We bring you last week's top performances from New Zealanders who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is former international forward
Finn Delany (198-95, college:
SW Baptist, currently plays in Australia). He could not help
New Zealand Breakers (12-23) in their last game. Despite Delany's very good performance New Zealand Breakers lost
73-84 on the road to the higher-ranked (#3) Illawarra Hawks.
He was the top scorer with 24 points. Delany also added 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 37 minutes on the court.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Delany has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 16.2ppg, 6.7rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 56.7%(132-233), 3FGP: 34.9% and FT: 81.7% in 35 games he played so far.
Delany has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Irish.
He played for the New Zealand senior national team two years ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international guard
Tai Webster (193-95, college:
Nebraska, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Finn Delany. But that was another game of his team in Australian NBL which we would like to mention.
Webster led
New Zealand Breakers to a victory over the league outsider Cairns Taipans (8-27)
84-78.
He was MVP of the game. Webster recorded 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
New Zealand Breakers (12-23) are placed second from the bottom (#8) in the NBL.
This season Webster has very high stats. He averages: 16.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 5.1apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 42.0%, 3FGP: 38.2% and FT: 57.0%.
Former Advice First Waikato Pistons starter played for the New Zealand national team in 2019.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was an international forward
Thomas Vodanovich (201-94, college:
JMU, currently plays in Australia). Vodanovich contributed to a 2-point
Kings' victory against the closely-ranked United (9-4)
100-98 in the Australian NBL on Saturday night.
He scored 13 points (went 5 for 5 at the free throw line) in 21 minutes.
Sydney Kings (18-17) are placed fifth in the NBL.
Vodanovich's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
This year Vodanovich's overall stats are: 5.1ppg, 2.4rpg, 2FGP: 51.7%, 3FGP: 37.9% and FT: 76.0% in 35 games.
He is also a member of the New Zealand senior national team.
#4. Center
James Hunter (208-91, college:
S.Dakota, currently plays in Australia) was the main contributor in a
Sydney City Comets' victory against the third-ranked Norths Soul Sports Bears (6-2)
87-78 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
Hunter was the best player in that game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 29 points and getting 12 rebounds. Hunter also added 2 blocks.
Sydney City Comets (5-5) are placed seventh in WARATAH group.
This season Hunter has very high stats. He averages: 22.7ppg, 9.8rpg, 1.8apg and 1.2spg.
Hunter used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 2017.
#5. An experienced former international guard
Corey Webster (188-88, college:
Lambuth, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Finn Delany. He played also in the last Australian NBL game facing Tai Webster (above) in the other team.
Webster was the major contributor in a
New Zealand Breakers' victory against the league outsider Cairns Taipans (8-27)
84-78.
He recorded 16 points and added 4 assists in 29 minutes.
Webster has relatively good stats this year: 13.7ppg, 3.4rpg and 2.9apg in 27 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
two years ago.
#6. Guard
Shea Ili (184-92, currently plays in Australia) faced previously mentioned Thomas Vodanovich in the Australian NBL last game.
Ili was not able to help
United (26-8) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance the league leader United was edged
100-98 in Sydney by the lower-ranked Kings (#5).
Ili scored 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is quite important.
Ili's total stats this season are: 7.0ppg, 2.5rpg and 1.9apg.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior New Zealand National Team roster.
#7. International center
Tyrell Harrison (213-99, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Bullets' victory against the closely-ranked Melbourne Phoenix (18-16)
91-84 in the Australian NBL in Wednesday night's game.
Harrison recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in 22 minutes.
Brisbane Bullets (17-17) are placed sixth in the NBL.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is extremely important.
This year Harrison's total stats are: 5.2ppg and 5.7rpg in 34 games.
He is also New Zealand national team player.
#8. Forward
Jordan Ngatai (196-93, agency:
BIG, college:
BYU-Hawaii, currently plays in Australia) contributed to a
Cairns Taipans' victory against the fourth-ranked Melbourne Phoenix (18-16)
94-87 in the Australian NBL last Friday.
Ngatai scored 14 points.
Cairns Taipans (8-27) closes the standings in the NBL.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
It's Ngatai's first season with the team.
Ngatai has averaged so far 6.8ppg and 2.1rpg.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#9. Former U18 international forward
Sioeli Vaiangina (202-98, college:
Panola JC, currently plays in Australia) helped
Wanneroo win their game against the 12th-ranked Eagles (2-7) crushing them
94-61 in the Australian State League (second division) on Friday night.
Vaiangina recorded 14 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in 22 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his second season in pro basketball. Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves (5-1) are placed second in NBL1 West group.
This year Vaiangina has relatively solid stats: 11.1ppg and 5.6rpg in seven games.
He used to play for the New Zealand U18 national team
seven years ago.
#10. Swingman
Zac Carter (203-89, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
Brisbane Capitals (3-1) in their game against Northside Wizards (2-2) in the Australian State League (second division).
Carter recorded 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
The second-placed Brisbane Capitals (3-1) were badly defeated
96-79 in Taigum by the lower-ranked Northside Wizards (#7) in the NBL1 North group.
They ended the series of three consecutive victories.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Carter is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his seventh year in Brisbane Capitals' roster.
He has averaged so far 7.5ppg and 6.3rpg.
Carter is an international player who is currently on the senior New Zealand National Team roster.
#11. International guard
Jarrod Kenny (188-85, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jordan Ngatai. He played also in the last Australian NBL game facing Tai Webster (above) in the other team.
Kenny couldn't help one of league's weakest teams
Cairns Taipans in their game against New Zealand Breakers.
He recorded 6 points in 21 minutes.
His team lost
78-84.
Kenny has averaged so far 2.7ppg, 1.6rpg and 1.5apg in 35 games.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#12. International center
Ben Gold (208-3, currently plays in Australia) helped
Excellence win their game against the eighth-ranked Hills Hornets crushing them
91-64 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
He recorded 16 points and blocked 2 blocks in 22 minutes.
Gold has reliable stats this year: 12.5ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.5apg in four games.
He is also in the roster of the New Zealand national team.
#13. International center
Tane Kirisome (206-3, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Logan Thunder to win against the 13th-ranked South West Metro Pirates crushing them
107-81 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
Kirisome recorded only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Kirisome has averaged so far 4.0ppg, 2.0rpg and 1.3spg.
He is also New Zealand national team player.
#14. International guard
Zane Meehl (188-86, college:
Mid-Continent, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Phoenix in their game against Brisbane Capitals in the Australian State League (second division). Meehl cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
He recorded only 3 points and added 7 assists in 28 minutes.
His team lost
71-78.
Meehl has averaged so far 8.7ppg, 5.0rpg and 4.3apg in three games.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams: #1. Dion Collins (203-F, college:
CSC, currently plays in Australia) could not help
Giants (3-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Collins' good performance Giants (#7) were edged
74-73 on the road by the second-ranked Tigers in the NBL1 West group.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 10 rebounds. Collins also added 3 blocks.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Collins has averaged so far 6.5ppg and 4.3rpg.
#2. Matthew Wilson (200-F-92, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Southern Districts Spartans in a victory against the 11th-ranked Rip City (0-2)
93-89 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night.
Wilson recorded 5 points in 11 minutes.
Southern Districts Spartans (3-0) are placed second in NBL1 North group.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Wilson has averaged so far 3.7ppg and 2.0rpg in three games he played so far.
#3. Experienced
Zeke Meehl (181-G-88, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Phoenix's victory against the tenth-ranked Roar (1-2)
100-95 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
He recorded 7 points.
Sunshine Coast Phoenix (3-1) is placed fourth in NBL1 North group.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Meehl has averaged so far 3.3ppg, 1.5rpg and 1.8apg.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.
#4. Thomas Giles (180-G-88, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Norths Soul Sports Bears in their game against Sydney City Comets (5-5) in the Australian State League (second division). Giles cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He recorded only 2 points.
Norths Soul Sports Bears (#3) were defeated
87-78 in Alexandria by the lower-ranked Sydney City Comets (#7) in the WARATAH group.
It was Norths Soul Sports Bears' first loss after three consecutive victories.
Giles has been at the team for five years.
This season Giles averages just 1.1ppg.
#5. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-92, college:
MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Magic's victory against the ninth-ranked Redbacks (2-4)
82-74 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
He recorded only 4 points in 9 minutes on the court.
Mandurah Magic (9-8) is placed in NBL1 West group.
Shaw has averaged so far 8.9ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.6apg in seven games.
