Puke Lenden
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 January 1980 Napier, New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Listed height | 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) |
| Listed weight | 95 kg (209 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Napier Boys' (Napier, New Zealand) |
| Playing career | 1998–present |
| Position | Shooting guard / Small forward |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1998 | Hawke's Bay Hawks |
| 1999 | Auckland Rebels |
| 2000–2002 | Hawke's Bay Hawks |
| 2003–2011 | Waikato Titans/Pistons |
| 2014 | Southland Sharks |
| 2015 | Super City Rangers |
| As coach: | |
| 2012–2013 | Waikato Wizards |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Puke Lenden (born 4 January 1980) is a New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the Super City Rangers of the National Basketball League (NBL).
Playing career
From 1998 to 2002, Lenden played in the New Zealand NBL for the Hawke's Bay Hawks and the Auckland Rebels, winning his first championship in 1999 with the Rebels.[1] From 2003 to 2005, he played for the Waikato Titans, and from 2006 to 2011, he played for the Waikato Pistons after the club changed its name from Titans to Pistons. Lenden was named the 2008 Finals MVP following the Pistons' 2–0 grand final series defeat of the Wellington Saints after averaging 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in the Finals as a role player.[2][3] In 2009, the Pistons also won the championship after defeating the Nelson Giants, 2–0.
On 5 June 2014, Lenden signed with the Southland Sharks for the rest of the 2014 New Zealand NBL season.[4] After a successful return to action in 2014, he joined the Super City Rangers for the 2015 season.[5]
Coaching career
In 2012 and 2013, Lenden coached the Waikato Wizards of the Women's Basketball Championship (WBC).[6]
Personal
Lenden's mother, Lesley, lives in Whakatu.[7]
References
- ↑ Sharks Add To Their Squad
- ↑ "Another title for Pero". tvnz.co.nz. 21 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ↑ "LENDEN SURPRISED AT MVP". SkySport.co.nz. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ↑ Southland Sharks bulk up their sagging stocks
- ↑ James Blond Supercity Rangers
- ↑ Waikato Wizards lose national women's basketball title
- ↑ NBL BASKETBALL - Homecoming for Puke not so welcome