Iain Potter spent just over nine years as Chief Executive of New Zealand Basketball, resigning in 2021. Only Ross Williams in the 1980’s and 1990’s had a longer stint overseeing our national body. Stepping away from the role, Iain could reflect on a job well done and certainly handed the reins to successor Dillon Boucher with the national body a great deal healthier than when he took charge. The sport had received a $3.3 million high performance grant, a five-year commercial deal with Sky and a further major grant from Sport NZ for community projects. Iain Potter took over at Basketball headquarters when the sport was almost broke, had zero high performance funding and a staff of just seven. It took a while but basketball is back in the high performance paradigm and also prospering from being the sport of choice for vast numbers of New Zealand’s youth.
One achievement that should not be underestimated was Iain’s ability to guide the head office team and the sport through the challenging Covid years. His leadership qualities were appreciated by all in the most challenging of circumstances. Iain has been a huge supporter of equity for the women’s side of basketball, which has resulted in equity in funding and player payments. He oversaw the introduction of the new FIBA qualifying structure for the men’s game, resulting in more frequent home games for the Tall Blacks and for the Tall Ferns he secured the FIBA Women’s pre-Olympic Qualifier event held in Auckland in 2019. Under Iain’s stewardship BBNZ was an early-adopter of the 3×3 game, resulting in 2 early World Titles for our U18 Men’s teams and numerous medals for our men’s and women’s teams participating at other FIBA international events. Last month the 3×3 Tall Ferns won silver and the 3×3 Tall Blacks won bronze at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup.
Iain has certainly left the sport in a better place than he found it. BBNZ now has a staff of 30 overseeing increased numbers; playing both 3×3 and 5-aside locally and internationally with record entries from, associations and schools, for BBNZ competitions. The NBL also surges ahead with record crowds and viewers engaged with the Sal’s NBL and the establishment of the first women’s professional league in NZ – Tauihi Aotearoa. Iain also initiated a project to develop an alumni database and acknowledge the people who have contributed so much to the game. He also reinstated these Awards and the structure around them.
Iain is still actively involved in the game as he continues to Chair National Basketball Leagues Ltd, the body that oversees the Sal’s NBL and Tauihi Aotearoa.
Iain Potter is a deserved recipient of the Sir lance Cross Award for exceptional services to basketball.
