Canterbury Rams

Men's basketball team in Christchurch, New Zealand

Canterbury Rams

League

NZNBL

Founded

1982

History

Canterbury Rams
1982–2008; 2014–present

Arena

Cowles Stadium

Location

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Team colours

Black & red

Main sponsor

Wheeler Motor Company

General manager

Caleb Harrison

Head coach

Judd Flavell

Ownership

Andrew and Nicky Harrison

Championships

5 (1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023)

Website

canterburyrams.basketball/

Home

Away

The Canterbury Rams are a New Zealand 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

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 outstanding 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 79–72 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 behind the likes of McKenzie Moore and Marcel Jones.^[14] They made their first playoff appearance since 2002^[15] but lost 104–85 to the Super City Rangers in the semi-finals despite a 35-point effort from Moore.^[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]

Honour roll

NBL Championships:	5 (1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023)
NBL Playoff appearances:	17 (1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023)
NBL Grand Final appearances:	9 (1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2023)
Most Valuable Player:	McKenzie Moore (2016)
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)
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)
Most Outstanding Forward:	John Whorton (2002), Marcel Jones (2016)
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)
Coach of the Year:	John Watson (2002), Mick Downer (2019)

Players

Current roster

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

Canterbury Rams roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Ht.
F	0	Tonge, Aidan	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
F	4	Martin, Mana	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
G	5	Britt, Taylor (C)	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
G	7	Brown, Walter	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
G	8	Isaac, Tama (DP)	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G	9	Gonzales Garcia, Hugo	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
F	10	Cate, Ihaka (DP)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
G	11	Isaac, Kaia	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
F	12	Darling, Maxwell	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
F	16	Blight, Will	2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
G/F	20	Fahrensohn, Taki	2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
F	21	Olbrich, Lachlan (I)	2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
F/C	24	Mason, Corban	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
F		Buffen, K. J. (I)	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
F		Stodart, Mac	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
G/F		Walker, M. J. (I)	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)

Head coach

Judd Flavell

Assistant coach(es)

Quinn Clinton
Liam Connelly

Legend

(C) Team captain
(DP) Development player
(I) Import player
Injured

Roster

Updated: 27 March 2024

Notable past players

Eddie Anderson
/ Clifton Bush
Glen Dandridge
Glen Denham
/ Richie Edwards
Mickell Gladness
Angelo Hill
Clyde Huntley
/ Marcel Jones
Jeremy Kendle
Jeremy Kench
/ Terrence Lewis
Damian Matacz
McKenzie Moore
Kenny Perkins
John Rademakers
Matthew Rogers
Ethan Rusbatch
Jermaine Taylor
Reuben Te Rangi
Dennis Trammell
/ Arthur Trousdell
Chris Tupu
Carlo Varicchio
Marques Whippy
John Whorton
Robert Wilson

Coaches

Head coaches

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

Source: Canterbury Rams Facebook page

References

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