Mika John Vukona (born 13 May 1982) is a Fijian-born New Zealand former professional basketball player. Between 2003 and 2018, he spent 13 seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL and helped them win four championships. He was also a regular with the Nelson Giants in the New Zealand NBL and was a long-time New Zealand Tall Black.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Suva, Fiji | 13 May 1982|||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Neuseeland | |||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 197 cm (6 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 103 kg (227 lb) | |||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||
High school | ||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2000–2021 | |||||||||||||||||
Position | Power forward | |||||||||||||||||
Coaching career | 2021–present | |||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||
As player: | ||||||||||||||||||
2000–2002 | Nelson Giants | |||||||||||||||||
2003 | Manawatu Jets | |||||||||||||||||
2003–2008 | New Zealand Breakers | |||||||||||||||||
2004–2007 | Nelson Giants | |||||||||||||||||
2008 | Harbour Heat | |||||||||||||||||
2008–2009 | South Dragons | |||||||||||||||||
2009–2010 | Gold Coast Blaze | |||||||||||||||||
2010–2015 | Nelson Giants | |||||||||||||||||
2010–2018 | New Zealand Breakers | |||||||||||||||||
2014 | Byblos | |||||||||||||||||
2015 | Virtus Roma | |||||||||||||||||
2016 | Super City Rangers | |||||||||||||||||
2018–2020 | Nelson Giants | |||||||||||||||||
2018–2020 | Brisbane Bullets | |||||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | Southern Districts Spartans | |||||||||||||||||
As coach: | ||||||||||||||||||
2021 | Southern Districts Spartans (asst.) | |||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Early life
editVukona was born in Suva, Fiji.[1] He was adopted by his birth mother's brother, a Fijian named Clem.[2] Clem and his wife, a New Zealander named Marion, moved their family to New Zealand in 1987 following the Fiji coup.[3] They settled down in the coastal city of Tauranga, Marion's hometown.[2]
Vukona attended Bethlehem College in Tauranga for both primary and secondary school.[2] He played rugby until third form at Bethlehem College, when his anti-rugby mother forced him to stop. He subsequently followed his brother's footsteps and took up basketball.[1][4] He went on to become a member of the national under 16, 18 and 20 sides.[5] Basketball took him to Nelson in his final school year after earning a scholarship to go to Nelson College.[1][2]
Playing career
editAustralian NBL
editVukona made his debut in the Australian NBL as a development player during the New Zealand Breakers' inaugural season in 2003–04. He was elevated from a development player to a full-time contracted player for the 2005–06 season.[6] He played five seasons for the Breakers before joining the South Dragons in 2008.[7] He won a championship with the Dragons in 2008–09. After the Dragons collapsed, Vukona joined the Gold Coast Blaze for the 2009–10 season.[8]
In 2010, Vukona made a return to the Breakers,[9][10] and over the next five seasons, he helped the team win four championships, including three straight between 2010–11 and 2012–13. The 2015–16 season saw the Breakers play in a fifth grand final in six years, where they lost to the Perth Wildcats. In November 2017, Vukona played his 400th NBL game.[11][12] After eight seasons with the Breakers, Vukona joined the Brisbane Bullets in 2018.[13] Vukona ended the 2018–19 season on 449 games after tearing his Achilles in game one of the Bullets' semi-final series against the Wildcats and thus missing game two.[14] His contract with the Bullets ended at the end of the 2019–20 season.[15]
New Zealand NBL, QSL/NBL1, Lebanon and Italy
editVukona made his New Zealand NBL debut in 2000. He played for the Nelson Giants between 2000 and 2002 before playing for the Manawatu Jets in 2003. He then played for the Giants between 2004 and 2007 before playing for the Harbour Heat in 2008. He played for the Giants between 2010 and 2015, then with the Super City Rangers in 2016, and then again with the Giants in 2018, 2019 and 2020.[16]
In April 2014, Vukona ventured outside New Zealand or Australia for the first time, joining Lebanese team Byblos.[17] Twelve months later, he moved to Italy to play for Virtus Roma.[18][19][20]
In 2020, Vukona played for the Southern Districts Spartans of the Queensland State League (QSL).[21] In 2021, he served as an assistant coach for the Spartans in the NBL1 North[22] and joined the playing squad midway through the season.[23][24]
In June 2023, Vukona's number 14 jersey was retired by the Nelson Giants.[25][26]
National team
editVukona debuted for the Tall Blacks in 2005.[27][28] He retired from international duties in February 2021 after 152 games for the Tall Blacks.[29][30]
Executive career
editTasmania JackJumpers
editIn March 2021, Vukona joined the Tasmania JackJumpers' basketball programme as a consultant.[31] He was elevated to a full time capacity as general manager of basketball operations on 31 October 2023.[32]
Franklin Bulls
editVukona served as general manager of the Franklin Bulls during the 2023 New Zealand NBL season.[33][34][35]
Personal life
editVukona and his wife Vanessa have two children.[36] Vukona holds a Fijian passport.[37]
References
edit- ^ a b c Rattue, Chris (19 March 2009). "My life in sport: Mika Vukona". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- ^ a b c d Wilson, Caley (17 December 2014). "Mika puts his hard hat on and goes to work". e-tangata.co.nz. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- ^ White, Peter (29 July 2017). "Mika Vukona returns home to play". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- ^ "Take 40: Mika Vukona". NBL.com.au. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
- ^ "Meet Mika Vukona - Lantern Insurance Ambassador". blueheat.co.nz. 13 November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015.
- ^ "NZ Breakers add duo to NBL list". racingandsports.com.au. 10 June 2005. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014.
- ^ Howell, Stephen (15 April 2008). "South Dragons snare Smith and Vukona". The Age. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "Blaze secure Vukona". abc.net.au. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- ^ Vukona heading back to Breakers
- ^ Giants score with Vukona signing
- ^ Fire still burns bright for 'ultimate warrior' Mika Vukona as Breakers leader chalks up game No 400
- ^ Breakers make it eight straight with win over defending champion Perth Wildcats
- ^ Brisbane Continue Recruitment with Mika Vukona Signing
- ^ "White, Cotton, Kay Fire Wildcats into Grand Final". NBL.com.au. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
- ^ Hinton, Marc (30 May 2020). "'Addicted' to hoops: Tall Blacks veteran Mika Vukona commits to Kiwi NBL". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "GIANTS TOO GOOD FOR WRETCHED RAMS". nznbl.basketball. 18 July 2020. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020.
- ^ Vukona leaves Giants for Lebanon deal
- ^ Virtus Roma announces Mika Vukona
- ^ Mika Vukona takes short-term option to play in Italy
- ^ Mika Vukona on fast track back to Nelson Giants
- ^ "QSL Men's Division One – Round One Preview". basketballqld.com.au. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ "Game Day Program Round Two" (PDF). brisbanebasketball.com.au. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Mika Vukona". nbl1.com.au. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Parham breaking new ground as Spartans' NBL1 Men's coach". nbl1.com.au. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
...with NBL legend Mika Vukona also featuring both on the sidelines and on the court.
- ^ Woods, Dan (16 June 2023). "NBL Legend to Be Honoured". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ "Mika Vukona's No. 14 is raised to the rafters in Nelson!". twitter.com/nznbl. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ Mika Vukona – Basketball New Zealand
- ^ Mika Vukona – FIBA
- ^ Mika Vukona retires after winning 152nd cap in Tall Blacks loss to Australia
- ^ Vukona's value measured by former Nelson teammate
- ^ "Mika Vukona Joins the March". NBL.com.au. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ "Former NBL stars Smith and Vukona join JackJumpers in new roles". jackjumpers.com.au. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "New GM of Basketball ready to take on 2023 SalsNBL challenge". bullsbasketball.nz. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ "YOUR 2023 FRANKLIN BULLS". bullsbasketball.nz. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "STRAIGHT SHOT: TIME FOR THE BULLS TO SETTLE IN FOR A LONGER RIDE". nznbl.basketball. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
General Manager of Basketball, the great Mika Vukona, also left the building after just one season (2023).
- ^ Veteran Vukona stays glued to Giants' cause
- ^ A favourite son Mika Vukona