The Southland Sharks’ dominant big man Josiah Allick has been named Most Valuable Player for the 2025 Sal’s NBL season, capping a stellar campaign that saw the Sharks lock in home court for the Elimination round and finish as one of the league’s hottest teams.
Allick posted regular season averages of 18.9 points, 11.1 rebounds (including a league-leading 4.1 offensive rebounds per game) and 2.9 assists, shooting an efficient 58% from the field. His relentless rebounding (total of 210 boards) and consistent inside scoring anchored the fourth seeded Sharks at both ends, earning him a deserved spot on the Sal's NBL All Star Five.
Joining him in the All Star Five is Wellington Saints guard Nick Marshall, who averaged 19.9 points, 2.2 assists and 7.4 rebounds, and shot efficiently as the squads number one scoring option while providing steady defense for the regular season champion Saints.
Canterbury Rams’ dynamic playmaker Sean Macdonald snagged the other guard position, as he delivered 21.5 points per game, 5.6 assists while hitting 3.6 three-pointers per game on 43% shooting from deep, driving the Rams’ offence as the squad to a top two seed to the defending champs.
The freakishly athletic Carlin Davison from the Taranaki Airs had a career year with 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, ranking top 10 in assists while grabbing 2.1 steals per game in a year that his game evolved into that of an all-around playmaker for an Airs team that finished third on the ladder for the second season in a row.
Completing the All Star Five is Nelson Giants’ mid-season addition Jeremy Combs, who exploded for 24.4 points per game (1st overall) while pulling down 9.2 rebounds per game across 13 games, his arrival coinciding with the Giants’ late push that saw the squad finish just one win shy of the finals.
The Steve McKean Coach of the Year was awarded to Aaron Young, who guided the Wellington Saints to the league’s best regular season record, thanks to the Saints’ balanced scoring and defensive identity. The win is his second in three seasons, having previously been honoured for leading Auckland Tuatara amidst three consecutive finals appearances.
The Defensive Player of the Year went to Saints forward Hyrum Harris, whose tenacity and versatility anchored Wellington’s defence. Harris averaged 10.6 rebounds per game while snatching 1.8 steals per game and consistently guarding multiple positions throughout the season for a Saints team that gave up the fewest points per game in the league while holding opponents to a league low 41% shooting on the year.
One of the league's fastest rising stars, Hawke’s Bay's 16 year old phenom Jackson Ball, took home a double honour as Most Improved Player and Youth Player of the Year. Ball played 34 minutes per game and averaged 19.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.9 apg and 2.3 three-pointers per game on strong efficiency, combining energy and polish to become a key contributor for the Hawks. His performance taking a massive leap from 2024 where he averaged 3.4ppg, 1rpg, 1apg while playing just over 11 minutes per game, showcasing his massive growth from one season to the next.
In the Rapid League, emerging talent Hayden Jones (Nelson Giants) earned Rapid League MVP, finishing with 10.8 points and 2.2 assists, while also contributing 0.9 blocks per game and all-round hustle for the back to back Rapid League Champs and was also named a Rapid League All Star 5 Member for the second consecutive year as he prepares to embark to the University of Wisconsin.
Jones was also named to the the Rapid League All Star 5 alongside:
Kazlo Evans Jr (Mills Albert Projects Wellington Saints) who led the league with 3.2 assists per game (1st) and gets a Rapid All Star 5 nod for the second straight season.
Tyson Thata-Paese (The Property Brokers Manawatū Jets) who was Rapid’s leading scorer at 14.9 points per game and averaged 2.6 made threes per game while shooting 37% 3pfg and clocked the second highest point total of the season with 29 points.
Lachlan Crate (NBS Nelson Giants) averaged 5.8ppg, 2.4rpg while providing countless above the rim highlights for the Rapid League champion Giants.
Sam Dempster (NBS Nelson Giants) who added leadership and shooting, averaging 6.6ppg, 3.8rpg 1.5 made threes per game and an impressive 94% from the free-throw line for the back to back Rapid League champs.
MVP:
Josiah Allick (Southland Sharks)
Defensive Player of the Year:
Hyrum Harris (Mills Albert Wellington Saints)
Youth Player of the Year:
Jackson Ball (Big Barrel Hawks)
Most Improved Player
Steve McKean Coach of the Year:
Aaron Young (Mills Albert Wellington Saints)
NBL All Star Five:
Nick Marshall (Mills Albert Wellington Saints)
Sean Macdonald (Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams)
Carlin Davison (Steelformers Taranaki Airs)
Jeremy Combs (NBS Nelson Giants)
Josiah Allick (Southland Sharks)
Sky Broadband Rapid League MVP:
Hayden Jones (NBS Nelson Giants)
Rapid League All Star Five:
Hayden Jones (NBS Nelson Giants).
Kazlo Evans Jr (Mills Albert Projects Wellington Saints)
Tyson Thata-Paese (The Property Brokers Manawatū Jets)
Lachlan Crate (NBS Nelson Giants).
Sam Dempster (NBS Nelson Giants)
Most Outstanding Guard (Keith Carr Trophy) - Nick Marshall (Wellington Saints)
Most Outstanding NZ Guard (John Macdonald Trophy) - Izayah Le'afa (Wellington Saints)
Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners Cup) - Josiah Allick (Southland Sharks)
Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre (Stan Hill Trophy) - Carlin Davison (Taranaki Airs)
Scoring Champion (Alan Bland Memorial Trophy) - Jeremy Combs (Nelson Giants)
Rebounding Champion (Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy) - Josiah Allick (Southland Sharks)
Assist Champion (Dave Taylor Trophy) - Owen Foxwell (Taranaki Airs)
Best Team Free Throws (Nial Forsyth Trophy) - Hawke's Bay Hawks
Referee of the Year - Callum Welch
Club of the Year- Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams
General Manager of the Year- Jarrod Kenny Big Barrel Hawks
Best Fan Engagement- NBS Nelson Giants
Best Social Media- Mills Albert Wellington Saints
Best Game Presentation- Jadcup Auckland Tuatara
Video Content Creator of the Year - Nic Durkin - Mills Albert Wellington Saints
Best Media Coverage- Unique Shark - Logan Savory, Southland Tribune
Photo of the Year - Will Gould - Hyrum Harris Floats Through the Air
Best Digital Team Creative- NBS Nelson Giants - Jets Travel VLOG - Danielle Eagle
As before, head coaches nominate players and vote alongside a panel of media experts. The All Star 5 and MVP come from season-long MVP voting after each game.
This year’s panel included the 11 head coaches and media members: Taylah Johnson, Krystal Leger-Walker, Andrew Mulligan, Casey Frank, and Mike Lacey.
