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. 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. The award changed back to Rookie of the Year in 2006 and remained every year until it was not awarded in 2017. Rookie of the Year returned in 2018 but was then replaced by Youth Player of the Year in 2019 and has remained since.
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.
In 2024, the Youth Player of the Year was awarded to Australian import and league MVP, Lachlan Olbrich.
Winners Year Player Team 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 2021 Zach Riley Auckland Huskies 2022 Dontae Russo-Nance Auckland Tuatara 2023 Walter Brown Canterbury Rams 2024 Lachlan Olbrich Canterbury Rams 2025 Jackson Ball Hawke's Bay Hawks 2026 Jake Holmes Canterbury Rams
See also List of National Basketball League (New Zealand) awards
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