Basketball New Zealand has established a new nationwide domestic league for 2024.
The Tupu League will operate as a regionally-focused, second-division amateur basketball league for men and women, replacing the under-23 nationals and development league tournaments which have operated in previous years.
The amateur status of the competition means players competing in the Tupu League can retain their eligibility status for US College basketball.
The Tupu league’s primary aim is to provide a competition which encourages representative players to continue playing for their local associations after they finish school or university — providing a platform of competitive basketball to help bridge the gap between the under-20 nationals and the NBL and Tauihi professional leagues.
The name Tupu is derived from the Māori word which means to grow or develop.
BBNZ chief executive Dillon Boucher said it will be an important pathway.
"The league is designed to cater to a range of athlete levels, from players looking to showcase their skills in the hopes of being seen by Sal’s NBL or Tauihi teams, to those wanting to build up their resume for overseas colleges or clubs," he said.
‘‘For other players, Tupu League can be their basketball ceiling; the highest level of competition they aspire to.
‘‘Keeping our athletes interested and engaged is key. We always want to give them something to aim towards. For instance, if a player doesn’t make the cut for the Auckland Tuatara or Northern Kahu that year, Tupu gives them a development pathway so they can continue towards achieving that goal in the future.”
The associations will run Tupu League qualifier events between April 22 and May 31 next year for the women’s league, and September 16 to October 25 for the men’s league.
A minimum of six games per association must be played during this time.
Following this period, the 12 highest-placed men’s and women’s teams will be selected from the six zones to progress to the Tupu League national finals, which are run by BBNZ.
The Tupu League women’s finals will be held on June 21-23 in Tauranga, while the men’s finals will be on November 14-16 in Dunedin.
