Giants
1980 1 NBL 9th 22 7 15 .318 Did not qualify Ray Tomlinson
1981 1 NBL 10th 22 7 15 .318 Did not qualify Ray Tomlinson
1982 1 NBL 4th 26 18 8 .692 Lost semifinal (West Adelaide) 74–94 Bruce Palmer
1983 1 NBL 3rd 22 13 9 .591 Qualified round robin 2–1
Lost semifinal (Canberra) 75–80
Ray Tomlinson
1984 1 NBL 2nd 24 18 6 .750 Lost preliminary final (Brisbane) 104–105
Won qualifying final (Newcastle) 132–109
Lost semifinal (Canberra) 107–108
Owen Hughan
1985 1 NBL 5th 26 18 8 .692 Lost elimination final (Canberra) 87–110 Owen Hughan
1986 1 NBL 8th 26 14 12 .538 Did not qualify Les Riddle
North Melbourne Giants
1987 1 NBL 6th 26 15 11 .577 Lost elimination final (Illawarra) 97–105 Bruce Palmer
1988 1 NBL 2nd 24 18 6 .750 Won semifinals (Perth) 2–1
Lost NBL finals (Canberra) 1–2
Bruce Palmer
1989 1 NBL 2nd 24 17 7 .708 Won semifinals (Perth) 2–1
Won NBL finals (Canberra) 2–0
Bruce Palmer
1990 1 NBL 1st 26 20 6 .769 Lost semifinals (Perth) 1–2 Bruce Palmer
1991 1 NBL 6th 26 16 10 .615 Won elimination finals (Geelong) 2–1
Lost semifinals (Eastside) 0–2
Bruce Palmer
1992 1 NBL 4th 24 14 10 .583 Won quarterfinals (Illawarra) 2–0
Lost semifinals (S.E. Melbourne) 0–2
Bruce Palmer
1993 1 NBL 8th 26 13 13 .500 Lost quarterfinals (Perth) 1–2 Brett Brown
1994 1 NBL 2nd 26 19 7 .731 Won quarterfinals (Sydney) 2–1
Won semifinals (S.E. Melbourne) 2–0
Won NBL finals (Adelaide) 2–0
Brett Brown
1995 1 NBL 3rd 26 18 8 .643 Won quarterfinals (Brisbane) 2–0
Won semifinals (S.E. Melbourne) 2–1
Lost NBL finals (Perth) 1–2
Brett Brown
1996 1 NBL 7th 26 15 11 .577 Lost quarterfinals (S.E. Melbourne) 0–2 Brett Brown
1997 1 NBL 3rd 30 18 12 .600 Won elimination finals (Canberra) 2–1
Lost semifinals (Melbourne) 0–2
Brett Brown
1998 1 NBL 10th 30 9 21 .300 Did not qualify Brett Brown
Regular season record 482 287 195 .595 1 regular season champions
Finals record 58 29 29 .500 2 NBL championships

As of the end of the 1998 season

*Note: In 1983 and 1984, the NBL was split into Eastern and Western divisions during the regular season.

Source: North Melbourne Giants Year by Year

References

  1. ^ Uluc, Olgun (16 October 2015). "The NBL's defunct franchises: Sydney Astronauts, Launceston Casino City, Singapore Slingers, and more". FoxSports.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  2. ^ "History". CoburgBasketball.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2017.