Theo Akwuba (Import)

Position: Centre

Height: 210cm

Born: 27 April, 2000 in Alabama

High School: 

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Akwuba joins the Giants after playing his rookie professional season in Finland where he averaged 11.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game for Kobrat – the same club as Rams forward KJ Buffen.

Akwuba played two years at University of Portland followed by two years at University Louisiana at Layfayette and a further year at the University of Mississippi (2022-23).

Made a total of 131 NCAA appearances – Akwuba was the leading shot blocker on the Mississippi  team .

He played at University of Portland at the same time as Taki Fahrensohn.

Adam Barton

Position: Forward

Height: 201cm

Born: 2 February, 2006

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Nelson College

Previous NBL clubs – Nelson Giants (2023 – did not play)

Was a member of the Nelson team that won the 2023 AON U17 National Championship playing alongside Hayden Jones and James Matthews.

Named as a reserve for the NZ U17 National team in 2023.

Kaleb Chamberlain

Position: Forward

Height: 201cm

Born: 2 February, 2006

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: Shirley Boys High School

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

A member of the Canterbury Rams team that won the 2023 3×3 Cup.

Played for Canterbury at the 2023 U23 National Championship. “A bouncy forward who loves to dunk!”

Nick Davidson

Position: Point Guard

Height: 183cm

Born: 4 April, 2005

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Nelson College

Previous NBL clubs – Giants (2022-present)

Played 1 game for the Giants in 2022 debuting against the Sharks.

Graduated from Nelson College in 2022.

Named to the NZ U17 National Team in 2022 competing at the FIBA Asia Cup.

Sam Dempster

Position: Forward

Height: 194cm

Born: 20 June, 1990

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Nayland College

Previous NBL Clubs – Nelson Giants (2008-present)

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Blacks – debut 2022 

Currently the longest serving player in the NBL, Dempster played his 200th game for the Giants in 2023.

Named the NBL’s Most Improved Player in 2022 after averaging a career high 12.2 points  per game. His outstanding club form earned Dempster a call up to the Tall Blacks squad – played in the friendly international against Japan.

Came close to matching that number in 2023 when he averaged 11.9 points per game in addition to corralling 8.3 rebounds per outing. Also played for the Giants at the 2023 3×3 Cup.

Missed the 2020 NBL Showdown season due to work commitments otherwise has played every season since 2008 for the Giants.

Dan Fotu

Position: Forward

Height: 201cm

Born: 24 July, 1999

Junior Association: North Harbour

High School: Rangitoto College

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Blacks (debuted 2018)

Previous NBL Clubs – Auckland Tuatara (2022)

After his initial professional season was curtailed by injury – he played just 3 games for the Tuatara in 2022 – Fotu played 18 games for the Bulls in the 2023 NBL season. Averaged 17.8 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Bulls with a career high 31 points against the Saints.

Fotu played the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Australian NBL seasons with the New Zealand Breakers. 

In 2022 the Fotu family completed a unique record – Dan, Isaac and sister Ella each played for the senior national teams. Dan played for the Tall Blacks in both of the Asia Cup Qualifying games in February – he scored and international best 14 points against Chinese Taipei.

Following high school played NCAA Division I at Saint Mary’s College California. He played 126 games for the Gaels in a 4-year career scoring 728 points – 12th all-time for points scored by a Kiwi in Men’s NCAA Division I basketball (brother Isaac is 11th with 785 points). 

A member of the Rangitoto College team that won back-to back Schick Secondary Schools National Championships in 2015 and 2016.

Was a member of the Gold medal winning Junior Tall Blacks team at the 2016 FIBA U18 Oceania Championships in Fiji.

Dan Grida (Import)

Position: Forward

Height: 195cm

Born: 26 April, 1998 in Perth, Australia

High School: 

Previous NBL Clubs – Nelson Giants  (2021)

Grida returns to the Giants having averaged 15.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in the 2021 season.

Since coming out of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in 2018 he has played the last five years for the Illawarra Hawks in the ANBL.

Played 56 games over his first two seasons but a wretched run of injuries, including two ACL injuries, has seen him play only 42 games in the last three years.

Grew up in Perth where he made his State Basketball League (Now NBL1 West) debut at 16-year of age for Lakeside Lightning in 2016 prior to attending the Centre of Excellence.

Tom Ingham

Position: Guard

Height: 192cm

Born: 19 June, 1993

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Waimea College

Previous NBL Clubs – Nelson Giants (2010-2011 and 2016-present), Otago Nuggets (2012-2014)

Having first played for the Giants while still at school Ingham has logged 121 NBL appearances ahead of his tenth year with the club.

Played all 18 games for the Giants in 2023 averaging 4 points per game. 

Scored a career high 24 points against the Airs in 2020.

Also a Nelson cricket representative, Ingham has played over 100 games for the Giants. He also played for Otago Nuggets whilst studying at Otago University.

Aston Inwood

Position: Wing

Height: 191cm

Born: 23 September, 2003 in Canberra, Australia

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Nelson College

Previous NBL clubs – Wellington Saints (2023)

Returns to Nelson after playing 3 games for the Saints in 2023 – scored a season high 4 points against Manawatu Jets.

Played for the Giants at the 2023 3×3 Cup.

Attended Nelson College and played age group reps for Nelson before moving to Wellington for tertiary studies. Played U19 reps for Wellington.

Hayden Jones

Position: Wing

Height: 197cm

Born: 9 January 2007

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Waimea College

Previous NBL Clubs – Nelson Giants (2023-present)

Played 5 games for the Giants in 2023 – debuted against the Rams in June.

Scored 7 points on his Tall Blacks debut against Hong Kong in February 2024. At 17 years and 47 days he became the 4th youngest player to debut for the senior national team. Following in the footsteps of father Phill they are the 8th father/son duo to play for the Tall Blacks.

Jones had an outstanding 2023 contesting three Grand Finals at junior national and international level

Averaged 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists as New Zealand finished runners-up to Australia at the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship in Qatar. Jones scored 31 points and secured 12 rebounds in the narrow 79-76 loss to Australia in the gold medal game.

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2023 NZ Secondary Schools National Championships where Waimea College advanced all the way to the Grand Final before losing 77-72 to Wellington College.

Was named MVP at the AON U17 National Championships where he led Nelson to a 78-71 Grand final victory against Canterbury.

Kobe Langley (Import)

Position: Guard

Height: 185cm

Born: 31 December, 2000 in High Point, North Carolina

High School: Southwest Guilford High School

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Scored 8 points on debut against the Tuatara.

Langley begins his professional career with the Giants after a five year career at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Played 143 games for the Spartans – in his final year (2023-24) started 31 of 33 games and led the team in assists (5.5apg)  and steals (2.3spg) in addition to averaging 8.5ppg.

Named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23 and to the All-Southern Conference Second Team in 2023-34.

His father Keyford Langley played four years at North Carolina at Greensboro.

James Matthews

Position: Guard

Height: 186cm

Born: 18 August, 2007

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Nelson College

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

A Year 12 at Nelson College, Matthews was a member of the Nelson team that won the 2023 AON U17 National Championship playing alongside Hayden Jones and Adam Barton.

Averaged 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds as New Zealand finished runners-up to Australia at the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship in Qatar. 

Matthews was also a New Zealand U16 Baseball Representative.

Alex McNaught

Position: Guard

Height: 185cm

Born: 21 June, 2002

Junior Association: Auckland

High School: St Kentigern College 

Highest Representative Honour – Tall Blacks – debut in 2022 v Lebanon. 

Previous NBL clubs – Nelson Giants (2020-present)

Played all 18 games for the Giants in 2023 averaging 9.9 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Scored a career high 22 points against the Airs in the penultimate game of the 2023 season.

Has played 56 games for Nelson having first played for the Giants in 2020 while still at Saint Kentigern College. 

McNaught was selected for the Tall Blacks for the Asia Cup Qualifying games in February 2024 but was unable to play due to injury.

Also a Development Player with the NZ Breakers since the 2022-23 season.

Played on the St Kentigern College team that won the 2019 Secondary Schools National Championship.

Ernest Kerr

Position: Forward

Height: 200cm

Born: 2 October, 2002

Junior Association: Rotorua

High School: Rotorua Boys HS/Rotorua Lakes HS

Previous NBL Clubs – Giants (2022-present)

Debuted for the Giants in 2022 against the Nuggets – played 6 games in 2023 with a highest score of 4 points against the Airs.

Coen Williams

Position: Guard

Height: 183cm

Born: 27 April, 2006

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Waimea College

Previous NBL Clubs – Rookie

Recorded a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds for Waimea College in the 2023 NZ Secondary Schools National Championships Grand Final loss to Wellington College. 

Currently a Year 13 at Waimea College.

Mike Fitchett (Head Coach)

Ben Sheat (Assistant Coach)

Tom Gargiulo (Assistant Coach)