The Auckland Stars were a New Zealand basketball team based in Auckland. The Stars competed in the National Basketball League (NBL) and played their home games at ASB Stadium.
| Auckland Stars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | National Basketball League |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Folded | February 2010 |
| History | Auckland 1982–1989 Auckland Cannons 1990–1991 Auckland Stars 1992–1996 Auckland Rebels 1997–2000 Auckland Stars 2001–2009 |
| Arena | ASB Stadium |
| Location | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Team colours | Blue & white |
| Ownership | Tab Baldwin |
| Championships | 9 (1982, 1983, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005) |
| Website | AucklandStars.co.nz |
The Auckland Stars, then known as Auckland Metro,[1][2] were a foundation member of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1982. They were champions of the league in the first two seasons, before finishing as runners-up to the Wellington Saints in both 1984 and 1985. They returned to the NBL final in 1989, where they lost to the Canterbury Rams.[3]
Between 1995 and 2006, Auckland reached the championship round eight times. They won three straight championships between 1995 and 1997, with four more titles coming in 1999, 2000,[4] 2004 and 2005. Despite their success, the Stars struggled to capture a sizeable fanbase.[5]
In February 2010, the team was suspended from competing in the 2010 NBL season after falling into financial strife and failing to pay some players and coaching staff.[6][7][8]
The Auckland Stars (1982-2009) were mainstays of the league and won seven of their nine championships between 1995 and 2005. But they struggled to capture a sizeable fanbase to reflect their success.