NZNBL Wrap (April 30, 2024)

Currently unsigned NBL free agent Corey Webster has played a starring role in Auckland Tuatara’s pair of wins this past week, and his strong form has elevated him to second place in the competition’s official MVP voting.

Webster’s team option with the Perth Wildcats was declined following the culmination of NBL24, but the three-time NBL champion has been at his best during the early stages of this NZNBL season.

He first registered a 19-point, 11 assist double-double against the Franklin Bulls last Wednesday, in a game where Cam Gliddon also had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

MVP Rankings after R5 📈

➡️Extended list: https://t.co/7nSGKcmaWg#SalsNBL #RatedE @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/YqfqCALZUQ

— Sal’s NBL (@nznbl) April 29, 2024

Recent Melbourne signing Rob Loe also got in on the action with 22 points and 13 boards.

Then, Webster and Gliddon both exploded for 20 points in a 19-point win over the Manawatu Jets.

Lachlan Olbrich has continued to fire since returning to the Canterbury Rams this season, and starred in the Rams’ victory over Southland with 19 points and 20 rebounds.

Tasmania development player Walter Brown also played one of his best games of the season in the victory over the winless Sharks, with 14 points and seven boards.

The Sam Froling led Taranaki Airs also continued their strong form in the competition, as Froling rose to third in the MVP rankings behind Webster and current leader Luther Muhammad.

Froling registered yet another double-double with a 24-point, 10 rebound performance in a win over Whai, before he took on fellow Hawks fan-favourite Dan Grida when the Airs clashed with the Nelson Giants.

While Froling scored 21 points in his side’s win over the Giants, Breakers development player Carlin Davison stole the show with 26 points and eight rebounds in the 16-point win. New Breakers signing Mitch McCarron also added 11 points and eight assists.

For the Giants, Grida finished the game with 22 points, while Dan Fotu had 23.

New Adelaide signing Lat Mayen has registered and iron man performance for the Wellington Saints in their seven-point win over Keanu Rasmussen and the Hawkes Bay Hawks.

Mayen played all 40 minutes in the 111-104 win and ended the game with 20 points and seven rebounds. Brisbane’s Tohi Smith-Milner top-scored for the Saints with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Ben Ayre and Izayah Le’Afa finished the game with 22 and 23 points respectively.

Rasmussen continued his starring role for the Hawks with 25 points in the defeat.

Lat Mayen (Wellington) – 20PTS, 7REB, 2BLK vs Hawkes Bay
Keanu Rasmussen (Hawkes Bay) – 24PTS, 10REB, 2AST vs Wellington

Tohi Smith-Milner (Wellington) – 24PTS, 13REB, 4AST vs Hawkes Bay

 Josh Roberts (Hawkes Bay) - 10PTS, 11REB, 4BLK vs Canterbury | 4PTS, 9REB, 1BLK vs Wellington

Lachlan Olbrich (Canterbury) – 21PTS, 9REB, 5AST vs Otago | 19PTS, 20REB, 3AST vs Southland
Sam Froling (Taranaki) – 24PTS, 10REB, 3AST vs Whai | 21PTS, 7REB, 3AST vs Nelson
Dan Grida (Nelson) – 22PTS, 6REB, 3AST vs Taranaki

Rob Loe (Auckland) – 22PTS, 13REB, 4BLK vs Franklin | 18PTS, 9REB, 4AST vs Manawatu
Flynn Cameron (Taranaki) – 15PTS, 4REB, 2STL vs Whai | 9PTS, 4REB, 8AST vs Nelson

Cam Gliddon (Auckland) – 12PTS, 10REB, 3STL vs Franklin | 20PTS, 5REB, 5AST vs Manawatu
Dom Kelman-Poto (Franklin) – 2PTS, 1REB vs Auckland | 7PTS, 5REB, 2AST vs Whai
Carlin Davison (Taranaki) – 9PTS, 6REB, 1AST vs Whai | 26PTS, 8REB, 3AST vs Nelson
Mitch McCarron (Taranaki) – 4PTS, 5REB, 7AST vs Whai | 11PTS, 6REB, 8AST vs Nelson
Alex McNaught (Nelson) – 14PTS, 4AST vs Taranaki
Dan Fotu (Nelson) – 23PTS, 5REB, 2AST vs Taranaki

Ben Henshall (Otago) – 15PTS, 4REB, 3AST vs Canterbury
Jack Andew (Otago) – 10PTS, 4REB vs Canterbury
Tai Webster (Otago) – 9PTS, 3REB, 3STL vs Canterbury
Hyrum Harris (Wellington) – 6PTS, 11REB, 6AST vs Hawkes Bay

Reuben Te Rangi (Auckland) – 12PTS, 3AST, 1REB vs Franklin | 5PTS, 5REB, 3AST vs Manawatu
Ben Ayre (Wellington) – 22PTS, 5REB, 4AST vs Hawkes Bay

Sam Timmins (Franklin) – 7PTS, 10REB, 2STL | 23PTS, 11REB, 2BLK vs Whai
Izayah Le’Afa (Wellington) – 23PTS, 4REB, 6AST vs Hawkes Bay

Tom Vodanovich (Auckland) – 20PTS, 6REB, 3AST vs Franklin | 19PTS, 4REB, 2AST vs Manawatu
Walter Brown (Canterbury) – 7PTS, 13REB, 3AST vs Otago | 14PTS, 7REB, 1AST vs Southland