The Franklin Bulls an Auckland based rofessional sporting franchise who joined the NZNBL in 2020. Franklin has a rich history of basketball from the former Pukekohe Basketball Association that competed in mens and women's division 1 and 2 leagues to today with Franklin Basketball Association being one of the fastest growing and most vibrant basketball communities in the country, with over 2500 active players. 

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The Bulls was founded by Jamie Reddish and Scott Kelso with the support of Franklin Basketball Association and the former Bulls Basketball Board. The club was set to enter the regular NBL in 2020, before Covid 19 disrupted the league. The team eventually took the court thanks to a world leading initiative, set in motion by the SalsNBL League, called the NBL Showdown. The team finishing in the top 6, eventually losing in the quarter finals. This cemented the start of the Bulls in the SalsNBL league. 2020 was led by GM Jamie Reddish and Head Coach Liam Simmons. 

 

2021 - 2022 - First Foray into the Regular NBL

The Bulls early seasons continued to be hampered by lockdowns, closed boarders and uncertainty, but the team managed some major milestones, including a late playoff push in 2022 and a respectable 8th position both years, while dealing with injuries and interuptions. While the team struggle both years to achieve playoffs the club learn't a lot about the identity and vision for the ong term. In 2022 the Bulls board implemented its Local Player commitment ensuring that local players would always have a place in the squad. The 2021 season was led by GM Scott Kelso and Head Coach Jamie Reddish and 2022 season was led by GM Scott Kelso and Head Coach Morgan Maskell.

 

2023 - First Playoffs

The two founders of the team took a back step to allow a new wave of leadership to build on the learnings of the early years, maintaining a presence on the board. That  board hired Tall Black legend Mika Vukona as GM of Basketball and Operations Manager Greg Buckley to lead the season. The club hired Head Coach Daniel Sokolovsky to lead the squad. The season ended with the Bulls making their first ever semi-finals and beating the 12 time champs, the Wellington Saints, in the quarters. Sokolovsky's team finished the NBL regular season with the Bulls best record in a season and helping the club take a massive step forward in the mission to develop local players. 

 

2024 - New Era

in 2022 the league announced that the SalsNBL would no longer be considered or promoted as a Amateur league. This news forced the Bulls board to decide the future of the club, as the intent of the Bulls was to develop local players. Without funding no longer being available, it was decided that the team would be transferred to a new ownership group. Franklin Sports Media. 

In 2024 the club and the new ownership hire Head Coach Sebastian Gleim, after former Head Coach Daniel Sikilovsky returned to the US for personal reasons. The club was managed by the owner for 2024 due to the complexities of handover. This was led by Lyle Petersen, Scott Kelso and Jamie Reddish on the basketball side. 

The team under Coach Gleim's leadership, finished an almost equal record to 2023 and finishing with another Semi-final loss to the Tuatara... A three point loss was heartbreaking, especially know the team beat the eventual champions (the Rams) twice in the 2024 season. 

The club's main commitment was to ensure a two year minimum coaching tenure was honoured, with coach Gleim commiting through until the end of the 2025 season and possibly extending to 2026. 

 

2025 - The Journey Continues - 5 years in the Regular SalsNBL

Jamie Reddish has been appointed as the Bulls GM after a long break with the club in a employed role. We welcomed new members to the board, who are committed to growing the Club and providing greater oppotunities to partners and fans to connect with thier team!