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] After Rookie of the Year returned in 2018,[4] Youth Player of the Year was brought in for 2019 and 2020.[5][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]

Winners

Year Player Team 1982 N/A N/A 1983 N/A N/A 1984 N/A N/A 1985 N/A N/A 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 See also List of National Basketball League (New Zealand) awards References "2015 Bartercard NBL Handbook" (PDF). Basketball.org.nz. p. 28–34. Retrieved 3 November 2015. "Tait Da Man". Basketball.org.nz. Archived from the original on 26 August 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2015. NZhoops (7 June 2017). "NBL Award voting ballots have been sent..." Twitter. Retrieved 17 June 2017. "ILI CLAIMS MVP, DELANY FORWARD OF THE YEAR". nznbl.basketball. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018. "SEASON'S BEST CELEBRATED AT ANNUAL AWARDS". nznbl.basketball. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019. "TOM VODANOVICH WINS SKYCITY MVP AT SAL'S NBL AWARDS DINNER". nznbl.basketball. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020. Hinton, Marc (28 November 2010). "Teenager Adams tipped for basketball big time". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 November 2015.