Basketball: Canterbury Rams shoot for a historic NBL three-peat

• The 2025 National Basketball League tips off on Wednesday
• Following back-to-back championships, the Canterbury Rams are vying to become only the second team in NBL history to win a league three-peat this year.
• Quinn Clinton, 26, has been elevated to Rams' head coach after Judd Flavell was promoted to the Tall Blacks' head coaching position

The new coach of the Canterbury Rams admits the prospect of an historic three-peat has been touched upon by his players ahead of their NBL season opener.

Following back-to-back triumphs in 2023 and last year, the Rams are set to embark on another title defence, in a quest to become only the second outfit in league history to complete a championship three-peat.

Only the defunct Auckland Stars achieved the feat of three straight championships, between 1995 and 1997.

Despite movement within both playing and management ranks, the notion of "picking up where they left off" remains front of mind.

One of the biggest alterations for the impending campaign is at head coach with former assistant Quinn Clinton elevated to the helm.

The 26-year-old replaces Judd Flavell after the championship-winning coach and former Breakers assistant was promoted to the Tall Blacks head coaching role last October.

Flavell will remain with the Rams as the team's high performance director.

"Me and Judd see basketball really similar," Clinton said.

"It's been a good challenge and I just feel real lucky to be part of the group again.

"I've got a really strong support staff, assistant coaches that could easily be head coaches in the league so I feel like I'm going in there with a really strong support crew."

Retaining as much continuity from the last two NBL campaigns is understandable, given both seasons resulted in silverware.

Keeping his players grounded and focused on the task at hand is one of the biggest challenge facing the young mentor.

"There's definitely been some talk of [completing a three-peat]," Clinton said.

"But we all realise that a lot comes before that.

"We're just taking it day-by-day and working on our processes and just trying to get better.

"It'll take care of itself if we do the work early."

Captain 'fully confident' in young coach

Rams captain Taylor Britt has given a ringing endorsement of his new coach, who is two years his junior.

Their connection dates back about 15 years to when the pair were youngsters.

Britt recalls first encountering an 11-year-old Clinton when he coached him at intermediate level.

"He was in my younger brother's team," Britt said.

"So it's a bit interesting having him as my coach now.

"You could always see when Quinn got back from America and took over Christ's College that he was going to be an amazing coach.

"I've got nothing but full confidence in him for this year."

A shot at a third consecutive championship loomed large for the skipper, with the subject proving to be a talking point among fans and the public.

"People are asking us about it, but we're trying to win it every year," Britt said.

"I guess there is a bit of pressure because we've won the last two and we want to continue to keep winning,"

Returning for his eighth season, Britt again shapes as a key senior figure among a fresh-faced squad.

After leading the Rams to a second consecutive championship, the 28-year-old guard finished 2024 with multiple individual plaudits, including Most Outstanding New Zealand Guard and Most Improved Player gongs.

He also earned his first All Star Five nod, an honour bestowed upon the best five players in the league each season.

Britt's recognition came off the back of a season average of 16.3 points, 6.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Among the quintet was the Rams' 6-foot-10 Australian import Lachlan Olbrich who clinched league MVP honours, and topped the defensive rebound season count.

Although Olbrich was no longer a factor, Britt felt the side's blueprint needed little adjustment with their "local core" primed for another championship push.

"We've always done a great job by committee here in Canterbury," he said.

"Like Tama Isaac, the stuff they've done in the off-season, I'm sure they want to take another leap in terms of what they did last season, same with all of the other local boys."

Heading into his second season with the Rams, 18-year-old guard Tama Isaac was already exercising his leadership potential.

"I'm still new to this environment, but after a year here, it just makes me take a step up for the younger boys, link arms with them," he said.

The group is also bolstered by three fresh imports including American forward CJ Penha Jr, alongside Australian pair Kyle Bowen and Sean Macdonald.

The 44th edition of the national competition tips off on Wednesday with the Hawke's Bay Hawks hosting NBL debutantes the Indian Panthers.

The South Auckland-based newcomers are set to be largely depleted for their first ever clash, with at least eight of their front-line players unavailable due to "visa issues" and national team commitments.

The Rams are on the road to begin their campaign, facing the Tauranga Whai at Mercury Baypark on Thursday.