College sports are huge across the US and are something that fans all over the country love to get involved with. Basketball is one of the top sports played at a collegiate level and helps to shape the stars of tomorrow for top professional leagues like the NBA.
A quick look back at NBA history will show that the most famous names in the league started out with college ball and made the move to pro ball afterwards. The popularity of basketball on a global scale means this includes players from countries outside of the US moving to study in the country and play college ball, before moving on to the NBA.
Basketball in New Zealand is a case in point and has seen some home-grown Kiwi stars play US college basketball before jumping into the NBA to make a real splash. This is not a surprise when the popularity of basketball in New Zealand is considered, and how NBA matches attract big audiences there.
But who are the most famous NBA stars from NZ to know about?
Sean Marks
Sean Marks was born in Auckland and played as a power forward. He made history as the first Kiwi to ever play in the NBA, signing for the Toronto Raptors in 1998. Before moving into the pro basketball league, Marks had moved to the US to study at the University of California and impressed enough in his time there to be picked up by the Knicks in the 1998 draft, before being traded to the Raptors on the same night.
Although he stayed with the Toronto-based side for a couple of seasons, he struggled to get on court and joined Polish team Śląsk Wrocław in 2000. However, Marks soon made his way back to the NBA and played for the Heat, the Spurs, the Suns, the Hornets and the Trail Blazers before retiring in 2011.
His career highlight was winning the NBA Championship with the Spurs in 2005. Marks has since carved out a career in coaching after his run as a player. His most notable role to date has been assistant coach for the Spurs until 2016.
Steven Adams
When any list of the best NBA players from New Zealand is drawn up, this man’s name usually crops up. Adams was born in Rotorua and started his career with the Wellington Saints in 2011. After impressing during his one season there, he played college ball for Pittsburgh in 2012 before being selected 12th in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City Thunder.
Playing at center, he had a huge first season with the Thunder and played 81 games for them. This saw him picked for the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2014. After this, he remained a key man for his team and enjoyed another stellar campaign in 2017/18. This saw him average 13.9 PPG and notch a 62.9 field goal percentage. Moves to the Pelicans, the Grizzlies and finally the Rockets in 2024 make him an established NBA star with masses of experience in the pro game.
Kirk Penney
Forward Kirk Penney was born in Auckland and started out playing basketball from a young age at his local junior side. Following this, he joined New Zealand NBL team the North Harbour Kings in 1998, before moving to study in the US and playing ball for the Wisconsin Badgers. Penney enjoyed great success in college ball and helped his team reach the Final Four in the 1999/2000 season.
He entered the NBA Draft in 2003 but the amount of superstar talent on offer ultimately meant he was not picked. Penney managed to get a contract with Miami Heat despite this and played two games for them. Following this, he moved to the Clippers in 2004/05 and played four times for them. Although he might not have had a long career in top-level basketball in the US, Penney then went on to star for many teams in Europe and New Zealand before retiring in 2022.
Famous NBA players from New Zealand
Catching up on the latest Big 12 men’s basketball news is always fun but it can also be cool sometimes to look at the NBA and how players from other countries have made their mark in it. The discussion here shows that while New Zealand might not have been known as a basketball-loving nation in the past, it has started to produce some elite-level players who have lit up this league.
