19 Facts About Phill Jones

Phillip Charles George Jones was born on 25 January 1974 and is a New Zealand basketball coach and former player.

Phill Jones played in Australia, Finland, and Italy, but is best known for his 22 seasons with the Nelson Giants in the New Zealand National Basketball League.

Phill Jones played for 14 years for the New Zealand national team.

In 1992, Phill Jones moved to Nelson to play high school basketball at Nelson College.

Phill Jones played six seasons for the Nelson Giants between 1993 and 1998, winning championships in 1994 and 1998.

Phill Jones returned to the Giants in 2000 and played every year until 2004.

Phill Jones then missed the 2007 New Zealand NBL season and thus missed out on the Giants' championship.

Phill Jones played every season for the Giants between 2008 and 2017.

In May 2014, Phill Jones played his 350th game for the Giants and set the NZNBL's all-time record for games played with his 362nd game.

Phill Jones initially retired in 2014 and became the Giants' managing director.

Phill Jones continued on with the Giants in 2016 as well.

Phill Jones retired again in 2016 and became an assistant coach for the Giants in 2017.

However, in May 2017, Phill Jones played two final games for the Giants, ending his NZNBL career with 408 games.

In May 2022, Phill Jones was inducted into the Basketball New Zealand Hall of Fame.

In June 2008, after playing for the Tall Blacks for 14 years, Phill Jones retired from international basketball.

In 2016, Phill Jones served as head coach of the Nelson Sparks in New Zealand's Women's Basketball Championship.

Phill Jones served as assistant coach for the Nelson Giants in 2017 and 2019.

Phill Jones re-joined the Giants as assistant coach in 2025.

Phill Jones is the son of John and Carol Phill Jones, and has a brother named Johnno.