With just under three weeks until the 2025 National Basketball League (NBL) season tips-off, some teams are still getting their rosters together.
While most franchises were locking in their local development talent and other New Zealand player signings pre- and post-Christmas, three teams - the Auckland Tuatara, Manawatu Jets and Southland Sharks - have also filled their import quotas.
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The Tuatara, three-time beaten finalists, have complemented their 'Kiwi core' of Rob Loe, Tom Vodanovich and Dan Fotu with restricted players across their guard-line, Americans Charles Pride and Buay Tuach, and Australian Will 'Davo' Hickey.
Coming off a 1-19 season, the Jets have added Americans Kenny Goins, Makhel Mitchell and Miles Gibson, to join young Kiwi guard Dontae Russo-Nance, and New Zealanders playing abroad Isaac Miller-Jose and Dion Collins.
The Sharks, after a 4-16 season, will bring back guard Caleb Asberry, as well as fellow Americans, forwards Keylan Boone and Josiah Allick, while retaining captain Alonzo Burton and luring Tall Blacks big Sam Timmins to the Deep South.
The Otago Nuggets, Hawke's Bay Hawks, Franklin Bulls and Indian Panthers have yet to announce any import signings.
Making a splash with the signing of the all-Tall Blacks backcourt of Shea Ili and Izayah Le'afa were the Wellington Saints, the 12-time NBL champions but not since 2021.
The pair join fellow national team forward Hyrum Harris and Australian forward Nick Marshall, currently with the Adelaide 36ers in the Australian NBL.
The Bulls also have put together a strong Kiwi foundation, retaining Ethan Rusbatch and enticing the Cameron brothers, Flynn and Tobias, sons of Tall Blacks legend Pero Cameron, from the Taranaki Airs.
The two-time defending champion Canterbury Rams have held onto their local core of Taylor Britt, Max Darling, Walter Brown and Kaia Isaac, while inking Australian guard Sean MacDonald, currently with the Tasmania JackJumpers.
The Tauranga Whai, who just missed the playoffs in their inauguaral season in 2024, and the Nelson Giants have done likewise.
The Whai have brought back Jayden Bezzant, Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Te Tuhi Lewis, and added veteran American guard Chris Jones and NZ Breakers depth forward Sean Bairstow, while the G-Men have kept Alex McNaught, Hayden Jones and Sam Dempster, while bringing in Kiwi bigs Callum McRae and Liam Judd, former NBA forward Brice Johnson and Australian big Callum Dalton.
Despite defections, the Airs have signed 3x3 Tall Blacks forward Dom Kelman-Poto and Australian guard Owen Foxwell, currently with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
The NBL's newest team, the India-owned Panthers, who will play out of South Auckland, have yet to confirm a head coach or any players, while the Nuggets have made just two local signings.
The NBL's 43rd season in the league's 44th year tips-off on Wednesday, March 12, with the Hawks hosting the Panthers in Napier. The season opens with games on 12 straight nights, until March 23.
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Auckland Tuatara
Rob Loe, Tom Vodanovich, Dan Fotu, Dylan Wilkie, Josh Wyllie, Charles Pride*, Will 'Davo' Hickey*, Buay Tuach*
Indian Panthers
No player announcements
Franklin Bulls
Ethan Rusbatch, Halasiale Maile, Tobias Cameron, KC Nwafor, Corey Perry, Harrison Coker-Grey, Brody Perry, Payton Hughes, Harrison Kelso, Zion Anderson, Flynn Cameron
Tauranga Whai
Jayden Bezzant, Sean Bairstow*, Te Tuhi Lewis, Jett Thompson, Chris Jones*, Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Denhym Brooke, Carter Hopoi
Taranaki Airs
Dom Kelman-Poto, Scott Telfer, Jack Exeter, Owen Foxwell*
Manawatu Jets
Dontae Russo-Nance, Kenny Goins*, Isaac Miller-Jose, Dion Collins, Makhel Mitchell*, Miles Gibson*, Zavier Pearn, Tinashe Matambanadzo, Hikaia Lambert
Hawke's Bay Hawks
Jackson Ball, Jacob Murphy, Clifton Bush II, Ezrah Eagle, Harry Keighley, Kobe Kara
Wellington Saints
Hyrum Harris, Troy Plumtree, Izayah Le'afa, Shea Ili, Rangimarie Dougall-Mita, Nick Marshall*, Kazlo Evans Jr, Lukah Richards
Nelson Giants
Alex McNaught, Liam Judd, Aston Inwood, Hayden Jones, Lachlan Crate, Sam Dempster, Brice Johnson*, Callum McRae, Callum Dalton*
Canterbury Rams
Taylor Britt, Kaia Isaac, Max Darling, Walter Brown, Sean Macdonald*, Tama Isaac, Mana Martin, Jake Holmes, Ihaka Cate, Tawhiri Cate
Otago Nuggets
Matthew Bardsley, Darcy Knox
Southland Sharks
Alonzo Burton, Johnny Helu, Sam Timmins, Keylan Boone*, Tukaha Cooper, Caleb Asberry*, Hayden Collier, Dane Bertinshaw, Josiah Allick*, Quake Webster, Riley Snow