ABOUT THE TEAM

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TARANAKI AIRS

Taranaki Steelformers Airs is a New Zealand professional basketball team that competes in the National Basketball League (NBL). They have previously been known as the New Plymouth Bulls (1986–93), the Taranaki Bears (1994–98), the Taranaki Oilers (1999) and the Devon Dynamos Taranaki (2008–09).

They play their home games at TSB Stadium in New Plymouth, Taranaki. Due to a lack of funding, they did not compete in the New Zealand NBL from 2000 to 2002. After having been absent from the national competition for three seasons, there was a need to redevelop the local talent.

IN 2003, THE TARANAKI BASKETBALL CAMPAIGNED TO LAUNCH A TEAM IN THE NBL. A REJUVENATED POOL OF TALENTED PLAYERS CAME TOGETHER, A TEAM WAS SELECTED, AND THE VISION BECAME A REALITY.

With tremendous public and media support, the Taranaki Airs had an outstanding reintroduction into New Zealand basketball’s major stage.

Their best results in the NBL were third place in 1988, 1991 and 1992. Player Willie Banks was named NBL MVP in 2004. With the league changing the rules for the 2018 season, the teams are now able to have three imports.