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 

Played 18 games in the 2024 NBL season averaging 7.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Also a member of the Giants team that won the inaugural Rapid League championship in 2024. Played 12 games – scored a season best 12 points against Tauranga Whai.

One of the longest serving players in the NBL, Dempster played his 200th game for the Giants in 2024.

Scored a career high 29 points against Auckland Tuatara in 2022.

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.

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

Cooper Adams

Position: Guard

Height: 191cm

Born: 12 January, 2008

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Waimea College/Nelson College

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

A Year 13 at Nelson College having previously attended Waimea College.

Played alongside Hayden Jones on the Nelson team that won the 2024 U18 National Championship.

A member of the Waimea College silver medal winning team at the 2023 NZ Secondary Schools National Championships.

Lachlan Crate

Position: Guard

Height: 198cm

Born: 23 January, 2007

Junior Association: Manawatu

High School: Fielding High School

Previous NBL clubs – Jets (2023-24)

Played 13 games for the Jets in 2024 – scored a season high 6 points on three occasions.

Also played 13 Rapid League games tallying 104 points – scored a season best 12 points in 4 games

The former Fielding High School student scored a career high 12 points against the Sharks in July ‘23.

Played all 7 games for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey – averaged 11.3 points per game.

Following NBL ‘25 Crate will head to the USA where he has committed to Wisconsin Green Bay (NCAA Division I).

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2024 U18 NationalChampionships and also Defensive Player of the Tournament.

Playing for Fielding High School, Crate was the second highest scorer at the 2024 Secondary Schools National Championship averaging 31 points per game.

Aston Inwood

Position: Forward

Height: 191cm

Born: 23 September, 2003 in Canberra, Australia

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Nelson College

Previous NBL clubs – Wellington Saints (2023), Nelson Giants (2024)

Played 18 games for the Giants in 2024. Scored a career high 11 points against the Saints in Round 2 of the 2024 season.

A member of the Giants team that won the inaugural Rapid League championship in 2024. Scored 101 points in 19 games with a season best 22 points – the highest score by a Giants player – against Southland Sharks – 

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.

Coen Williams

Position: Guard

Height: 183cm

Born: 27 April, 2006

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Waimea College

Previous NBL Clubs – Nelson Giants (2024)

Yet to make his NBL debut.

A member of the Giants team that won the inaugural Rapid League championship in 2024. Played 4 games with a season best 8 points against Franklin Bulls.

Played for the 4th placed Nelson team at the 2024 U20 National Championships – averaged 10.3ppg.

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.

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 17 games for the Giants in 2024. Scored a season high 11 points against the Jets in Round 4 of NBL ‘24.

A member of the Giants team that won the inaugural Rapid League championship in 2024. Averaged 10 ppg across 13 appearances – named to the Rapid League All-Star Five. His season best was 15 points against the Saints.

Played all 7 games for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey – averaged 11.6 points, 6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

Following NBL ‘25 Crate will head to the USA where he has committed to the University of Wisconsin (NCAA Division I).

Named MVP at the 2024 U18 National Championships after guiding Nelson to the title. Tallied 33 points, 18 rebounds and 5 assists in the Grand Final win against Manawatu.

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 also 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.

James Matthews

Position: Guard

Height: 186cm

Born: 18 August, 2007

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Nelson College

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Played 3 NBL games – scored a season best 2 points on debut against the Rams in the opening game of the 2024 season.

The youngest member of the team, he also played 10 games for the Giants team that won the inaugural Rapid League championship in 2024 – scored a season best 18 points against Franklin Bulls.

Played all 7 games for the New Zealand team that finished 4th at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey.

Named to the Tournament Team at the 2024 U18 National Championships after helping Nelson to the title. Tallied 18 points and 5 assists in the Grand Final win against Manawatu.

Matthews was also a New Zealand Baseball Representative in 2024 playing for the NZ U18 National team. 

2025 Head Boy at Nelson College.

Kaleb Chamberlain

Position: Forward

Height: 201cm

Born: 10 June, 2002

Junior Association: Canterbury

High School: Shirley Boys High School

Previous NBL clubs – Nelson Giants (2024 – present)

Played 7 games for the Giants in 2024 his only points (3) were scored against Manawatu Jets.

A member of the Giants team that won the inaugural Rapid League championship in 2024. Played 16 games with a season best 9 points against Auckland Tuatara.

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!”

Alex McNaught

Position: Guard

Height: 185cm

Born: 21 June, 2002

Junior Association: Auckland

High School: St Kentigern College, Auckland 

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

Previous NBL clubs – Nelson Giants (2020-present)

Played all 20 games for the Giants in 2024 averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. 

Scored a career high 22 points against Taranaki Airs in the penultimate game of the 2023 season.

Has played 76 games for Nelson having first played for the Giants in 2020 while still at St Kentigern College. 

McNaught has played 2 games for the Tall Blacks. 

Also a Development Player with the NZ Breakers for 3 seasons (2022-25).

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

Will Blight

Position: Centre

Height: 206cm

Born: 12 January, 2006

Junior Association: Nelson

High School: Waimea College

Highest Representative Honour – NZ U18 National Team (2024)

Previous NBL clubs – Canterbury Rams (2024)

Played 2 Rapid League games for the Rams in 2024. Scored his only points (2) against the Giants.

A member of the New Zealand team that claimed silver at the 2024 FIBA U18 Asian Cup in Jordan to qualify for the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Played for the 4th placed Nelson team at the 2024 U20 National Championships.

A member of the Waimea College silver medal winning team at the 2023 NZ Secondary Schools National Championships.

Claimed gold at the 2023 AON U17 National Championships where he helped Nelson to a 78-71 Grand final victory against Canterbury.

Blight was also a member of the Waimea College volleyball team that finished runners-up at the 2023 Secondary Schools National Championship.

Brice Johnson

Position: Forward

Height: 206cm

Born: 27 June, 1994 in Orangeburg, South Carolina

High School: Edisto High School, Orangeburg

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Johnson was the 25th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and played for the LA Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies playing a total of 21 NBA games.

Has since played in Puerto Rico, Italy, France, Ukraine and most recently Japan.

Had an outstanding 4-year career at the University of North Carolina, In his senior year (2015-16) the Tar Heels went all the way to the NCAA Tournament Championship game losing 77-74 to Villanova. During the season Johnson set a UNC record for most double-doubles in a season and most rebounds (416). A unanimous selection for the Atlantic Coast Conference All-First Team.

Callum Dalton

Position: Forward

Height: 206cm

Born: 4 May, 2000 in Logan, Queensland

High School: 

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Dalton will play for the Giants until Callum McCrae links up with the team following his commitments in Japan.

Played for Melbourne United (2021-23) but most recently played in the 2025 Indian League for Hyderabad Falcons.

Averaged 19.6 points and 10.4 rebounds for Logan Thunder in NBL1 North in 2024.

Had a standout junior career playing for Australia at the 2016 U17 FIBA U17 World Championship and the 2019 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Callum Mcrae

Position: Centre

Height: 216cm (7’1”)

Born: May 18, 1999

Junior Association: Manawatu

High School: Palmerston North Boys High School

Highest Representative Honour – Junior Tall Blacks 

Previous NBL clubs – Manawatu Jets (2015 & 2018), Nelson Giants (2023), Southland Sharks (2024)

Returns to the Giants after playing 7 games for the club in 2023.

Played all 20 games for the Sharks in 2024 averaging 15.7 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. Scored a career high 28 points against Manawatu Jets in Round 16 and posted a triple double of 22pts, 21rebs & 11 assists against the Giants.

Played for Veertien Mie in the 2024-25 Japanese League season averaging 14.3 points and 9 rebounds per game.

Following high school played four years at the University of California Riverside before reuniting with coach David Patrick at Sacramento State University for his final collegiate year (2022-23).

Finished his collegiate career as New Zealand’s second highest points scorer (1,265 points) in Men’s NCAA Division I basketball – only Kirk Penney (1,454) has scored more points. He is the all-time leading rebounder (875 rebounds) and 9th on the appearances list (124 games with 99 starts).

At PNBH McRae had 33 points and 17 rebounds in the epic 2016 National Secondary Schools Grand Final that was won on the buzzer by Rangitoto College.

Also in 2016 McRae played for the Junior Tall Blacks team that defeated Australia 57-51 in the gold medal game at the FIBA U18 Oceania Championships in Fiji to qualify for the U19 World Cup. 

That team was laced with future NBL and Tall Blacks talent boasting Sam Waardenburg, Taane Samuel, Quinn Clinton, Isaac Letoa, Tobias Cameron, Flynn Cameron, Dan Fotu, Taki Fahrensohn and Josh Aitcheson.

Brother Liam McRae is a former Sharks player.

Jaylen Forbes

Position: Forward

Height: 196cm

Born: 15 December, 2000 in Florence, Mississippi

High School: Florence High School

Previous NBL clubs – Rookie

Embarks on his pro career with the Giants after a 5-year collegiate career.

Played a year at the University of Alabama followed by 4 years at Tulane University.

Averaged 14.3 points per game in his final year (2023-24) at Tulane. In the 2022-23 season he became the single season record holder at Tulane for made threes – 88  at 39% shooting.

Played on the American team at the World University Games in 2023.

Liam Judd

Position: Forward

Height: 196cm

Born: 27 July, 2001

Junior Association: Waitakere West

High School: Rangitoto College

Previous NBL clubs – Manawatu Jets (2023-24)

Played all 20 games for the Jets in 2024 averaging 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game – Scored a career high 30 points (11/18FG) against the Saints in Round 6 of the 2024 season. 

Played a total of 38 games for the Jets.

Judd was a training player with the Breakers during the 2024-25 ANBL season then immediately before the NBL season played for Mumbai Titans in the Indian NBL.

Won a bronze medal with Massey University at the 2024 Tertiary National Championships – averaged 21 points per game – named to the All Star Five.

Played for North Harbour at the U23 National Championships in 2022 and 2023. Named to the Tournament Team after scoring 23 points in the Grand Final loss to Taranaki in 2023.

Mike Fitchett (Head Coach)

Phill Jones (Assistant Coach)

Tom Gargiulo (Assistant Coach)

Andrew Stevens (Team Manager)