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 guard
Tai Webster (193-1995, agency:
Network Sports International, college:
Nebraska, currently plays in Lithuania). He contributed to
Zalgiris' victory against one of league's weakest teams Nevezis (6-20)
72-64 in the Lithuanian LKL in Thursday night's game.
Webster scored 8 points and added 4 passes in 22 minutes on the court.
B.C. Zalgiris Kaunas (5-3) is placed second in the LKL.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year Webster averages: 7.1ppg, 1.4rpg, 2.5apg, 2FGP: 57.9%(33-57), 3FGP: 32.5% and FT: 66.7% in 16 games he played so far.
Former Advice First Waikato Pistons starter played for the New Zealand senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward
Hyrum Harris (198-1996, college:
Umpqua CC, currently plays in Australia). He could not help one of league's weakest teams
Adelaide 36ers (10-8) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Harris' good performance Adelaide 36ers were defeated
84-77 on the road by the higher-ranked Kings (#3).
He recorded 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Harris' team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
Harris' overall stats this season are: 4.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 58.2%(32-55) and FT: 64.5%.
He played for the New Zealand national team in 22.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward
Steven Adams (213-1993, college:
Pittsburgh, currently plays in NBA). Adams managed to help Memphis Grizzlies in a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans (36-46) crushing them
141-114 in the NBA on Saturday night.
He scored only 4 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 22 minutes.
The Memphis Grizzlies have a solid 56-26 record this season.
There are only four games left until the end of the NBA Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
This year Adams' overall stats are: 6.9ppg, 10.0rpg, 3.4apg, 2FGP: 55.0% and FT: 54.3% in 76 games.
He played for the New Zealand national team year ago.
#4. An experienced forward
Thomas Abercrombie (198-1987, college:
WSU, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
New Zealand Breakers (5-19) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Abercrombie's very good performance the bottom-ranked New Zealand Breakers were defeated
99-89 in Melbourne by the higher-ranked Phoenix (#6).
He was the second best scorer with 17 points.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be extremely important.
Abercrombie's total stats this season are: 8.9ppg and 1.8rpg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 19.
#5. Former international forward
Finn Delany (198-1995, college:
SW Baptist, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Thomas Abercrombie and both played together in the last Australian NBL game.
Delany was not able to secure a victory for
New Zealand Breakers (5-19) in their last game. Despite his good performance the bottom-ranked New Zealand Breakers lost
89-99 in Melbourne to the higher-ranked (#6) Phoenix.
Delany recorded 12 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in 32 minutes.
This year Delany's total stats are: 10.0ppg, 5.6rpg and 2.0apg in 23 games.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Irish.
Delany used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#6. Center
Jack Salt (208-1996, college:
Virginia, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Bullets' victory against one of league's weakest teams Adelaide 36ers (7-17)
93-85 in the Australian NBL in Monday night's game.
He recorded 8 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Brisbane Bullets (10-16) are placed seventh in the NBL.
Salt's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
Salt has averaged so far 2.9ppg and 2.7rpg in 20 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the New Zealand senior team year ago.
#7. Former international center
James Hunter (208-1991, college:
S.Dakota, currently plays in Australia) led
Mustangs to a 3-point victory over the third-ranked Hills Hornets (2-1)
87-84 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
Hunter was MVP of the game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 11 rebounds. Hunter also added 4 blocks; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Maitland Mustangs (2-1) are placed fourth in NBL1 East group.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Hunter has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.7ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0bpg and 1.3spg.
Hunter used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#8. Guard
Shea Ili (184-1992, currently plays in Australia) contributed to a 2-point
United's victory against the sixth-ranked Melbourne Phoenix (12-12)
90-88 in a derby game in the Australian NBL on Thursday night.
He recorded 5 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 23 minutes.
Melbourne United (13-5) is placed first 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.
Ili has averaged so far 8.2ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.8apg and 1.2spg in 25 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 20.
#9. Former international forward
Taane Samuel (200-1999, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jack Salt. But that was another game of his team in Australian NBL which we would like to mention.
Samuel couldn't help
Bullets (10-16) in their game against Illawarra Hawks (17-8).
He recorded 6 points.
Bullets were crushed
108-77 in Gwynneville by the second-ranked Illawarra Hawks.
This season Samuel averages only 2.1ppg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#10. Forward
Jordan Ngatai (196-1993, agency:
BIG, college:
BYU-Hawaii, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Cairns Taipans (7-15) in their game against United (18-7) in the Australian NBL. Ngatai cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones.
He recorded only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Cairns Taipans were crushed
92-63 in Melbourne by the leading United.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Ngatai has averaged so far 3.5ppg, 1.8rpg and 1.1apg in 17 games.
He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the New Zealand senior national team.
#11. Former international forward
Brayden Inger (203-1999, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jordan Ngatai and both played together in the last Australian NBL game.
Inger couldn't help
Cairns Taipans in their game against United.
He recorded 6 points.
His team were crushed by 29 points
92-63.
This season Inger averages only 0.8ppg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#12. Former U18 international forward
Sioeli Vaiangina (202-1998, college:
Panola JC, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Wanneroo's victory against the 12th-ranked Tigers
75-66 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
Vaiangina recorded 9 points in 28 minutes. It was his first game for Wanneroo this season.
Vaiangina used to play for the New Zealand U18 national team
back in 14.
#13. Former international guard
Takiula Fahrensohn (201-1999, agency:
Haylett Sports, college:
Portland, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help
Ehingen/Urspringschule in their game against Gladiators in the German ProA (second division).
He recorded 9 points and added 3 passes.
His team was crushed by 32 points
101-69.
Fahrensohn has relatively good stats this season: 12.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg and 1.2spg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#14. Former international guard
Jarrod Kenny (186-1985, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jordan Ngatai. However that was another game of his team in Australian NBL which brought him to that list.
Kenny couldn't help
Cairns Taipans in their game against JackJumpers. He cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
Kenny recorded only 3 points in 9 minutes on the court.
His team lost
80-87.
Kenny has averaged so far 3.6ppg, 1.7rpg and 2.5apg in 15 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 20.
#15. Former international swingman
Dion Prewster (195-1990, also represented by
BIG, college:
SF Austin, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Shea Ili. He played also in the last Australian NBL game facing Jordan Ngatai (above) in the other team.
Prewster contributed to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Cairns Taipans crushing them
92-63.
He recorded only 4 points.
This season Prewster averages just 1.3ppg.
He is a naturalized American.
Prewster used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
He played also for Wellington Exodus Saints in New Zealand league.
The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams: #1. Mojave King (196-G-2002, currently plays in Australia). He could not help
Adelaide 36ers (10-8) to beat Bullets (10-16).
King recorded 8 points.
Adelaide 36ers were defeated
93-85 on the road by the lower-ranked Bullets (#7).
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
King has averaged so far 3.2ppg and 1.2rpg.
He is a naturalized American.
Strangely King has never played in New Zealand.
#2. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-1992, college:
MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Suns (1-0) in their last game on Friday. Despite Shaw's good performance the second-placed Suns (1-0) were crushed
85-52 in Northbridge by the second-ranked Redbacks in the NBL1 West group.
He was the top scorer with 11 points. Shaw also added 9 rebounds and 3 assists. It was his first game for Suns this season.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
#3. Dion Collins (203-F, college:
CSC, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Goldfields Giants to win against the fourth-ranked Lightning (1-0)
90-74 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
Collins recorded only one point. It was his first game for Giants this season.
His team are placed fourth in NBL1 West group.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
