2026
TEAM
Players
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2026 Staff
HEAD COACH / GENERAL MANAGER - Michael Fitchett
A born and bred Nelsonian, Mike played 9 seasons for the Giants, including the 2007 Championship season.
He is currently an Assistant Coach with the Tall Blacks, a role he has held since 2017, and also spent 3 seasons as an Assistant Coach with the NZ Breakers in the Australian NBL.
Mike is passionate about junior development and brings a lot of experience from his time coaching and managing the NZ Breakers Academy and involvement in New Zealand U16 and U17 teams.
Mike came on board as the NBS Nelson Giants Head Coach in 2019.
ASSISTANT COACH - Phill Jones
Phill is a well known name in the New Zealand basketball scene having represented the Tall Blacks numerous times and playing over 400 NZNBL games for the Nelson Giants over the years - making him one of the most expericned palyers to ever play in the league.
Now in coaching, he has built a strong reputation for his technical knowledge and ability to develop players on and off the court. He plays a key role in supporting the team, contributing to game preparation, scouting, and player development throughout the season.
Passionate about the game and the growth of basketball in Aotearoa, Phil is a valued part of the Giants coaching group and the wider club environment.
ASSISTANT COACH - Tom Gargiulo
Another Nelson local, Tom Gargiulo joined the Giants staff in 2022 after previously playing two seasons for the club.
Like many involved in the programme, Tom grew up watching the Nelson Giants and developed a strong love for the game through Friday nights at the Trafalgar Centre. That connection to the club has carried through into his coaching, where he now plays a key role in supporting the head coach and helping develop the next generation of Giants talent, while getting the most out of the current roster.
Alongside basketball, Tom works as a Salesperson for Ray White Nelson, where he applies the same people-first approach that he brings to the Giants environment.
TEAM MANAGER - Andy Stevens
Another Nelson local, Andy was a passionate Giants supporter before joining the NBS Nelson Giants team as a volunteer in 2018.
Now an integral part of the Giants set up, Andy’s work often goes unnoticed, but he does the 'one percenters' that allow the players to focus on the game and perform at their peak.
Andy is also a great person to have around the locker room - friendly, approachable, calm - important characteristics in a role that often doubles as a sounding board for players before, after and during games.
COMMERCIAL MANAGER - Kipp O'Donnell
Kipp leads the club’s partnerships, sponsorships, and commercial growth, working closely with local businesses and supporters to build strong relationships that help drive the Giants forward on and off the court.
A passionate advocate for sport and the Nelson community, Kipp plays a key role in creating opportunities that strengthen the club’s connection with fans and partners alike. His professionalism and people-first approach make him an important part of the Giants organisation.
Proud to represent his hometown club, Kipp is committed to helping the Giants continue to grow as one of New Zealand’s most iconic basketball clubs.
CONTENT & MARKETING MANAGER - Danielle Eagle
Also known as Danielle Creative, Danielle is a proud local Nelsonian who leads the club’s digital content, marketing, and fan engagement, helping bring the Giants brand to life on and off the court.
Danielle joined the club in 2024 and was recognised with the Sal’s NBL Video Content Creator of the Year award, while also contributing to the Giants winning Best Social Media that same year. She was recognised again in 2025 with the Sal’s NBL Best Digital Team Creative award.
Passionate about storytelling and the Nelson community, Danielle loves capturing behind-the-scenes moments and showcasing the people, culture, and environment that make the Giants club so special.
EVENTS MANAGER - Jess Harvey
Jess oversees the planning, coordination, and delivery of all game nights at the Trafalgar Centre, ensuring every home game runs seamlessly and delivers an exciting, memorable experience for fans from the moment they walk through the doors.
Her attention to detail, strong organisation, and calm under pressure help create a high-energy atmosphere at every home game fixture.
With a genuine love for live events and the Nelson community, Jess is dedicated to making Giants game nights an unforgettable experience for fans, families, and visitors alike.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING - Fletcher Matthews
Fletcher has been working in the strength and conditioning world since 2015, working with athletes and general population clients out of Tasman Performance.
As the Giants’ Strength and Conditioning Coach, he plays an important role in preparing the team to perform at their best throughout the season. He strives to get athletes moving and performing optimally through building elite training and nutrition habits.
SPORTS CHAPLAIN - Jared Lebezeit
Jared serves as the Nelson Giants' Sports Chaplain and works for Annesbrook Church as Executive Pastor.
Sports Chaplains are volunteers in sports communities providing free, accessible pastoral care, support and mentoring to athletes and staff. Jared is passionate about supporting and uplifting members of the NBS Nelson Giants and of course the wider Nelson community.
In his spare time Jared loves all things sports and spending time on the boat with his family.
Directors
Ben Douglas
Ben is a Chartered Accountant with nearly 20 years’ experience, and is as a founding director of Johnston Associates Chartered Accountants. Ben joined the Board of the NBS Nelson Giants in 2019. Outside of work Ben carved out a rugby career that includes stints at provincial level in Southland, Otago & Tasman. Ben now enjoys time mountain biking, running, golfing and spending time with whanau.
Sharon McGuire
Sharon owns her own company offering contract business services, is a skilled leader in strategic & business planning, thought leadership, relationship & stakeholder management, and service excellence. Sharon has held previous Board positions and is a Board member of Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce. Sharon cares deeply about the community and is a passionate supporter of the Giants with a drive to see young people succeed.
Aaron Brown
Aaron is a project and company director based in Whakatū, where he lives with his wife and three school aged children. He currently owns and directs Future Workshop Ltd, and has previously held senior positions in a number of cultural and commercial agencies including 12 years as Head of Concepts and Research at New Zealand Post Collectibles; as Acting Kaiwhakahaere and Senior Researcher for Karanga Aotearoa Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand; and as Principal Consultant or Director on a large number of multi-scale activation and implementation projects in Aotearoa and abroad.
Volunteers
We are very lucky to have a fantastic group of volunteers that give their time and effort to the Club. Without this group, we would be able to produce our game night. From stadium set up and pack down, to score bench duties and statistics recording, to being our fire wardens, our volunteers always come through for us.
Our thanks goes to -
Wayne Bensemann, Steve Fitchett, Wayne Bowen, Judy Campbell, Trevor Carsten, Corbin Christie, Miriam Clark, Phil Daly, Tracy Daly, James Fitchett, Juanita Ingham, Pauline Pellow, Jill Macklin, Paula Roberts, Margaret Robertson, Barbara Sheed, Judy Totoro, Dick Walker, Heather Walker, Dallas Ward, Jan Winfield and Peter Winfield.
G.I.Ant
Our mascot, GI Ant, is a huge part of our game night, bringing plenty of energy and joy to our crowd.
A huge hit with fans of all ages, GI Ant was even named #39 on The Spinoff's Power List: 50 New Zealanders You Need to Know!
A huge thank you to Admin Army for supporting our GI Ant! Contact Admin Army for any finance support services. Click the link here to contact the team at Admin Army.
