10 NZNBL Players Who Deserve A Crack In The Aussie NBL
New Zealanders are steadily infiltrating the Australian NBL and folks are slowly starting to notice… although those on this side of the Tasman Sea understand that this is not a new trend. This procession has been ongoing for several years, with the number of kiwis at clubs other than the Breakers long since outnumbering those at Aotearoa’s lone representative. Most Aussie teams have a kiwi on their roster these days. Several of them have multiple. A few of them have kiwi assistant coaches too (no doubt aiding the infiltration from within). This is how it goes these days. It’s not new... it’s the status quo.
At least 16 New Zealanders have taken the floor in each of the last five NBL seasons with the tally topping out at 20 on two occasions: 2020-21 and 2022-23. Albeit last season was skewed by a number of those lads being injury replacements or development players who didn’t actually get many minutes... but still, the pattern is undeniable. We’re at a solid half-decade of widespread Aotearoa goodness in this league. What’s more, in only one of those five seasons, the first of them (2018-19), were there more NZers at the Breakers than at the combined Australian teams. That means four years in a row in which the Breakers don’t even contain half of the NZ representation.
Tell ya what, here are a couple of hastily compiled graphs to illuminate the idea (click to enlarge)...
None of that is on course to change this upcoming season either. As it stands, the Breakers only have four NZers under contract (and one is a Development Player) after the retirement of Rob Loe and the releases of Tom Vodanovich and Sam Timmins... which, amazingly, is fewer kiwis than the Perth Wildcats have.
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t matter. The Breakers will probably find another NZer or two along the way but even if they don’t we’re still on course to hit those same marks with 17 kiwis already signed up for NBL23. Five of them are DPs, the rest are on full deals. Seven different clubs have an Aotearoa baller in their midst and most of them haven’t finished putting their rosters together (let alone the possibility of injury replacements down the line). There is abundance on display and we don’t have to rely on the Breakers to supply it all.
NZers Under Contract For NBL24 (as it stands)...
NZ Breakers – Tom Abercrombie, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa, Dan Fotu, Alex McNaught (DP)
Perth Wildcats – Corey Webster, Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris, Jack Andrew (DP), Dontae Russo-Nance (DP)
Melbourne United – Shea Ili, Flynn Cameron
Cairns Taipans – Sam Waardenburg, Sam Mennenga
SEM Phoenix – Reuben Te Rangi, Anzac Rissetto (DP)
Brisbane Bullets – Tyrell Harrison
Tasmania JackJumpers – Walter Brown (DP)
Can we nudge that up over the twenty mark and into record territory? Yeah you’d better believe it. There’s always the possibility of top pros like Finn Delany, Yanni Wetzell or even Tom Vodanovich sliding back down under. The Breakers have a right of first refusal on Vodanovich’s contract so if his stint in the Philippines ends in time then he could reappear for the NBL home-stretch.
Those hombres are obvious candidates but this book has many more pages to it. With the New Zealand NBL currently in full swing it’s only fair to take a peek around the scene and pick some deeper candidates. Ten of them. One from each team. This idea began as a quick exercise for our Substack newsletter but proved too good to be contained so instead it’s getting the full article treatment. Let us now eat.
Kruz Perrott-Hunt (SG) – Auckland Tuatara
There are a few options here, with Charlie Dalton doing fine things as a 19yo starter and Tom Beattie also contributing off the bench. But gonna go with KPH who has only played twice so far for the Tuatara having initially signed, then pondered one last year of college ball, before ultimately deciding to go pro. Had a tidy debut against Franklin with 7pts/5reb/3ast but then shot 0/5 against Southland. It usually takes a few games to get going so it’s coming, don’t worry. KPH shot 40% from deep across his four years at South Dakota Uni. He was a three-year starter who averaged 14+ points per game in each of his last two seasons plus he does have some brief NBL experience as a development player with the Breakers prior to leaving for college. Every team everywhere wants a little more scoring off their bench... well, here ya go.
Kaia Isaac (PG/SG) - Canterbury Rams
Born and raised in Sydney but counts himself as a Kiwi/Cook Islander, Isaac doesn’t turn twenty for a couple more months yet he’s already one of the best shooters in the competition. We’re talking 47.4% on a shade under three attempts per game. Unreal numbers. Most playing on the wing for the Rams but will eventually develop into a regular ball-handler (it’s just that Taylor Britt + Quinn Clinton + Imports don’t leave many crumbs). He’s a solid unit for his position/age and with those existing Aussie links he’s bound to have caught the eyes of a few scouts. Isaac is one of a number of top NZ prospects at the Rams with Walter Brown returning for another DP year with Tasmania while Tom Webley has been one of the better kiwi college ballers in recent years and Taylor Britt and Max Darling have each done some Australian NBL things in the past. Also if he hadn’t already left for his 3x3 gig in China then Tai Wynyward would probably get this nod given how comprehensive he was in earlier rounds.
Matt Freeman (SF/PF) - Franklin Bulls
This guy’s a little older than the others, 25yo and a couple years removed from his college career. But he spent those years playing in Germany playing for three different teams all the while levelling up his skills. Freeman is 6’10 and in his first five games for the Bulls he’s averaged a very tidy 8.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in around 20 mins of action with a penchant for steals and assists and a high clip of shooting (including from the perimeter). Solid defender and a well-rounded talent. Bloke’s good to go. Sneaky fact here is that Freeman was at Oklahoma State while Steven Adams was playing for the OKC Thunder in the NBA so there was a minor mentorship going on there from Aotearoa’s greatest ever.
Sam Timmins (C) - Otago Nuggets
Yeah you know what? We’re going with a known quantity here. Jack Andrew already has a DP gig with Perth anyway so gotta boost up Timmins who has been excellent for the Nuggets. The Breakers have already confirmed they won’t be bringing him back so any team looking for a local big man who rebounds strongly with proper size and a tidy touch around the rim then here’s your fella. Timmins is playing big minutes as a starting centre for the Nugs, rebounding with precision at both ends of the floor although it’s perhaps the sneaky 3.5 assists per game that shows how much his game is developing. Never really got a proper crack with the Breakers where he only played 35 minutes as a rostered player last season (less than Alex McNaught got as a DP) so a more encouraging fit could allow him to blossom at that higher level.
Tohi Smith-Milner (PF/C) - Wellington Saints
Would be cheating to list Tom Vodanovich, aye? Alright then we’ll go with another free agent in TSM. Currently dealing with an ankle injury (and a small suspension) but the other week he had a 28 point game against Nelson in which he hit 5/5 from deep. He has at least eight rebounds in each of his last six games. Smith-Milner has played heaps in the Aussie top tier with Melbourne United and then more recently South East Melbourne Phoenix. Good veteran areas... plus he’s shooting 55.8/44.4/62.5 splits this NZNBL with 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game averages. On top of all that he may have a real shot at making the Tall Blacks World Cup squad considering this form and also the recent retirements of Tom Abercrombie and especially Rob Loe. Surely he’s got another Australian NBL stint in him too.
Callum McRae (C) – Nelson Giants
Originally hailing from Palmerston North, Callum McRae is massive. Dude is 7’1 and 120kgs – you’re not boxing this guy out no matter what you do. McRae spent three years at UC Riverside then transferred to Sacramento State for his final college season, improving both his points and rebounds from year to year. With his NCAA experience complete, CM signed for Nelson and in his first two games he’s put up 26p/8r in a win over Canterbury and 21p/12r in a win over Hawke’s Bay – proving a major factor in getting this Giants campaign back on course. He played 36 minutes against the Hawks so you know he’s got an engine on him. Don’t look for the long range jumpers although he does have a couple slippery tricks with his passing... but mostly Callum McRae is just a proper old-fashioned centre who dominates in the paint and it would be fascinating to see how his game translates to the Australian stuff.
Brayden Inger (PF) – Southland Sharks
Here’s another lad who has had a taste of it and will be raring to go again. Inger was a development player with Cairns Taipans the season before last, logging appearances in 15 games (totalling 69 minutes), however they didn’t bring him back for a second term. Meanwhile he was the first player signed by the Sharks in 2023, returning for his third consecutive season with the Southland team and he’s averaged double figure scoring in each of them. BI’s overall production is down from last year but not too drastically and there’s plenty of room for the 24yo to pick that up down the home stretch. Here’s another one of them kiwi forwards who do a little bit of everything. He shoots, he rebounds, he passes, he defends, he blocks shots... don’t even worry about it. Those guys are an asset to any team. Although sneaky shout out to Dru-Leo Leusogi-Ape as well. More of an undercover prospect but at 21yo now could be the time for him. Athletic guard with solid shooting splits of 47/35/71. A 20 point night against the Tuatara earlier in the season announced some mean intentions, though unfortunately he’s missed the last six weeks with a hand injury.
Derone Raukawa (PG) – Hawke’s Bay Hawks
This selection is a different approach to the theme because Derone Ruakawa isn’t a prospect on the rise. He’s a 28yo veteran of the domestic scene in his peak years and ready to go from day one. When they did that NBL Showdown version of the league in 2020, Raukawa played for Taranaki and led the entire league in both points and assists. He’s a quick-footed guard who can score and create and is currently doing a fine job for the HB Hawks coming off the bench and giving them great sixth-man offence. DR did have a couple years as a Breakers development player back in the day so it wouldn’t all be new to him. If you wanted even more of a veteran presence then you could lean upon Jordan Ngatai or even Ethan Rusbatch from this Hawks team too. Jordan Hunt’s been a DP at Aussie NBL level. However Raukawa is the in-form option, delivering 16 points per night while shooting over 40% from deep.
Liam Judd (SG) – Manawatu Jets
The Jets are very import dominant with the triple threat of Javion Blake, Mustapha Heron, and Daniel Pippen leaving everyone else in their shadows which made this the toughest choice of the lot. Three main candidates: Pafe Momoisea, Liam Judd, and Joshua Leger. Momoisea hasn’t quite kicked on from a great year last time, largely due to the import queue while Leger was the initial inclination as a tidy big man who also happens to be a cousin of the Leger-Walker whanau. But a closer look at the numbers has seen Liam Judd and his glorious mullet steal ahead. He’s played more games with bigger minutes, hanging around and hitting 38.8% from his threes. Started the season with a 22-pointer against Southland and while he hasn’t come close to those heights again it shows what the 22yo is capable of.
Carlin Davison (PF) - Taranaki Airs
Respect to Tobias Cameron, also a worthy prospect after a fine college career (his brother just signed with Melbourne United after all), but Carlin Davidson is one of the best kept secrets in kiwi basketball. A Taranaki native who consistently pops up for his home team... he missed out on the start of the term in order to try his luck in America ahead of the NBA draft. Getting his name out there. Still only 19 years of age and he does a bit of everything. After a slow debut, he’s been immense across the last three games: averaging 15.3pts/5.7reb/4.0ast/3.7stl while shooting 54.5% from the field (and 100% from the free throw line). By all accounts he’s a great worker – true of most kiwi prospects to be fair – to go with being a rangy athlete with a versatile set of skills. Unlikely that he’ll be one of the lucky ones drafted into the NBA this year but he’s absolutely good value for an NBL development player gig and then who knows from there.
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