Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of New Zealanders who are currently playing abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former international forward
Finn Delany (198-95, college:
SW Baptist, currently plays in Australia). He led
New Zealand Breakers to a victory over the closely-ranked Kings (16-17)
89-81 in the Australian NBL in Thursday night's game.
Delany was MVP of the game. He had a double-double by scoring 28 points and getting 12 rebounds. Delany also added 4 assists in 39 minutes on the court.
New Zealand Breakers (11-21) are placed second from the bottom (#8) in the NBL.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Delany has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 16.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 2.2apg, 2FGP: 57.3%(121-211), 3FGP: 34.9% and FT: 84.1% in 32 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 an experienced former international guard
Corey Webster (188-88, college:
Lambuth, 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 was the main contributor in a
New Zealand Breakers' victory against the closely-ranked Adelaide 36ers (5-8)
94-76.
He was the best player in that game. Webster scored 22 points and added 6 assists.
New Zealand Breakers (11-21) are placed second from the bottom (#8) in the NBL.
Webster has relatively good stats this season: 14.2ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.7apg, 2FGP: 49.1%, 3FGP: 36.7% and FT: 85.4%.
He played for the New Zealand national team in 2019.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international guard
Tai Webster (193-95, college:
Nebraska, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Finn Delany. However that was another game of his team in Australian NBL which brought him to that list.
Webster. He could not help
New Zealand Breakers (11-21) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Webster's good performance New Zealand Breakers were defeated
81-76 on the road by the higher-ranked Kings (#5).
He recorded 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
It's Webster's first season with the team.
This year Webster has very high stats. He averages: 16.9ppg, 4.9rpg, 5.4apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 42.9%, 3FGP: 34.7% and FT: 57.8%.
Former Advice First Waikato Pistons starter played for the New Zealand national team two years ago.
#4. Center
Tyrell Harrison (213-99, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Bullets' victory against the league outsider Cairns Taipans (7-26)
101-96 in the Australian NBL last Wednesday.
Harrison scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in a mere 15 minutes.
Brisbane Bullets (15-17) are placed sixth in the NBL.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
This year Harrison's overall stats are: 5.0ppg and 5.7rpg in 32 games.
He is also New Zealand national team player.
#5. International guard
Shea Ili (184-92, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
United's victory against the sixth-ranked Bullets (15-17)
99-88 in the Australian NBL on Monday night.
Ili scored 10 points and had 3 steals.
Melbourne United (25-7) is placed first in the NBL.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
Ili's total stats this season are: 7.0ppg, 2.3rpg and 2.0apg.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#6. Forward
Jordan Ngatai (196-93, agency:
BIG, college:
BYU-Hawaii, currently plays in Australia) faced previously mentioned Tyrell Harrison in the Australian NBL last game.
Ngatai was not able to help
Cairns Taipans in their game against Bullets (15-17).
He scored 9 points in 27 minutes.
But the bottom-ranked Cairns Taipans lost
96-101 in Brisbane to the higher-ranked (#6) Bullets.
It was Cairns Taipans' eighth consecutive loss in a row.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season.
This year Ngatai's total stats are: 6.6ppg and 2.1rpg in 33 games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior New Zealand National Team roster.
#7. International forward
Thomas Vodanovich (201-94, college:
JMU, currently plays in Australia) faced previously mentioned Finn Delany in the Australian NBL last game.
Vodanovich was not able to secure a victory for
Kings (16-17) in their game against New Zealand Breakers (11-21).
He recorded only 4 points in 11 minutes.
Kings lost
81-89 in Auckland to the one of league's weakest teams (#8) New Zealand Breakers.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Vodanovich has averaged so far 5.1ppg and 2.5rpg in 33 games.
He is also New Zealand national team player.
#8. Forward
Sioeli Vaiangina (202-98, college:
Panola JC, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Wanneroo (4-0) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Vaiangina's good performance the first-placed Wanneroo (4-0) were badly defeated
87-70 in Kalgoorlie by the lower-ranked Giants (#5) in the NBL1 West group.
He scored 12 points.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Vaiangina has averaged so far 10.0ppg and 5.8rpg.
He used to play for the New Zealand U18 national team
back in 2014.
#9. International swingman
Mitchell Dance (192-1, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Bandits (1-7) in their last game. Despite Dance's very good performance Bandits (#17) were badly defeated
96-76 in Heathmont by the much higher-ranked (#10) Ringwood Hawks in the NBL1 South group.
He scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 38 minutes.
Dance has very impressive stats this year: 19.5ppg, 7.0rpg and 1.3apg in eight games.
He is also in the roster of the New Zealand national team.
#10. Guard
Jarrod Kenny (188-85, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jordan Ngatai. But that was another game of his team in Australian NBL we would like to talk about.
Kenny couldn't help
Cairns Taipans (7-26) in their game against Illawarra Hawks (17-15). He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones.
Kenny scored only 3 points.
The bottom-ranked Cairns Taipans were defeated
93-81 in Gwynneville by the higher-ranked Illawarra Hawks (#4).
Kenny has averaged so far 2.5ppg, 1.7rpg and 1.5apg.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior New Zealand National Team roster.
#11. International guard
Zane Meehl (188-86, college:
Mid-Continent, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Phoenix (1-1) in their last game. Despite Meehl's good performance Phoenix (#8) was edged
86-83 in Taigum by the higher-ranked (#6) Northside Wizards in the NBL1 North group.
He scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 33 minutes.
This year Meehl has relatively solid stats: 11.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.0apg and 1.5spg in two games.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#12. International swingman
Zac Carter (203-89, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Brisbane Capitals to win against the eighth-ranked Brisbane Spartans
86-70 in a derby game in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
Carter scored 5 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Carter has averaged so far 10.0ppg and 6.0rpg.
He is also in the roster of the New Zealand national team.
#13. International center
Tane Kirisome (206-3, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Thunder's victory against the 14th-ranked Ipswich Force
79-69 in the Australian State League (second division) on Sunday night.
Kirisome scored 8 points in 19 minutes.
Kirisome has averaged so far 5.0ppg and 1.5rpg in two games.
He is also New Zealand national team player.
The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams: #1. Experienced
Mojave King (196-G-2, currently plays in Australia) could not help
Cairns Taipans (7-26) in their last game. Despite King's very good performance the bottom-ranked Cairns Taipans lost
96-101 on the road to the higher-ranked (#6) Bullets.
He was the top scorer with 25 points in 30 minutes.
It was Cairns Taipans' eighth consecutive loss in a row.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year King's overall stats are: 6.2ppg and 2.4rpg in 30 games he played so far.
He is a naturalized American.
Strangely King has never played in New Zealand.
#2. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college:
ENMU, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Bendigo Braves (5-4) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Mumtaz's good performance the ninth-placed Bendigo Braves (5-4) were defeated
100-89 in Mount Waverley by the higher-ranked Waverley Falcons (#5) in the NBL1 South group.
He scored 12 points and added 3 passes.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
This year Mumtaz has relatively solid stats: 10.9ppg, 1.8rpg and 1.8apg.
#3. Brandon Watkins (198-F, college:
Mars Hill, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Devils' victory against the tenth-ranked Steelers (1-8)
91-87 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
Watkins scored 6 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 4 assists.
Wyndham Devils (8-2) are placed second in Big V group.
It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row.
Watkins has averaged so far 7.1ppg, 5.6rpg and 1.5apg.
#4. Mason Bragg (182-G-93, currently plays in Australia) managed to help NW Tasmania Thunder in a victory against the 15th-ranked Eltham Wildcats (2-6) crushing them
94-68 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
He scored 5 points and added 4 passes in 21 minutes.
NW Tasmania Thunder (7-1) is placed second in NBL1 South group.
It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row.
Bragg has averaged so far 7.6ppg, 3.5rpg, 5.4apg and 1.5spg in eight games.
#5. Matthew Wilson (200-F-92, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
Brisbane Spartans (2-0) in their game against Brisbane Capitals (2-0) in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Wilson scored only 2 points.
Brisbane Spartans (#3) were badly defeated
86-70 in a derby game by the leading Brisbane Capitals in the NBL1 North group.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Wilson has averaged so far 3.0ppg and 2.0rpg.
#6. Zeke Meehl (181-G-88, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Phoenix in their game against Northside Wizards in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Meehl scored only 2 points and added 4 passes in 16 minutes.
His team was edged
86-83.
Meehl has averaged so far 1.5ppg and 2.5apg in two games.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.
#7. Dion Collins (203-F, college:
CSC, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked Wanneroo
87-70 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
Collins scored only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Collins has averaged so far 5.2ppg and 3.2rpg.
#8. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-92, college:
MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Magic in their game against Senators in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Shaw scored only 2 points in 12 minutes.
His team was badly defeated by 20 points
98-78.
Shaw has reliable stats this year: 11.2ppg, 5.4rpg and 1.6apg in five games.
