Mika Vukona

Mika Vukona
No. 14 – New Zealand Breakers
Position Power forward
League ANBL
Personal information
Born (1982-05-13) 13 May 1982
Suva, Fiji
Nationality New Zealand
Listed height 197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Listed weight 103 kg (227 lb)
Career information
High school Bethlehem College
(Tauranga, New Zealand)
Nelson College
(Nelson, New Zealand)
Playing career 2000–present
Career history
2000–2002 Nelson Giants
2003 Manawatu Jets
2003–2008 New Zealand Breakers
2004–2007 Nelson Giants
2008 Harbour Heat
2008–2009 South Dragons
2009–2010 Gold Coast Blaze
2010–2015 Nelson Giants
2010–present New Zealand Breakers
2014 Byblos
2015 Virtus Roma
2016–present Super City Rangers
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  New Zealand
Commonwealth Games
2006 Melbourne National team

Mika John Vukona (born 13 May 1982) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL). He is also a regular New Zealand Tall Black and holds a Fijian passport.[1]

Early life

Vukona was born in Suva, Fiji to Fijian father, Clem, and New Zealand mother, Marianne. He was raised in Fiji for the first five years of his life, before moving to the coastal city of Tauranga, a couple of hours south of Auckland. As a junior, Vukona played rugby until age 15 when his mother forced him to stop, leading him to follow his brother's footsteps and started playing basketball.[2] One code's loss was another's gain as Vukona went on to become a member of the national under 16, 18 and 20 sides.[3]

Vukona attended both Bethlehem College and Nelson College during high school. In 2000, he played for Nelson College's 'A' basketball team.[4]

Career

Vukona played for the Nelson Giants and the Manawatu Jets[5] of the New Zealand NBL early on in his career, and was elevated from a development player to a contracted player for the 2005–06 season with the New Zealand Breakers.[6] He was a member of the Tall Blacks side in 2005 and 2006, competing in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. He continued on with the Breakers in 2006–07 and 2007–08, and played for the Harbour Heat in 2008.

In April 2008, Vukona signed a two-year deal with the South Dragons.[7] He won a championship with the Dragons in 2008–09, but following the season, the team folded and in June 2009, Vukona signed with the Gold Coast Blaze for the 2009–10 season.[8] Following his stint with the Blaze, he joined the Nelson Giants for the 2010 New Zealand NBL season.

In April 2010, Vukona signed a two-year deal (with the option of a third year) with the New Zealand Breakers.[9][10] In July 2010, he re-signed with the Nelson Giants on a three-year deal.[10]

In April 2012, he re-signed with the Breakers on a three-year deal.[11]

On 7 February 2013, it was announced that Vukona would return to the Giants for the 2013 season after he originally intended to sit out the season to rest following his Breakers duties.[12] On 28 February 2013, Vukona played his 200th game with the Breakers.[13]

On 31 March 2014, Vukona re-signed with the Nelson Giants on a short-term contract to replace the injured Adrian Majstrovich.[14] On 23 April 2014, he left the Giants and signed with Byblos for the rest of the 2013–14 Lebanese Basketball League season.[15] On 7 June 2014, he made his return for the Giants following the conclusion of Byblos' season.[16]

On 5 December 2014, Vukona again re-signed with the Nelson Giants for the 2015 season.[17] Six days later, he played his 250th game for the Breakers.[18]

After competing in two games for the Nelson Giants to begin the 2015 season, Vukona signed with Virtus Roma of Italy on 21 April 2015 for the rest of the 2014–15 Lega Basket Serie A season.[19][20] On 5 May 2015, he re-signed with the Breakers on a three-year deal.[21] After Virtus failed to make the 2015 Serie A playoffs, Vukona returned to Nelson on 15 May. In three games for Virtus, he averaged 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.[22]

On 11 October 2015, Vukona missed the Breakers' second game of the 2015–16 season with a hamstring injury following 211 consecutive ANBL appearances.[23][24] On 24 November 2015, he signed a two-year deal with the Super City Rangers.[25][26] On 8 January 2016, he played his 350th NBL game against the Adelaide 36ers.[27]

On 20 October 2016, Vukona played his 300th game for the Breakers in a loss to the Sydney Kings.[28]

Personal

Vukona and his wife, Vanessa, have two children together, daughter Gia and son Noah.[17]

References

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