Phill Jones

For other people with similar names, see Philip Jones.
Phill Jones
Nelson Giants
Position Managing director
League NZNBL
Personal information
Born (1974-01-25) 25 January 1974
Christchurch, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealand
Listed height 196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Listed weight 90 kg (198 lb)
Career information
High school Inangahua College
(Inangahua Junction, New Zealand)
Nelson College
(Nelson, New Zealand)
Playing career 1993–2015
Position Shooting guard
Number 13
Career history
1993–1998 Nelson Giants
1998–1999 Kouvot
1999 Otago Nuggets
2000–2015 Nelson Giants
2000–2001 Kouvot
2001–2002 Honka Espoo
2002 Kouvot
2002–2003 Cantù
2003–2004 New Zealand Breakers
2004–2007 Cantù
2007–2009 New Zealand Breakers
2009–2011 Cairns Taipans
Career highlights and awards

Phillip Charles George "Phill" Jones (born 25 January 1974) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player who is currently the managing director of the Nelson Giants of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).

The two-time Olympian has scored more points in the New Zealand NBL than any other Kiwi player and is second overall in league scoring history. In 2004, he ranked second among all points scorers at the Athens Olympics.[1]

Early life

Born in Christchurch, Jones grew up in Reefton and attended Inangahua College in Inangahua Junction, 30 minutes north of Reefton. In 1992, Jones moved to Nelson to play high school basketball at Nelson College.[2]

Professional career

In 1993, Jones debuted in the New Zealand NBL for the Nelson Giants, playing with the club for six seasons. Following the 1998 season, Jones moved to Finland to play for Kouvot of the Korisliiga. Following the 1998–99 season, Jones returned to New Zealand and played for the Otago Nuggets during the 1999 NZNBL season. After one season with the Nuggets, he re-joined the Giants and played for them every year until 2015 (bar 2005 and 2007).[3]

In 2000–01, Jones again played for Kouvot in Finland. He then split the 2001–02 season with Honka Espoo and Kouvot.

In the summer of 2002, Jones signed with Oregon Scientific Cantù of Italy for the 2002–03 season.[4]

In 2003, Jones signed with the New Zealand Breakers for their inaugural season in the Australian NBL.

In 2004, Jones re-signed with Cantù, playing for them until 2007. Jones subsequently missed out on the Giants' 2007 championship after returning from Italy two days too late to complete his five-game requirement to be eligible to join the Nelson roster.[5]

In July 2007, Jones signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers, returning to the club for a second stint.[6]

In July 2009, Jones signed with the Cairns Taipans,[7] spending two seasons with the club where he reached the 2011 Grand Final, a series the Taipans ironically lost to the Breakers.

On 10 May 2014, Jones played his 350th game for the Nelson Giants in a loss to the Southland Sharks.[8] On 16 May, Jones tied the all-time record for NBL games played in a loss to the Hawke's Bay Hawks. He played his 361st game, tying the record with NBL great Willie Burton who played from 1985–2006.[9] On 23 May, he broke Burton's record, playing his 362nd game in a win over the Manawatu Jets. In 31 minutes of action, he recorded 11 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.[10][11][12] On 27 June, Jones' jersey number 13 was retired by the Giants,[13] and on 4 July, he played his 369th game in the Giants' 87–71 semi-final loss to the Wellington Saints.[14]

Following his retirement from playing professionally, Jones was appointed as the Giants' managing director.[15][16] However, in March 2015, he came out of retirement and re-joined the Giants playing group for the NBL Pre-season Blitz.[17] New head coach Tim Fanning managed to convince Jones to commit for another year, as he joined the squad to add much needed depth for the 2015 season.[18][19] Following the 2015 season, he re-attained the role of the Giants' managing director, effectively ending his playing career.[20]

Coaching career

In January 2016, Jones was appointed head coach of the Nelson Sparks, a women's team playing in New Zealand's Women's Basketball Championship (WBC).[21]

National team career

In June 2008, after playing for the Tall Blacks for 14 years, Jones retired from international basketball.

Personal

Jones is the son of John and Carol Jones. He and his wife, Kat, have three children: Maia, Hayden and Ava.[5][22] His brother, Johnno, is married to wife, Megan.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 'Cut me and I bleed blue', says retiring Jones
  2. ↑ Giants' blue blood admits end is nigh
  3. ↑ Nelson Giants – player stats
  4. ↑ Basketball: Tall Black makes winning debut in Italy
  5. 1 2 Nelson Giants' Phill Jones to stand alone in NBL
  6. ↑ Originals Return
  7. ↑ Phill Jones signs with Taipans
  8. ↑ Southland Sharks spoil party for Giants legend
  9. ↑ Jones to tie record
  10. ↑ Giants down the Jets in Palmerston North
  11. ↑ Jets vs Giants
  12. ↑ Jones gets win in special occasion
  13. 1 2 Phill's final home hurrah
  14. ↑ Saints outshine Giants to reach NBL final
  15. ↑ Veteran Vukona stays glued to Giants' cause
  16. ↑ A humble Giant amongst sports legends talks sponsorship, retiring and community
  17. ↑ Much-travelled American Kareem Johnston joins Wellington Saints
  18. ↑ Jones Comes Out Of Retirement
  19. ↑ It's game on comeback kid Phill Jones
  20. ↑ Nelson Giants lock in homegrown assets
  21. ↑ Nelson Giants coach Tim Fanning wants legend Phill Jones back for another season
  22. ↑ More parents want three

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Dontaye Draper		 NBL Best Sixth Man
2009 		Succeeded by
Erron Maxey
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