Nelson Giants 2026 Sal’s NBL Preview

NBS Nelson Giants 2026 Season Preview

Headline:

Giants lean on local talent in bid to return to the post-season.

Quick Facts:

Head Coach: Mike Fitchett (8th season)

Home Venue: Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

2025 Finish: 8-12 (9th)

Key Returnee: Liam Judd

Key Signing: Tohi Smith-Milner

Player to Watch: Kruz Perrott-Hunt

Snapshot:

The Nelson Giants head into the 2026 Sal’s NBL season with a roster that looks markedly different from the one that pushed its way to an 8-12 finish a year ago. A large share of last season’s headline production has moved on, leaving the Giants to build around a returning core and a number of fresh faces that may look familiar. This creates real opportunity, but also leaves questions around where the scoring, playmaking and interior presence will come from as Nelson looks to step back into the postseason.

Nelson Giants 2026 Roster:

Sam Dempster

Rico Varricchio

Alex McNaught

Liam Judd

Cooper Adams

James Matthews

Josh Nickel

Elijah Inwood

Brodie Materoa

Zach Rampton

Tohi Smith-Milner

Kruz Perrott-Hunt

2025 Giants statistical snapshot

Nelson brings back only part of last season’s (mostly import-fueled) production, with Liam Judd, Sam Dempster, Alex McNaught, James Matthews, Cooper Adams and Rico Varricchio returning from the 2025 squad. Judd is the headline returner after finishing as the Giants’ top returning scorer, while Dempster and McNaught add valuable experience and continuity on both ends. Team-wise, Nelson was solid offensively and shared the ball well, finishing in the top half of the league in multiple key categories with solid play that fueled a late season push for the finals that eventually fell short.

Category | 2025 Giants Leader | Top Returning Giant | 2025 Team / League Rank
Scoring | Jeremy Combs, 24.4 ppg | Liam Judd, 10.0 ppg | 89.4 ppg, 6th
Rebounding | Callum McRae, 7.3 rpg | Liam Judd, 3.9 rpg | 40.8 rpg, 5th
Assists | Alex Robinson Jr, 6.9 apg | Alex McNaught, 2.8 apg | 20.1 apg, 3rd
Steals | Alex Robinson Jr, 2.1 spg | Alex McNaught, 0.9 spg | 8.1 spg, 5th
Blocks | Alex Robinson Jr, 0.6 bpg | Liam Judd, 0.4 bpg | 2.7 bpg, 7th
Field Goal % | Aston Inwood, 63% | Liam Judd, 47% | 46%, T-4th
3-Point % | Liam Judd, 41% | Liam Judd, 41% | 32%, T-7th
Free Throw % | Andrew Jones, 92% | Sam Dempster, 77% | 69%, T-8th

2025 Stats League Rankings

Team Stats | Number | League Rank
Scoring offense | 89.40 ppg | 6th
Scoring defense | 90.20 ppg allowed | 5th
Scoring margin | -0.80 | 7th
Rebounding margin | +0.30 | 5th
Field goal percentage | 46% | T-4th
3-point percentage | 32% | T-7th
Free throw percentage | 69% | T-8th
Assists per game | 20.10 | 3rd
Steals per game | 8.10 | 5th
Blocks per game | 2.70 | 7th
Offensive rebounds per game | 10.70 | 5th
Defensive rebounds per game | 26.45 | 5th
Turnover margin | +0.90 | 3rd

Projected Identity:

Look for the ’26 version of the G-men to have a better grasp on connection and shared responsibility than a disrupted ’25 season was able to provide with import changes and late arrivals. This year’s lineup looks set to be less dependent on import talent with the arrivals of Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Tohi Smith-Milner to join key contributors in Liam Judd, Alex McNaught and Sam Dempster. Look for the Giants to play a form of basketball that values possession while forcing defenses into rotation to chase a bevy of perimeter shooting options off the three-point line. Defensively this looks to be a more mobile team than a season ago, allowing for a lift in pressure at the point of attack in both the full and half court. With a mobile skilled team, the Giants will look to bomb away from deep while impacting the defensive end at a greater degree than a season ago.

Key Offseason Moves:

Arrived:

Kruz Perrott-Hunt arrives as one of the most notable additions and gives the Giants an experienced guard who should help ease the playmaking burden left behind by last season’s departures. Tohi Smith-Milner adds size and presence inside that combines with a feathery touch, while Josh Nickel will look to carve out some minutes. Around them, Nelson has also brought in a number of younger names who will be looking to force their way into the rotation and grow quickly in a professional environment.

Departed:

This is where the scale of the challenge for the Nelsonians becomes clear. Jeremy Combs, Andrew Jones and Alex Robinson Jr accounted for a massive share of the Giants’ top-end production in 2025, while Callum McRae and other experienced contributors also played important roles. Replacing that volume of points, assists, rebounding and late-game shot creation, not to mention Blocks leader Ales Robinson Jr, is no simple task, and it is likely to shape the Giants’ season from the opening tip.

Returning:

Liam Judd is the top returning statistical piece as he comes back for his second South Island season , while also shooting 41 percent from three. Sam Dempster and Alex McNaught both return as experienced contributors, and James Matthews, Cooper Adams and Rico Varricchio give the Giants some continuity from last year’s squad. Still, the returning group brings back only a modest slice of the Giants’ major production from 2025, meaning several players will need to step into much bigger roles.

X-Factors:

Kruz Perrott-Hunt: Nelson needs shot creation and leadership in the backcourt, and Perrott-Hunt is capable of providing both. But he’ll need to produce at an import level for the Giants to reach their potential. If he can steady the team, create good looks while valuing possession the Giants will be well on their way.

Sam Dempster: The captain is back again! TC wouldn’t be the same without Sam Dempster and to the relief of fans, teammates and the coaching staff he is back for another trip around the league. While his statistical impact isn’t at its peak, his influence on the team looms large in all areas, and if he can find a bit more consistency on the 3-point shot then we may see a big lift on the impact in results moving forward.

Tohi Smith-Milner: Size matters, and Smith-Milner gives Nelson a genuine frontcourt presence. His ability to rebound, defend the paint and provide physicality could go a long way toward shaping how competitive the Giants are night to night. But it is his deft shooting touch that will be most important for the offense, as when he is hitting with consistency the geometry of the court drastically changes. Every game Smith-Milner catches fire from deep it will likely mean nighty-night to opponents.

Biggest Question: Where does the offence come from?

Nelson scored 89.4 points per game last season and finished with a near-even scoring margin, but much of that output came from players who are no longer on the roster. Jeremy Combs led the team at 24.4 points per game, Andrew Jones added 19.1, and Alex Robinson Jr averaged 6.9 assists while also generating offence for others. Replacing that production is possible, but it will take rapid growth from the returning group and instant impact from the newcomers, especially the yet-to-be named imports.

What Success Looks Like:

Success for the Giants in 2026 looks like finding a new identity quickly, staying in the playoff conversation and developing a group that can grow stronger as the season unfolds. Given how much proven production has left the roster, consistency, competitiveness and clear role definition may be just as important early as the results themselves. If the new pieces land and a couple of returners make real jumps, Nelson will be a dangerous side that can be expected to return to the postseason after a 1-year hiatus.

Final Word:

The Giants head into 2026 with plenty to figure out, but also with genuine opportunity for new names to emerge. The challenge is obvious, with a lot of last season’s star power gone, but if Nelson can replace that production collectively and defend with purpose, this group has enough to return to the postseason.