Steven Adams selected the top New Zealander playing abroad in last week's games

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.

Steven Adams

   #1. This week's number one is an international power forward Steven Adams (213-93, college: Pittsburgh, currently plays in NBA). He contributed to a 1-point Oklahoma City Thunder's victory against the Miami Heat (44-28) 116-115 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game. Adams recorded 8 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 20 minutes on the court. The Oklahoma City Thunder has a solid 44-27 record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. It's Adams' eighth year with the team. He has relatively good stats this season: 10.9ppg, 9.2rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 59.4%(282-475), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 58.2% in 63 games he played so far. Adams played for the New Zealand senior national team one years ago.

Brayden Inger

   #2. Second place goes to former U19 international forward Brayden Inger (203-99, currently plays in Australia). He could not help Buccaneers (1-5) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Inger's very good performance the 14th-placed Buccaneers (1-5) were edged 86-85 on the road by the much higher-ranked Redbacks (#3) in the WCC group. He recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 12 rebounds. Inger also added 2 blocks. This season Inger has relatively solid stats: 12.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 47.5%, 3FGP: 36.7% and FT: 33.3%. He played for the New Zealand U19 national team in 2017.

   #3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward Dennis Tawhiti (198-90, currently plays in Australia) faced previously mentioned Brayden Inger in the Australian State League last game. Tawhiti contributed to a 1-point Redbacks' victory against the 14th-ranked Buccaneers (1-5) 86-85. He recorded 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. It's Tawhiti's first season with the team. This year Tawhiti averages: 8.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 2FGP: 76.9%(20-26) and FT: 75.0%. He played for the New Zealand national team seven years ago.

Ezra Nikora

   #4. Guard Ezra Nikora (183-91, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Dennis Tawhiti and both played together in the last Australian State League game. Nikora contributed to a 1-point Redbacks' victory against the 14th-ranked Buccaneers (1-5) 86-85. He recorded 6 points and added 3 passes in 22 minutes. This year Nikora's overall stats are: 2.6ppg, 1.6rpg and 1.2apg in five games. He used to play for the New Zealand national team back in 2013.

Zane Meehl

   #5. An experienced former University international guard Zane Meehl (188-86, college: Mid-Continent, currently plays in Australia) led Phoenix to an easy victory against the 12th-ranked Toowoomba Mountaineers (0-1) crushing them 102-80 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night. Meehl recorded 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. It was his first game for Phoenix this season. His team is placed fourth in QBL group. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Meehl has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian. He used to play for the New Zealand university national team thirteen years ago.


The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams:

   #1. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-92, college: MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia). Shaw could not help Buccaneers (1-5) to beat Suns (1-4). He recorded 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 16 minutes. But Buccaneers (#14) lost 75-85 on the road to the higher-ranked (#12) Suns in the WCC group. It was Buccaneers' fourth consecutive loss in a row. It's Shaw's first season with the team. This year Shaw averages: 6.8ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.2apg in six games he played so far.

   #2. Kade Muru was not able to help Wanneroo in their game against Senators (3-1) in the Australian State League (second division). Muru cannot count it as his best performance. He recorded only one point and grabbed 8 rebounds in 29 minutes. Wanneroo lost 76-88 in Perth to the lower-ranked (#6) Senators in the WCC group. This year Muru's total stats are: 1.0ppg and 5.3rpg in three games.

   #3. Zeke Meehl (181-G-88, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Sunshine Coast Phoenix to win against the 12th-ranked Toowoomba Mountaineers (0-1) crushing them 102-80 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday. He recorded only 3 points. It was his first game for Phoenix this season. His team is placed fourth in QBL group. But the season just started, so everything may happen. Meehl has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.


Other top New Zealand players, who play abroad:

Isaac Fotu (203-PF-93) plays for Umana Venezia in Italian Serie A
Aron Baynes (208-C-86) plays for Phoenix Suns in the NBA
Corey Webster (188-G-88) plays for Virtus Roma in Italian Serie A
Taylor Britt (188-G-96) plays for Perth Wildcats in Australian NBL
Tyrell Harrison (213-C-99) plays for Bullets in Australian NBL
Jordan Ngatai (196-F-93) plays for Cairns Taipans in Australian NBL
Tai Webster (193-G-95) plays for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Thomas Abercrombie (198-F-87) plays for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Ethan Rusbatch (196-G/F-92) plays for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Finn Delany (198-F-95) plays for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Taine Murray (196-SG-2) plays for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Alex Pledger (215-C-87) plays for United in Australian NBL
Shea Ili (184-G-92) plays for United in Australian NBL
Maxwell Darling (196-F-0) plays for KK Vrijednosnice Osijek in Croatian Premijer Liga

Notice: The list above includes only some of the New Zealand playing currently abroad. Go to New Zealand Abroad Page to see completed list.