Puke Lenden

Puke Lenden (born 4 January 1980) is a New Zealand former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball League (NBL). He attended Napier Boys' High School in Napier, New Zealand.[1]

Puke Lenden
Personal information
Born (1980-01-04) 4 January 1980
NationalityNew Zealand
Listed height195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Career information
High schoolNapier Boys' (Napier, New Zealand)
Playing career1998–2015
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
Career history
As player:
1998Hawke's Bay Hawks
1999Auckland Rebels
2000–2002Hawke's Bay Hawks
2003–2011Waikato Titans/Pistons
2014Southland Sharks
2015Super City Rangers
As coach:
2013Waikato Wizards
Career highlights and awards

After debuting in the NBL in 1998 with the Hawke's Bay Hawks, Lenden joined the Auckland Rebels in 1999 and won his first championship.[2] He returned to the Hawks in 2000 and played there until the end of the 2002 season. Lenden moved to Waikato in 2003 and played for the Titans/Pistons until the end of the 2011 season. He won championships with the Pistons in 2008 and 2009, and was named Finals MVP in 2008.[3][4] Following Waikato's withdrawal from the league in 2012, Lenden retired from the NBL.[5]

In 2013, Lenden coached the Waikato Wizards women's side[6] and played for the NZ Maori team that won gold at the FIBA Oceania Pacific Championship.[7]

Lenden came out of retirement in June 2014 to help the Southland Sharks, after the team lost four players to suspension.[8] He continued on in the NBL in 2015, playing his final season with the Super City Rangers.[9]

References
  1. NBL BASKETBALL - Homecoming for Puke not so welcome
  2. Sharks Add To Their Squad
  3. "Another title for Pero". tvnz.co.nz. 21 June 2008. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011.
  4. "Ultimate Role Guy Takes MVP". Basketball.org.nz. 21 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2 July 2008.
  5. Anderson, Ian (29 January 2013). "Waikato Pistons back in the action". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. The squad is being developed with an eye to the future following the retirement of a number of experienced, long-serving players such as Puke Lenden, Ray Cameron and Mike Homik.
  6. Waikato Wizards lose national women's basketball title
  7. 2013 BBNZ Annual Report
  8. Southland Sharks bulk up their sagging stocks
  9. James Blond Supercity Rangers
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