Women’s National Basketball League: Melbourne Boomers general manager Justin Nelson takes reins of New Zealand’s NBL

After five years at the helm of the Melbourne Boomers, general manager Justin Nelson will depart the club at the end of the season to become the New Zealand National Basketball League’s new GM

Justin Nelson (left) with Boomers coach Guy Molloy. Picture: Michelle Couling

After five years at the helm of the Melbourne Boomers, general manager Justin Nelson will depart the club at the end of the season to become the New Zealand National Basketball League’s new GM.

Nelson, who has been instrumental in rebuilding the Women’s National Basketball League club, informed the board of his decision prior to Christmas.

He said the process of rebuilding the club has been enormously rewarding, both personally and professionally, and he is thankful for the opportunities it has presented him.

“The Boomers have been wonderful to me and my family,” he said. “It is an amazing journey and I am thankful for every second of my time at the club.

“I feel the club is now in a stable, sustainable position to continue as an iconic sporting brand in Melbourne and, because of that, I feel this is a good opportunity to leave on a high.

“I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by many great people – staff, the board, coaches, players, volunteers, grassroots basketball and our commercial partners.

“Thank you, most of all, to the members and fans who have passionately embraced the rise of the Boomers and believed in the vision. Your support has been amazing.

“For now, I am fully focused on helping the team achieve its objective for the remainder of the season, which is to win the championship.”

In his five years at the helm, Nelson helped the Boomers successfully navigate their way through a number of major challenges but he will leave a club that has enjoyed a recent period of growth and success.

Boomers chairman Tony Hallam lauded Nelson’s impact on the club.

“Firstly, on behalf of the board, I want to thank Justin for a contribution that has simply been outstanding,” he said. “We, as a club, have been so lucky to have someone like Justin driving the Boomers forward over the past five years.

“In simple terms, the club would not have survived without his leadership, drive and passion during 2015 when a new ownership model was needed.

“Justin was at the heart of so much of what the Boomers have achieved in his time and he leaves with the club poised to deliver for its fans and members in the WNBL finals and prepared to embrace its next phase of growth.”