Debate: The best NBL player at every age

28 Nov 2025

From 17 to 39, NBL Media debate the best player at every age in the Hungry Jack's NBL26 Season.

With 10 rounds of Hungry Jack's NBL26 action in the books, the NBL Media crew were thrown the challenge to choose the most impactful player across every age in the league.

Ranging from 17 to 39 years of age, there have been numerous players making big plays and putting out dominant performances for their respective teams.

Without further ado, here is our content team's fiercely debated list at the unofficial halfway mark of the 2025-26 season.

* Remember, this is just the unbiased opinion of our reporters to open up some debate, so we'd love to hear your best across our social media channels.

17 - Dash Daniels (Melbourne United)

Melbourne's exciting NBL Next Star, who has played a key role in United's franchise-best 13-2 start to the NBL season and already established himself as one of the competition's top one-ball defenders.
Next in line: Illawarra's Jackson Ball, who will join the University of Wisconsin after the season, is one of the brightest New Zealand prospects coming through the ranks.

18 - Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers)

The do-it-all forward for the Breakers, who has made a jump in his second season as a NBL Next Star. The talented Mexican was listed as a lottery pick in ESPN's latest mock 2026 NBA Draft.
Next in line: Perth NBL Next Star Noa Kouakou-Heuge, from France, is one of the more exciting naturally gifted talents in the world.

19 - Goc Malual (Sydney Kings)

The young Sydney Kings big man, who played for Australian under 19s team at the 2025 FIBA World Cup, recently made his NBL debut against the Brisbane Bullets.
Next in line: Adelaide's Che Brogan, is a dynamic left-handed guard, who has just come out of Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence.

20 - Tristan Devers (Brisbane Bullets)

The third-year Bullet, who Australia at both the under 17s FIBA World Cup and under 16s Asia Cup, is enjoying a career-high stats across the board for Stu Lash's side.
Next in line: Perth's Dontae Russo-Nance, from New Zealand, has started five games in his third year with the Wildcats.

21 - Malique Lewis (South East Melbourne Phoenix)

The Trinidad and Tobago NBL Next Star has established himself as a key part of Josh King's Phoenix outfit, due to offensive and defensive versatility.
Next in line: Perth's Ben Henshall, who has represented the Boomers on numerous occasions.

22 - Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne Phoenix)

One of the competition's true rising stars and best Australian point guards, who has come into his own as a full-time starter at South East Melbourne.
Next in line: Sydney's Jaylin Galloway. The two-time NBL champion, who spent time with Wisconsin in the NBA G-League, recently won the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup MVP award.

23 - Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers)

The early favourite for this season's Next Gen Award, producing career-high marks in points (16.9), rebounds (7.4), assists (1.6), steals (0.8), blocks (0.5) and free-throw percentage (71.9).
Next in line: Cairns' Mojave King. An athletic, scoring wing from New Zealand, who was selected with the 47th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

24 - Josh Bannan (Tasmania JackJumpers)

One of Australia's best young forwards, who has taken his game to the next level in Tasmania and is now a mainstay in the Boomers set-up.
Next in line: Tasmania's David Johnson. A do-it-all forward, that is going to play a big factor in the second half of the season.

25 - Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania JackJumpers)

An electric left-handed guard, who has taken the competition by storm ever since he made his debut. Currently the NBL's seventh-best scorer and will be a big part of Tasmania's finals push.
Next in line: Melbourne's import duo Tyson Walker and Jesse Edwards, who have been pivotal in the club's historic 13-2 start to the campaign.

26 - Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings)

Hands down, one of the best guards in the competition, who seems to be getting more comfortable with each passing game. Finished second in last season's MVP voting and will be in the mix once again in NBL26.
Next in line: Illawarra's Will Hickey. In the conversation for the best Australian point-guard in the NBL currently.

27 - Isaac Humphries (Adelaide 36ers)

Has re-established himself as one of the NBL's premier big men and been a big part of Adelaide's exception start to the 2025-26 campaign.
Next in line: Tasmania's Will Magnay. The 2024 Paris Olympian is arguably the best shot-blocker and rim defender in the NBL.

28 - Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats)

The heartbeat of the Perth Wildcats, who is scoring a career-high 15.7 points a game in his third NBL season. Can also legitimately mark one through five.
Next in line: Adelaide's Dejan Vasiljevic. A two-time champion that is one of the best shooters in the country.

29 - Jack McVeigh (Cairns Taipans)

Fresh off his Olympic debut and an NBA stint with the Houston Rockets, McVeigh is scoring a career-high 20.2 points a game as the focal point of Cairns' offence.
Next in line: Perth's Dylan Windler. The former NBA talent is a key cog for the Wildcats and one of the best rebounding guards in the NBL.

30 - Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers)

The engine of the New Zealand Breakers, who is as dangerous as any guard in the league out on transition.
Next in line: Adelaide's Zylan Cheatham and Sydney's Xavier Cooks. Two of the competition's most potent power forwards.

31 - Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (Perth Wildcats)

The South Sudanese international is excelling in his first season in Perth and is once again proving to be one of the most lethal centres in the competition.
Next in line: Illawarra's QJ Peterson. A microwave scorer off the bench for the Hawks.

32 - Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks)

Mr Big Shot who guided the Hawks to their second title in NBL25. The left-handed combo guard has been a revelation in Illawarra since arriving ahead of 2020-21 season. Finishes just ahead of United star Milton Doyle for the honour.
Next in line: Melbourne's Milton Doyle. One of the smoothest players in the league, who guided Tasmania to a title in the NBL24 season.

33 - Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers)

The greatest import to ever play in the NBL and with five MVPs (and counting) to his name, could soon be considered the competition's GOAT.
Next in line: South East Melbourne's John Brown III. The engine that ignites the Phoenix, who is one of the most disruptive defenders in the NBL.

34 - Casey Prather (Brisbane Bullets)

Devastatingly will miss the remainder of the NBL26 season with a knee injury but had re-invented himself as one of the best forwards of the game this campaign, while averaging a career-best 24.4 points per game.
Next in line: Illawarra's Todd Blanchfield. Mr 450 games, who is still one of the NBL's best three-point shooters.

35 - Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix)

The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist is enjoying one of his best seasons to date (21 points per game), while powering the Phoenix into championship contention.
Next in line: Sydney's Matthew Dellavedova. A four-time Olympian who won a NBA title with Cleveland.

36 - No current players aged 36

37 - JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks)

The three-time NBA champion has been a dominant force for the Hawks all season. Arguably one of the most athletic imports to ever play in the NBL, who features heavily in the top plays each week.
Next in line: Melbourne's Chris Goulding. Arguably the greatest shooter to ever play in the NBL.