The OceanaGold Nuggets, formerly the Otago Nuggets, are a New Zealand professional basketball team that play in the National Basketball League. They play their home games at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. They are sponsored by OceanaGold.
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After a series of 8 losses the then-named Otago Nuggets managed a convincing 19 point win against the Harbour Heat. In rounds 8 and 9 they had consecutive wins against two top of the table teams, but this was not enough to move them off the bottom of the table and they finished the season 3-15.
The Nuggets were coached by American Don Simms and had another unsuccussful season. Two players, Nat Connell and Steve Robinson, were suspended mid season for breaching the league's drug protocols.
Due to lack of funds, the Nuggets pulled out of the 2009 season.
After backing from OceanaGold Corporation, who are a significant Pacific Rim gold producer who have a large mine at Macraes north of Dunedin, The newly named OceanaGold Nuggets returned in 2010.
Basketball Otago appointed Alf Arlidge as Head Coach of the OceanaGold Otago Nuggets for the 2010 season. Arlidge has been involved in coaching in the region for the last twenty years.
Arlidge has been involved in Basketball Otago's elite men’s program and led the Nuggets on a tour to Australia in December 2009 where they had a 4-4 record.
The Nuggets defeated the North Island's Manawatu Jets 74-67 on Saturday, 21 May 2011, to end the Nuggets' 33-game losing streak in the New Zealand National Basketball League. The Nuggets' last win before this game was also against the Jets, on 12 April 2008.
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| Pos. | Starter | Bench | Bench | Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | ||||
| PF | B. J. Anthony | |||
| SF | Leon Henry | |||
| SG | ||||
| PG | Mark Dickel |
Kiwi Hoops official website - "Basketball Never Sleeps"
Basketball Otago official website
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