Five men who increased their stocks in the 2025 NZNBL season
The Wellington Saints won their thirteenth domestic title this 2025 season in New Zealand's National Basketball League - here are five names that made an impression, with potential for more.
The Wellington Saints fought off a valiant challenge from the Southland Sharks to claim the 2025 NZNBL championship, in a nail-biting 88-83 grand final victory. Underpinning this clash was a matchup between two of the league’s premier forwards; Regular season MVP Josiah Allick (Southland) and Hyrum Harris (Wellington), whose big game exploits earned him grand final MVP honours. But throughout the tournament as a whole, several players found opportunities to impress in New Zealand, and here are five hoopers that really made a name for themselves.
Hyrum Harris (Wellington Saints)
6’6 forward Hyrum Harris is a veteran of the NZNBL, having racked up over a decade of experience since his debut in the 2014-15 season. Harris was a double-double machine for the Saints, averaging 14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists across 21 appearances. The New Zealander does his best work around the rim, and is a noted pump fake artist, often using his craftiness to generate high percentage looks, rather than brute force. Harris plays with a high motor, contributing 2.6 offensive boards per game, and functions well as a secondary playmaker.
If there’s one word that could be used to describe Harris, it’s versatility. The skilled forward routinely sets effective screens, but can equally put the ball on the floor, or kick the ball out to an open shooter. He is adept at finishing throughout contact, and excels on the defensive end, having picked up NZNBL Defensive Player of the Year honours. Harris’ play had a major say in Wellington’s championship season, and the 29 year old will be sought after heading into the next NBL season, after wrapping up his last campaign with the Perth Wildcats. The jump shot is still a work in progress, with a 30.2% clip from downtown (2.5 attempts per game), but Harris undoubtedly ticks multiple boxes for what teams want in a combo forward.
Josiah Allick (Southland Sharks)
American import Josiah Allick signed his first ever professional contract with the Southland Sharks, and wound up winning the NZNBL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Allick arrived in Invercargill with five years of collegiate basketball experience under his belt, and looked like a seasoned professional from the get go. He averaged 18.9 points and a league-high 11.3 rebounds, including an impressive 4.0 offensive boards per game. Allick was also a pillar of efficiency, with a season field goal percentage of 59.1%, and even showed flashes of occasional three-point shooting, posting a 35.6% clip from downtown (2.0 attempts per game).
Allick is a well-built forward who can play with his back to the basket, but is equally comfortable in driving to the rack. He often finishes his drives with a nifty short range floater, and has the ability to launch this with either hand. Allick’s physicality and hustle plays made him one of the talks of the competition, but the 24 year old also has an element of finesse to his game, and can function as an occasional playmaker. Adding 3.1 assists per game to an already-impressive stat line, Allick’s versatility helped Southland reach the NZNBL grand final, where they suffered a narrow defeat to Wellington.
Sean MacDonald (Southland Sharks)
After winning NBL Most Improved player honours in 2024, Sean MacDonald’s 2024-25 season was sadly derailed by injury, but the sharpshooting guard quickly bounced back in the ensuing NZNBL season. MacDonald averaged 21.6 points and 5.7 rebounds across 14 appearances for the Canterbury Rams, while giving away just 1.4 turnovers per game. The 25 year old proved that his shooting exploits in the NBL were no fluke, and could be replicated on a larger sample size, as he sunk 43% of his threes for Canterbury while attempting a whopping 8.6 per game.
MacDonald helped the Rams amass an impressive 15-5 record, before they were soundly beaten in the semi-finals by Southland. His exploits were good enough to earn recognition on the NZNBL’s All-Star Five, which will provide a confidence boost heading into the next NBL season. MacDonald is contracted to the Tasmanian JackJumpers until the end of the 2025-26 season, and will be a major asset to the team with his repertoire of skills that includes shifty handles, sniper-like shooting and playmaking. Currently aged just 25, MacDonald has the potential to develop into one of the NBL’s premier offensive players.
Jeremy Combs (Nelson Giants)
American import Jeremy Combs was recruited by the Nelson Giants after previously impressing for Rockingham in the NBL1 West, and lived up to the hype. He averaged a league-leading 24.4 points, while shooting 60.1% from the field, and added 3.6 assists per game. Combs stands at 6’7’’ tall but is well built and plays bigger than that, often backing down opponents in the post to position himself for a hook shot or an easy layup. He also contributed 7.0 rebounds per game, of which 2.2 were corralled on the offensive glass.
Combs doesn’t shy away from contact, attempting a touch over nine free throw attempts per game, of which he converted on 69.5%. His physicality makes up or his 6’7 frame and allows him to play as a genuine big man. Although Nelson ultimately didn’t qualify for the postseason, it wasn’t for a lack of trying from Combs, who wound up making the NZNBL All Star Five. The 29 year old journeyman may become a target for NBL teams ahead of the 2025-26 season, after putting together impressive seasons in both NBL1 and NZNBL.
Mojave King (Tauranga Whai)
One-time Southland Shark Mojave King made his NZNBL return with the Tauranga Whai in the back half of the 2025 season, and showcased the growth in his game over the past three years. King ranked sixth in the league for scoring average, with 22.2 points per game, including a 43-point explosion against his former club. The 23 year old is a swashbuckling three-point shooter who connected on 37.8% of his looks from deep, while attempting 6.7 per game. King excels in catch and shoot situations, but is equally capable of pulling up off the dribble.
Moreover, King added 3.6 assists per game, and was an aggressive driver, averaging 5.8 free throw attempts per game. He sunk 78% of his free throw attempts, in another encouraging sign that his shooting form has improved in recent years. The well-built guard stands at 6’5 tall and can guard multiple positions, making him a high value “3 and D” target for multiple clubs as NBL26 approaches. Whether King stays locally or pursues overseas opportunities however, remains to be seen.