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Indian Panthers

The Indian Panthers are a New Zealand-based Indian professional basketball team that compete in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). The Panthers are based in South Auckland and play their home games at Pulman Arena in Takanini, with Auckland being home to the largest percentage of migrants from India as of the 2023 census.[1]

Team history

In July 2024, it was revealed that the New Zealand NBL was looking at an expansion team from the Indian National Basketball League (INBL).[2][3][4] On 30 October 2024, it was announced that the Indian Panthers, owned by INBL Pro, would join the league in 2025,[5] with a roster primarily consisting of Indian national players.[6]

Due to delayed visa applications, the Panthers were unable to participate in the NBL's 2025 pre-season tournament.[7] Two days prior to their season opener, it was announced that due to an Indian national team camp, the Panthers would start the season with a mostly New Zealand player roster.[8][9][10][11] In their inaugural game on 12 March 2025, they lost 112–78 to the Hawke's Bay Hawks.[12] Following their first game, head coach Miles Pearce stepped down and was replaced by interim coach Jonathan Goodman.[13] Goodman was later absent from the team for a fortnight, alongside the team's CEO and general manager, with the trio based in Melbourne.[14] The team reportedly lacked regular practises and had no training facility, while questions surrounding the continued delayed arrival of the team's Indian players would go unanswered.[14] The team also made a mid-season home venue switch from Takanini to Pukekohe because the club was unable to afford the operational costs at Pulman Arena.[14] With outstanding bills owed to Pulman Arena, the club began relying on the generosity of the Franklin Bulls organisation to stage home games at the Franklin Pool and Leisure Centre.[15]

On 25 April 2025, the New Zealand NBL was notified about delayed payments to Panthers players and staff. A meeting with the team's ownership occurred on 28 April. By the next day, some players had been paid and the game against the Canterbury Rams was expected to go ahead, but the Panthers players chose not to play, leading the league to postpone the match.[16][17] On 1 May, the Panthers were suspended indefinitely from the league with immediate effect.[15][18] On 9 May, the league postponed two further games involving the Panthers and provided the team a 10-day notice to fully adhere to all conditions; if not satisfied, the Participation Agreement will end on 19 May.[19][20][21]

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Indian Panthers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G 6 New Zealand Durham, Samuel
G 7 India Singh, Tushal 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
G 8 New Zealand Lepou, Cooper 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
G 9 New Zealand Carr, Hayden
G 10 New Zealand Pearn, Zavier 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
G 11 New Zealand Beckham, Shirlayne
G 12 New Zealand Paea, Stephan
F 13 India Mathew, Sejin 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
G 14 New Zealand Perry, Brody 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 15 New Zealand Henry, Leon (C) 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
F 16 India Blessen, Aaron Verghese 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
C 17 New Zealand Wide, Callum
F/C 18 China Li, Shengzhe 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in)
F/C New Zealand Bolstad, Patrich 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
F New Zealand Boyce-Towler, Cooper 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
G New Zealand Broughton, Salem
F New Zealand Kelemete, Luke
G New Zealand Laumatia, Ryan 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
F New Zealand Lenden, Vince
F India Manoj, Vaisakh 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
F New Zealand Matakatea, Dante 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
G New Zealand Mulvihill, Francis 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
G/F India Negi, Riyanshu 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
F New Zealand Potts-Broughton, Emmerson 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
G India Rathore, Jaideep 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
G India Sandhu, Gurbaz 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
F India Singh Kahlon, Arvinder 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
G India Singh, Lokendra 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
F/C India Singh, Princepal 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
F New Zealand Sipeli, Jimi
F New Zealand Te Puni, Zack 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 26 April 2025

References

  1. ^ "It's official – Indian Panthers confirmed to join New Zealand basketball leagues in 2025". Stuff.co.nz. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  2. ^ "BREAKING NEW GROUND: INDIAN NBL SEEKS ENTRY INTO NBL AND TAUIHI LEAGUES". nznbl.basketball. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024.
  3. ^ Egan, Brendon (19 July 2024). "NBL, Tauihi basketball leagues set to feature Indian backed teams from 2025". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Indian-backed teams to join NZ basketball leagues in 2025". 1news.co.nz. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Indian Panthers Join NBL & Tauihi – Kiwi Basketball Set To Soar In India". nznbl.basketball. 30 October 2024. Archived from the original on 16 November 2024.
  6. ^ "The Indian Panthers are taking shape ahead of their entry into the New Zealand men's basketball league". NZCity. 5 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Indian Panthers to Join Sal's NBL on March 12 After Visa Setback". nznbl.basketball. 28 February 2025. Archived from the original on 28 February 2025.
  8. ^ "Panthers Expand Kiwi Connection Due To Indian National Team Camp". nznbl.basketball. 10 March 2025. Archived from the original on 10 March 2025.
  9. ^ "New Indian National Basketball League team to debut with ... Kiwi players". Stuff.co.nz. 11 March 2025. Archived from the original on 10 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Panthers a mystery ahead of NBL debut". NZ Sports Wire. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Straight Shot: Indian Panthers Season Preview". nznbl.basketball. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Teen stars as Hawks tip-off NBL with win". NZ Sports Wire. 12 March 2025. Archived from the original on 13 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  13. ^ Tom, Blessen (25 March 2025). "Home losses, coach's departure sour start to Indian Panthers' debut season". RNZ. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Fa'afiu, Elijah (30 April 2025). "Indian Panthers: Team CEO responds to concerns about pay delays". NZ Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  15. ^ a b Anderson, Ian (1 May 2025). "Indian Panthers suspended from NZ National Basketball League". The Post. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  16. ^ "Indian Panthers Update". nznbl.basketball. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Former Indian Panthers player slams 'disrespectful' treatment from team". 1News. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Indian Panthers Suspended". nznbl.basketball. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Indian Panthers Update". nznbl.basketball. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  20. ^ Hinton, Marc (9 May 2025). "New Zealand NBL issues notice of termination to troubled Indian Panthers franchise". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Indian Panthers face ejection from basketball league". RNZ. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.