New Zealand NBL Youth Player of the Year Award

The National Basketball League Youth Player of the Year is an annual National Basketball League (NBL) award given in various iterations since the 1986 New Zealand NBL season to the best performing young New Zealander of the regular season.[1] The award was originally known as Young Player of the Year from 1986 until 1991. Between 1992 and 2004, the award was called Rookie of the Year. A slight adjustment to the rules saw the Young Player of the Year return in 2005.[2] The award changed back to Rookie of the Year in 2006 and remained every year until it was not awarded in 2017.[3] Rookie of the Year returned in 2018[4] but was then replaced by Youth Player of the Year in 2019[5] and has remained since.[6]

The 2011 Rookie of the Year, Steven Adams, went on to make the NBA. He is the half-brother of two-time Young Player of the Year, Warren Adams.[7]

In 2024, the Youth Player of the Year was awarded to Australian import and league MVP, Lachlan Olbrich.[8]

Winners

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Year Player Team
1986 Tony Compain Ponsonby
1987 Glen Denham Waikato Warriors
1988 Warren Adams New Plymouth Bulls
1989 John Adie Auckland
1990 Kent Mori Palmerston North Jets
1991 Warren Adams (2) Hutt Valley Lakers
1992 Pero Cameron Waikato Warriors
1993 Mark Dickel Otago Nuggets
1994 Konrad Ross Waikato Warriors
1995 Rob Tuilave Palmerston North Jets
1996 Paora Winitana North Harbour Vikings
1997 Brendon Polyblank Palmerston North Jets
1998 Kirk Penney North Harbour Kings
1999 Tony Rampton Taranaki Oilers
2000 Arthur Trousdell Canterbury Rams
2001 Damon Rampton Nelson Giants
2002 Miles Pearce Manawatu Jets
2003 Adrian Majstrovich Hawke's Bay Hawks
2004 Luke Martin Manawatu Jets
2005 Jarrod Kenny Harbour Heat
2006 Shaun Tilby Otago Nuggets
2007 Charlie Piho Auckland Stars
2008 Tyrone Davey Auckland Stars
2009 Thomas Abercrombie Waikato Pistons
2010 Martin Iti Southland Sharks
2011 Steven Adams Wellington Saints
2012 Reuben Te Rangi Harbour Heat
2013 Tai Webster Waikato Pistons
2014 Richie Edwards Canterbury Rams
2015 Josh Duinker Nelson Giants
2016 Logan Elers Taranaki Mountainairs
2017 N/A N/A
2018 Max Darling Canterbury Rams
2019 Tyrell Harrison Nelson Giants
2020 Taane Samuel Manawatu Jets
2021 Zach Riley Auckland Huskies
2022 Dontae Russo-Nance Auckland Tuatara
2023 Walter Brown Canterbury Rams
2024 Lachlan Olbrich Canterbury Rams

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2015 Bartercard NBL Handbook" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 28–34. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Tait Da Man". Basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 26 August 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  3. ^ NZhoops (7 June 2017). "NBL Award voting ballots have been sent..." Twitter. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  4. ^ "ILI CLAIMS MVP, DELANY FORWARD OF THE YEAR". nznbl.basketball. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  5. ^ "SEASON'S BEST CELEBRATED AT ANNUAL AWARDS". nznbl.basketball. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  6. ^ "TOM VODANOVICH WINS SKYCITY MVP AT SAL'S NBL AWARDS DINNER". nznbl.basketball. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  7. ^ Hinton, Marc (28 November 2010). "Teenager Adams tipped for basketball big time". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  8. ^ "2024 SAL'S NBL AWARDS WINNERS REVEALED". nznbl.basketball. 24 July 2024. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024.