NBA Players from New Zealand: Full List (2026)
3 NBA players have come from New Zealand, by Wikipedia’s count. Our table below names 5: players born outside the United States with a tie to New Zealand, plus current players listed with its nationality. As of October 2026, 2 are on an NBA roster: Steven Adams (Houston Rockets) and Karim Lopez (Memphis Grizzlies).
NBA players from New Zealand at a glance
| NBA players, all time | 3 (Wikipedia count); 5 named in our table |
|---|---|
| On NBA rosters, October 2026 | 2: Steven Adams, Karim Lopez |
| First to play in the NBA | Sean Marks (2001) |
| Longest NBA career | Steven Adams (13 seasons) |
| Centers | 3: Sean Marks, Aron Baynes, Steven Adams |
| 7-foot prospects in our database | 2 (see them) |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Every NBA player from New Zealand
Sorted by NBA debut, earliest first. Status is as of October 2026, before the 2026-27 regular season, so it includes players on training camp deals.
| Player | Position | NBA seasons | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Marks | Forward/center | 2001-2003; 2004-2011 | Former player | |
| Kirk Penney | Guard | 2003-2005 | Former player | |
| Aron Baynes | Center | 2013-2021 | Former player | Born in New Zealand; listed under Australia |
| Steven Adams | Center | 2013 to present | Houston Rockets | |
| Karim Lopez | Forward | Rookie in 2026-27 | Memphis Grizzlies | Also listed with Mexico nationality |
Players from New Zealand in the NBA in 2026-27
- Steven Adams: center, 6’11”, age 33, Houston Rockets. Entering NBA season 14; drafted in 2013, round 1, pick 12.
- Karim Lopez: forward, 6’8″, age 19, Memphis Grizzlies. Rookie; drafted in 2026, round 1, pick 21.
NBA centers from New Zealand
3 of the 5 players in the table played center or forward/center: Sean Marks (2001-2003; 2004-2011), Aron Baynes (2013-2021) and Steven Adams (2013 to present). Our database also lists 2 young players from New Zealand at 7 feet or taller.
7-Foot Prospects from New Zealand
2 active players from New Zealand are listed at 7 feet or taller and born in 2001 or later in our 7-Foot Prospect Database, last checked on 9 October 2026:
- Julius Halaifonua: 7’0″ (213 cm), born in 2006, Oklahoma State (NCAA D1)
- Zach Rampton: 7’0″ (213 cm), born around 2009, New Zealand U17 national team (Youth national team)
See every player, with filters by country, in the 7-Foot Prospect Database.
Player profiles from our archive
This section was first published in 2018. Teams and career details in it are as of that time; the tables above show where things stand in October 2026.
The story about basketball in New Zealand is connected to the great Wilt Chamberlain who supposedly was vacationing there in the 60s when he introduced the game to the Kiwis. True or not, New Zealand’s national basketball team is a formidable force in their region.
The Tall Black as they are known appeared twice at the Olympic Games, in 2017 finished fourth at the FIBA Asia Cup and had three FIBA Ocean championships under their belts.
New Zealand NBA Players:
Sean Marks
Marks was born August 23, 1975, in Auckland, New Zealand. He is the first New Zealander that played in the NBA. He joined the NBA through the 1998 draft as the overall 44th pick. He got picked by New York Knicks but was immediately sent to the Toronto Raptors. He spent 13 seasons in the NBA playing for Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, New Orlean Hornets, and the Portland Trail Blazers. After his playing career, he spent some time as assistant coach with the Spurs before stepping up as the general manager for the Brooklyn Nets.
Kirk Penney
Penney was born on November 23, 1980, in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2003 he played few games for the Miami Heat and so became just the second New Zealander that played in the NBA. He spent most of his professional career in Spain, Israel, Lithuania, Turkey, Germany and the NBA development league.
Steven Adams
Adams was born July 20, 1993, in Rotorua, New Zealand. This 7 ft. New Zealander plays as a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He joined the NBA through the 2013 NBA draft when the Thunders picked him as a 12th pick.
Before his NBA career, he played one year of college basketball for the University of the Pittsburgh. And before that, he played for the Wellington Saints for one season as well. In his only season for the Saints, he was named rookie of the year and was part of the roster that won the championship. He averaged 4.1 rebounds and 5.5 points per game.
Adams is a burly NBA player who sets great screens and grabs rebounds in traffic. He also plays great defense. However, he is paid $25 million a year and is nowhere near an All Star level. This New Zealander, although talented, will probably not win a championship if he is getting paid about a quarter of a team’s salary. Unless he becomes a much more productive scorer, of which right now he is not.
Frequently asked questions
How many NBA players are from New Zealand?
Wikipedia counts 3. Our table names 5 players with a tie to New Zealand.
Which players from New Zealand are in the NBA in 2026-27?
As of October 2026: Steven Adams (Houston Rockets) and Karim Lopez (Memphis Grizzlies).
Who was the first NBA player from New Zealand?
Sean Marks, who debuted in 2001.
Which centers from New Zealand have played in the NBA?
Sean Marks, Aron Baynes and Steven Adams.
Are there 7-foot prospects from New Zealand?
Yes. Our 7-Foot Prospect Database lists 2: Julius Halaifonua and Zach Rampton.
More guides: NBA players by country. Scouting reports: NBA center prospects.
Sources: Wikipedia, List of NBA players born outside the United States (revision of 3 October 2026); RealGM NBA player list (9 October 2026); Low Key NBA 7-Foot Prospect Database. U.S.-born players with family ties to New Zealand may be missing from the table. Last checked 9 October 2026.
