The 38-year-old - now based in Queensland and entering his post-basketball phase of life – has plied his trade for club sides in Australia, Lebanon, Italy and for Manawatu and Auckland sides domestically. However, Nelson was the place he appeared anchored to, playing 16 seasons for the Giants over four stints between 2000 and 2020. Nelson Giants head coach Mike Fitchett played with or coached Vukona through most of those years, starting as teammates in the Nelson College A basketball team in 2000. It was the same year the team won the national secondary schools title. Fitchett recalled Vukona, then a new arrival at Nelson College from Tauranga, as being big in stature and heart, but “raw” in the skills department.