Mitchell Dance selected the top New Zealander playing abroad in last week's games

Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of New Zealanders who are currently playing abroad.

Mitchell Dance

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced international swingman Mitchell Dance (192-1, currently plays in Australia). He could not help Bandits (4-11) in their last game. Despite Dance's very good performance the 14th-placed Bandits (4-11) lost 74-79 on the road to the much higher-ranked (#7) Bendigo Braves in the NBL1 South group. He was the second best scorer with 16 points. Dance also added 5 rebounds in 32 minutes on the court. It was Bandits' third consecutive loss in a row. It's Dance's first season with the team. He has individually a very good year with high stats. Dance averages: 20.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.2apg, 2FGP: 52.8%, 3FGP: 28.6% and FT: 65.3% in 15 games he played so far. He is currently a member of the New Zealand senior national team.

Sioeli Vaiangina

   #2. Second place goes to former U18 international forward Sioeli Vaiangina (202-98, college: Panola JC, currently plays in Australia). Vaiangina was not able to help Wanneroo in their game against Flames (15-6) in the Australian State League (second division). He scored 8 points. Wanneroo were defeated 96-85 in Rockingham by the lower-ranked Flames (#4) in the NBL1 West group. The Regular Season already ended. Vaiangina's overall stats this season are: 8.8ppg, 5.0rpg, 2FGP: 55.9%(71-127), 3FGP: 23.5% and FT: 55.6%. He played for the New Zealand U18 national team in 2014.

Mitchell Newton

   #3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward Mitchell Newton (199-95, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Sioeli Vaiangina and both played together in the last Australian State League game. Newton. He was not able to secure a victory for Wanneroo (15-3) in their game against Flames (15-6). Newton scored 7 points in 20 minutes. Wanneroo lost 85-96 in Rockingham to the lower-ranked (#4) Flames in the NBL1 West group. This year Newton's overall stats are: 5.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 2FGP: 54.3%, 3FGP: 25.0% in 10 games. He played for the New Zealand national team six years ago.

Ezra Nikora

   #4. Guard Ezra Nikora (183-91, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help Redbacks (12-6) in their game against Cougars (11-11) in the Australian State League (second division). He scored only 4 points in 19 minutes. His team were crushed 96-70 in Hamilton Hill by the much lower-ranked (#8) Cougars in the NBL1 West group. Nikora's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. This year Nikora's total stats are: 1.6ppg and 1.2apg in 17 games. He used to play for the New Zealand national team back in 2013.


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). Collins could not help Giants (6-14) to beat Redbacks (13-9). He scored 8 points. Giants (#10) were defeated 94-79 on the road by the higher-ranked Redbacks (#7) in the NBL1 West group. The Regular Season already ended. Collins' total stats this season are: 6.0ppg and 4.5rpg.

   #2. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college: ENMU, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Bendigo Braves to win against the 14th-ranked Bandits (4-11) 79-74 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night. Mumtaz scored only 2 points. in group NBL1 South. Bendigo Braves (9-7) are placed seventh. Mumtaz has averaged so far 9.8ppg, 1.8rpg and 1.3apg.

   #3. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-92, college: MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the second-ranked Lightning (17-5) 93-74 in the Australian State League (second division) in Friday night's game. He scored 6 points in 16 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group NBL1 West. Mandurah Magic (9-8) is placed . Shaw's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Shaw has averaged so far 7.3ppg, 3.7rpg and 1.1apg in 22 games he played so far.


Other top New Zealand players, who play abroad:

Steven Adams (213-C/F-93) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
Aron Baynes (208-C-86) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
Isaac Fotu (203-PF-93) plays for Link Tochigi Brex Utsunomiya in Japanese B1 League
Corey Webster (188-G-88) plays for Al Ettehad in Egyptian Superleague
Taylor Britt (187-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
Mojave King (196-G-2) plays for Cairns Taipans in Australian NBL
Robert Loe (211-F-91) plays for New Zealand Breakers 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
Yannick Wetzell (208-F) plays for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Finn Delany (198-F-95) plays for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Shou Nisbet (196-G-97) plays for Tokyo Z in Japanese B2 League

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