The Franklin Bulls are a New Zealand basketball team based in Pukekohe. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball League (NBL), playing their home games at the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre, known as the Stockyard.
In July 2019, the Franklin Bulls were granted conditional entry into the National Basketball League for the 2021 season.[1] This application was then expedited when they completed a set of requirements set down by the league. In November 2019, they were granted entry into the NBL for the 2020 season.[2][3] The team was co-founded by Jamie Reddish and Scott Kelso.[4]
Mascot design - Before the Bulls joined the NBL, they ran a competition among its members to select a name for the team. The winning vote was going to see them called the Franklin "Blitz" however, it was later decided to name their newly created mascot Blitz and name the team the Bulls. Following this a logo was designed and the Franklin Pool and Lesuire centre gained its nickname "The Stockyard".[5] Blitz also has notable features in his design that members are aware of. He can be seen and heard making a lot of noise at home games, dishing out cowbells to fans.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was initially suspended indefinitely.[6][7] The league returned in a reduced format based entirely in Auckland at The Trusts Arena; it also included the first and only player draft.[8][9] The inaugural Bulls team was coached by Liam Simmons, featuring FIBA 3x3 Tall Black Dom Kelman-Poto, Isaac Davidson, former Tall Black Everard Bartlett and Sam Timmins (who was their first draft choice).[10] The team finished fifth in the regular season with a 7–7 record and lost 99–90 in their elimination final against the Taranaki Mountainairs.[11][12]
In 2021, the Bulls finished their first full season in the league in eighth place with a 5–13 record.[13] The team was coached by Jamie Reddish[14] featuring Tall Black Isaac Davidson along with Denhym Brooke, imports Zane Waterman[15] and former NBA Draft pick Josh Selby from the US. The Bulls also signed Kyrin Galloway[16] from the New Zealand Breakers when Waterman's season was ended with a broken wrist. Josh Selby parted ways with the team on June 1 after sustaining an injury and requesting a return to the US.[17]
In 2021 the Bulls played host for the New Zealand Breakers while dealing with schedule clashes with their normal home venue. The Pukekohe based Bulls stepped up and the Breakers took on the Illawara Hawks at the Stockyard on May 28. The Hawks however took the win 84-73.[18]
For the 2022 season, Rookie Tall Blacks Jayden Bezzant and Anzaz Risseto joined the team with Isaac Davidson returning for a third season. They also announced the return of NBL legend Leon Henry and star signing of Tall Blacks guard Corey Webster[19] alongside new coach Morgan Maskell.[20] They played most of the season with an all New Zealand born team, until Giddy Potts joined them as their only import on the roster, mid season.[21]
They finished the regular season in eighth place with a 7–11 record and failed to make the playoffs.[22]
For 2023, the Bulls recruited the New Zealand Breakers assistant coach Daniel Sokolovsky[24] to be their head coach and hired former 150 game veteran Tall Black Mika Vukona to be their GM.[25]
The roster included imports Rickey McGill and Jamaal Brantley, along with Tall Blacks Jayden Bezzant, Dan Fotu, Tyrell Harrison, Isaac Davidson and Dom Kelman-Poto.[26] Mid season additions included Matt Freeman and Jared Wilson-Frame as a free agent released from the Canturbury Rams.[27] They finished the regular season in fourth place with a 12–6 record heading to their first play in series.[28][29] They easily defeated the Wellington Saints 124–104 in the 1st play-in match, setting a semi-final against the Tuatara.[30] However in the semi-final, the Bulls lost 92–67 to the Tuatara.[31]
Due to scheduling issues, some home games were played at Bruce Pulman Arena, Takaanini.
FIBA German International team assistant coach Sebastian Gleim signed a two-year deal as the Bulls head coach. Dom Kelman-Poto (3rd season) and Issac Davidson (5th season) returned. They were joined alongside Tall Blacks Ethan Rusbatch, Jordan Hunt, former 2020 Bull Sam Timmins and Dru-Leo Leusogi-Ape.[34] Guards Luther Muhammad,[35][36] Joshua Scott[37] and forward Jamaal Brantley (2nd season) joined as the team's imports. Season 2024 also seems the integration of the Rapid League, in which local players (no imports) whom are non-starters will take part in a shortened contest before the main game. Coaches Joe Reddish and Samara Funnell split their time coaching this team, during which Funnell made her coaching debut against the Sharks and picked up a win in her first match in the Rapid League as the nominated head coach for that game.[38]
Shorlty after Round 7 Jordan Hunt was ruled out for the remainder of season, due to an on-going ankle injury he sustained while playing in the UK.[39] Post round 8 The Bulls were involved in a player trade with the Auckland Tuatara, which was an NBL first. On May 24 Brantley and the Bulls mutually parted ways. Following this KC Nwafor was re-signed on a short term contract as cover. American guard Lee Skinner arrived from Cyprus in time for Round 10 action debuting in a win over the Sharks, to then take his place.[40]
The Bulls reached the semi-final, where they lost 78–75 to the Auckland Tuatara.[41][42]
Individual:
Team:
(*) denotes active player still on Bulls roster
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage
(*) Denotes season still in progress
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
2020
2021
2022
2023