Canterbury Rams

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Men's basketball team in Christchurch, New Zealand

title: "Canterbury Rams" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["basketball-teams-in-new-zealand", "national-basketball-league-(new-zealand)-teams", "sport-in-christchurch", "basketball-teams-established-in-1982", "1982-establishments-in-new-zealand"] description: "Men's basketball team in Christchurch, New Zealand" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_Rams" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Men's basketball team in Christchurch, New Zealand ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox basketball club"]

FieldValue
nameCanterbury Rams
color1#FF0000
color2#000000
logoCanterbury Rams logo.jpg
leagueNZNBL
founded1982
historyCanterbury Rams
1982–2008; 2014–present
arenaCowles Stadium
locationChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
coloursBlack & red
gmCaleb Harrison
coachQuinn Clinton
ownershipAndrew and Nicky Harrison
sponsorWheeler Motor Company
championships6 (1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023, 2024)
websitecanterburyrams.basketball/
h_body000000
h_pattern_b_redsides_2
h_shorts000000
h_pattern_s_redsides
a_bodyFF0000
a_shortsFF0000
::

| name = Canterbury Rams | color1 = #FF0000 | color2 = #000000 | logo = Canterbury Rams logo.jpg | league = NZNBL | founded = 1982 | history = Canterbury Rams 1982–2008; 2014–present | arena = Cowles Stadium | location = Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand | colours = Black & red | gm = Caleb Harrison | coach = Quinn Clinton | ownership = Andrew and Nicky Harrison | sponsor = Wheeler Motor Company | championships = 6 (1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2023, 2024) | website = canterburyrams.basketball/ | h_body = 000000 | h_pattern_b = _redsides_2 | h_shorts = 000000 | h_pattern_s = _redsides | a_body = FF0000 | a_pattern_b = | a_shorts = FF0000 | a_pattern_s =

The Canterbury Rams are a New Zealand professional men's 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. 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 New Zealand core of John "Dutchie" Rademakers, Gilbert Gordon, Andy Bennett, Graham Timms, John Hill, Ian Webb, Glen Denham and Ralph Lattimore. 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. In 1999, the Rams made their eighth NBL final under coach Bert Knops, where they lost to the Auckland Rebels.

In 2000, Dr John Watson took over the Rams organisation from the cash-strapped Canterbury Basketball Association (CBA). His takeover of the team created some deep divisions within the basketball community. In 2006, the CBA signed a three-year management contract with Watson. 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, with the Christchurch Cougars taking their place in the 2009 NBL season. The Cougars lasted just two seasons after withdrawing on the eve of the 2011 season due to the Christchurch earthquake.

In November 2013, the Canterbury Rams were granted re-entry into NBL under the leadership of Christchurch businessman Andrew Harrison, making their return during the 2014 NBL season.

In 2016, the Rams were regular season winners for the first time since 1993 and made their first playoff appearance since 2002, where they lost in the semi-final to the Super City Rangers.

In 2023, the Rams reached their first NBL final since 1999 behind the likes of Troy Baxter Jr., Tevin Brown and Corey Webster. They won their fifth championship and first since 1992 with a 93–82 win over the Auckland Tuatara.

In 2024, the Rams returned to the NBL final, where they once again defeated the Auckland Tuatara 102–87 behind Australian centre Lachlan Olbrich, the league MVP and grand final MVP. Olbrich contributed 29 points, 18 rebounds, and six assists in the final, while US forward KJ Buffen added 21 points on 8-9 shooting.

Honour roll

::data[format=table]

Coach of the Year:John Watson (2002), Mick Downer (2019), Judd Flavell (2024)
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Players

Current roster

| team=Canterbury Rams | color1=red | bg1=black | color2=red | bg2=black}} | head_coach =

| asst_coach =

| DP = y | I = y | roster_url = https://canterburyrams.basketball/player/ | accessdate = 17 May 2025

Notable past players

Coaches

Head coaches

  • New Zealand Murray McKay (1982–1983)
  • New Zealand Darrell Todd (1984–1985)
  • New Zealand Garry Pettis (1986–1988)
  • New Zealand Keith Mair (1989–1995)
  • New Zealand Bert Knops (1996–1999)
  • New Zealand Matt Ruscoe (2000–2001)
  • United States John Watson (2002–2004)
  • New Zealand Pete McAllister (2004–2005)
  • United States Chris Sparks (2006–2007)
  • New Zealand Bert Knops (2008)
  • New Zealand Dave Harrison (2014)
  • New Zealand Mark Dickel (2015–2018)
  • Australia Mick Downer (2019–2021)
  • New Zealand Judd Flavell (2022–2024)
  • New Zealand Quinn Clinton (2025–present)

Source: canterburyrams.basketball

References

References

  1. "About The Canterbury Rams". canterburyrams.basketball.
  2. Longley, Geoff. (14 May 2010). "Rams memories live on for Angelo Hill". Stuff.co.nz.
  3. Egan, Brendon. (4 April 2014). "Keith Mair reflects on Rams' halcyon days". Stuff.co.nz.
  4. (28 February 2008). "Finance woes limit Knops' revival plans". Stuff.co.nz.
  5. Smith, Tony. (20 July 2019). "NBL: Bumper Christchurch crowd expected to inspire Rams and rivals". Stuff.co.nz.
  6. Longley, Geoff. (18 July 2012). "Canterbury Rams may be back in the game". Stuff.co.nz.
  7. Longley, Geoff. (13 December 2008). "Cougars in as Rams opt out". [[The Press]].
  8. (3 December 2008). "New cats clawing for place on basketball court". Stuff.co.nz.
  9. (21 May 2012). "Former Rams owner Watson dies age 45". [[The Press]].
  10. (7 March 2011). "Christchurch Cougars withdraw from NBL". Stuff.co.nz.
  11. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/9381924/Canterbury-Rams-to-make-NBL-return-in-2014/ Canterbury Rams to make NBL return in 2014]
  12. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/9461579/Harrison-targets-defence-as-key-for-new-Rams Harrison targets defence as key for new Rams]
  13. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/9910440/Saints-deny-Rams-in-Christchurch Saints deny Rams in Christchurch]
  14. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/80232950/canterbury-rams-go-top-of-national-basketball-league-with-win-over-wellington Team spirit driving Canterbury Rams' success – McKenzie Moore]
  15. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/130575/Rams-sign-up-Knops Rams sign up Knops]
  16. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/80720948/canterbury-rams-coach-rules-out-semifinal-nerves-after-nbl-exit Canterbury Rams coach rules out semi-final nerves after NBL exit]
  17. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/80838199/season-review-canterbury-rams-set-for-bright-national-basketball-league-future Season review: Canterbury Rams set for bright National Basketball League future]
  18. Hinton, Marc. (22 July 2023). "Canterbury Rams outlast Otago Nuggets to book spot in NBL grand final". stuff.co.nz.
  19. Egan, Brendon. (23 July 2023). "Canterbury Rams upset Tuatara to capture first NBL title in 31 years". Stuff.co.nz.
  20. (28 July 2024). "CANTERBURY RAMS ARE BACK-TO-BACK SAL'S NBL CHAMPIONS". nznbl.basketball.
  21. Egan, Brendon. (29 July 2024). "Back-to-back NBL champion Canterbury Rams set up for sustained success". [[The Press]].

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basketball-teams-in-new-zealandnational-basketball-league-(new-zealand)-teamssport-in-christchurchbasketball-teams-established-in-19821982-establishments-in-new-zealand