1996 New Zealand NBL season
The 1996 NBL season was the 15th season of the National Basketball League. Only one change occurred heading into the 1996 season, with Waitakere leaving the NBL for the second-tiered Conference Basketball League. Auckland won the championship in 1996 to claim their fourth league title. In the best-of-three championship series, Nelson took Game 1 110–95, before Auckland came back to take Game 2 109–98 and Game 3 94–90.Final standings
- NZ Most Valuable Player: Phill Jones
- Most Outstanding Guard: Tony Bennett
- Most Outstanding NZ Guard: Phill Jones
- Most Outstanding Forward: Ed Book
- Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre: Pero Cameron
- Scoring Champion: Ed Book
- Rebounding Champion: Jeff Daniels
- Assist Champion: Scott Stewart
- Rookie of the Year: Paora Winitana
- Coach of the Year: Nenad Vučinić
- All-Star Five:
- * G: Tony Bennett
- * G: Phill Jones
- * F: Darryl Johnson
- * F: Pero Cameron
- * C: Ed Book
