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Mika Vukona

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Mika Vukona
Tasmania JackJumpers
PositionGeneral manager of basketball operations
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born(1982-05-13)13 May 1982(age 42)
Suva,Fiji
NationalityNew Zealand
Listed height197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Listed weight103 kg (227 lb)
Career information
High school
Playing career2000–2021
PositionPower forward
Coaching career2021–2021
Career history
As player:
2000–2002Nelson Giants
2003Manawatu Jets
2003–2008New Zealand Breakers
2004–2007Nelson Giants
2008Harbour Heat
2008–2009South Dragons
2009–2010Gold Coast Blaze
2010–2015Nelson Giants
2010–2018New Zealand Breakers
2014Byblos
2015Virtus Roma
2016Super City Rangers
2018–2020Nelson Giants
2018–2020Brisbane Bullets
2020–2021Southern Districts Spartans
As coach:
2021Southern Districts Spartans (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Medals
RepresentingNew Zealand
Men'sBasketball
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2006 Melbourne Team competition
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Gold Coast Team competition

Mika John Vukona(born 13 May 1982) is a Fijian-born New Zealand former professionalbasketballplayer who is the general manager of basketball operations for theTasmania JackJumpersof theAustralian National Basketball League (NBL).Between 2003 and 2018, he spent 13 seasons with theNew Zealand Breakersin the NBL and helped them win fourchampionships.He was also a regular with theNelson Giantsin theNew Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL)and was a long-timeNew Zealand Tall Black.

Early life

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Vukona was born inSuva,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 theFiji coup.[3]They settled down in the coastal city ofTauranga,Marion's hometown.[2]

Vukona attendedBethlehem Collegein 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 toNelsonin his final school year after earning a scholarship to go toNelson College.[1][2]

Playing career

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Australian NBL

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Vukona made his debut in theAustralian NBLas a development player during theNew Zealand Breakers' inaugural season in2003–04.He was elevated from a development player to a full-time contracted player for the2005–06 season.[6]He played five seasons for the Breakers before joining theSouth Dragonsin 2008.[7]He won a championship with the Dragons in2008–09.After the Dragons collapsed, Vukona joined theGold Coast Blazefor the2009–10 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 between2010–11and2012–13.The2015–16 seasonsaw the Breakers play in a fifth grand final in six years, where they lost to thePerth Wildcats.In November 2017, Vukona played his 400th NBL game.[11][12]After eight seasons with the Breakers, Vukona joined theBrisbane Bulletsin 2018.[13]Vukona ended the2018–19 seasonon 449 games after tearing hisAchillesin 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 the2019–20 season.[15]

New Zealand NBL, QSL/NBL1, Lebanon and Italy

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Vukona made hisNew Zealand NBLdebut in 2000. He played for theNelson Giantsbetween 2000 and 2002 before playing for theManawatu Jetsin 2003. He then played for the Giants between 2004 and 2007 before playing for theHarbour Heatin 2008. He played for the Giants between 2010 and 2015, then with theSuper City Rangersin 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 teamByblos.[17]Twelve months later, he moved to Italy to play forVirtus 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 theNBL1 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

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Vukona debuted for theTall Blacksin 2005.[27][28]He retired from international duties in February 2021 after 152 games for the Tall Blacks.[29][30]

Executive career

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Tasmania JackJumpers

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In March 2021, Vukona joined theTasmania 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

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Vukona served as general manager of theFranklin Bullsduring the2023 New Zealand NBL season.[33][34][35]

Personal life

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Vukona and his wife Vanessa have two children.[36]Vukona holds a Fijian passport.[37]

References

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  1. ^abcRattue, Chris (19 March 2009)."My life in sport: Mika Vukona".The New Zealand Herald.Retrieved20 February2019.
  2. ^abcdWilson, Caley (17 December 2014)."Mika puts his hard hat on and goes to work".e-tangata.co.nz.Retrieved20 February2019.
  3. ^White, Peter (29 July 2017)."Mika Vukona returns home to play".The New Zealand Herald.Retrieved20 February2019.
  4. ^"Take 40: Mika Vukona".NBL.com.au.27 February 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 6 March 2014.
  5. ^"Meet Mika Vukona - Lantern Insurance Ambassador".blueheat.co.nz.13 November 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 14 January 2015.
  6. ^"NZ Breakers add duo to NBL list".racingandsports.com.au.10 June 2005.Archivedfrom the original on 21 February 2014.
  7. ^Howell, Stephen (15 April 2008)."South Dragons snare Smith and Vukona".The Age.Retrieved24 November2014.
  8. ^"Blaze secure Vukona".abc.net.au.10 June 2009.Retrieved20 February2019.
  9. ^Vukona heading back to Breakers
  10. ^Giants score with Vukona signing
  11. ^Fire still burns bright for 'ultimate warrior' Mika Vukona as Breakers leader chalks up game No 400
  12. ^Breakers make it eight straight with win over defending champion Perth Wildcats
  13. ^Brisbane Continue Recruitment with Mika Vukona Signing
  14. ^"White, Cotton, Kay Fire Wildcats into Grand Final".NBL.com.au.2 March 2019.Retrieved2 March2019.
  15. ^Hinton, Marc (30 May 2020)."'Addicted' to hoops: Tall Blacks veteran Mika Vukona commits to Kiwi NBL ".stuff.co.nz.Retrieved14 January2022.
  16. ^"GIANTS TOO GOOD FOR WRETCHED RAMS".nznbl.basketball.18 July 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2020.
  17. ^Vukona leaves Giants for Lebanon deal
  18. ^Virtus Roma announces Mika Vukona
  19. ^Mika Vukona takes short-term option to play in Italy
  20. ^Mika Vukona on fast track back to Nelson Giants
  21. ^"QSL Men's Division One – Round One Preview".basketballqld.com.au.7 August 2020.Retrieved7 September2020.
  22. ^"Game Day Program Round Two"(PDF).brisbanebasketball.com.au.22 May 2021.Retrieved11 August2021.
  23. ^"Mika Vukona".nbl1.com.au.Retrieved11 August2021.
  24. ^"Parham breaking new ground as Spartans' NBL1 Men's coach".nbl1.com.au.11 August 2021.Retrieved11 August2021....with NBL legend Mika Vukona also featuring both on the sidelines and on the court.
  25. ^Woods, Dan (16 June 2023)."NBL Legend to Be Honoured".NBL.com.au.Retrieved16 June2023.
  26. ^"Mika Vukona's No. 14 is raised to the rafters in Nelson!".twitter.com/nznbl.16 June 2023.Retrieved16 June2023.
  27. ^Mika Vukona – Basketball New Zealand
  28. ^Mika Vukona – FIBA
  29. ^Mika Vukona retires after winning 152nd cap in Tall Blacks loss to Australia
  30. ^Vukona's value measured by former Nelson teammate
  31. ^"Mika Vukona Joins the March".NBL.com.au.30 March 2021.Retrieved30 March2021.
  32. ^"Former NBL stars Smith and Vukona join JackJumpers in new roles".jackjumpers.com.au.31 October 2023.Retrieved31 October2023.
  33. ^"New GM of Basketball ready to take on 2023 SalsNBL challenge".bullsbasketball.nz.14 November 2022.Retrieved18 November2022.
  34. ^"YOUR 2023 FRANKLIN BULLS".bullsbasketball.nz.Retrieved27 November2023.
  35. ^"STRAIGHT SHOT: TIME FOR THE BULLS TO SETTLE IN FOR A LONGER RIDE".nznbl.basketball.19 March 2024.Retrieved20 March2024.General Manager of Basketball, the great Mika Vukona, also left the building after just one season (2023).
  36. ^Veteran Vukona stays glued to Giants' cause
  37. ^A favourite son Mika Vukona
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