31st January 2025 

Fresh through the gates at Fly Palmy, we're excited to welcome Kiwi-born and raised Dion Collins to the Property Brokers Jets for '25!

6’8 New Zealand-British Forward Dion Collins hails from Tauranga and has played in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the USA, most recently in the NBL1 with Western Australia's Mandurah Magic.

Coach Webster had this to say about Dion's signing - "Dion Collins is a great addition to the Jets this season. At 6’8, he is a physically aggressive player that can guard multiple positions. He rebounds the ball at a high level and can stretch the floor with his shooting ability from deep”.

"I’m very excited about what Dion will bring to the squad" Coach Webster

Collins left New Zealand to attend college in the US, playing for the Culver-Stockton Wildcats in the NAIA. Collins then graduated from US College in 2019 and signed his first professional contract with the Lulea Steelers in Sweden, where he continued his academic studies, a master's in International Business. Collins then headed to Australia in 2021 to play in the NBL1 with the Goldfields Giants before moving across the globe to the United Kingdom. Australia and the NBL1 West season called again in 2023 and saw Collins join the Joondalup Wolves, where they reached the grand final and lost narrowly to the Geraldton Buccaneers by 8 points.

"I am really excited to be coming home to New Zealand and grateful for the opportunity to represent The Jets. We have an exciting and competitive roster coming together, so we're looking forward to a successful season. From me personally, you can expect to see passion, intensity, and a team-first commitment towards doing everything it takes to win," says Dion about his signing and the season ahead.

We're excited to be the next stop in Dion's professional career and welcome this local talent back to Aotearoa and the NZNBL. We look forward to his contributions to the team and seeing him soar in The Hangar for the 2025 season.

Free agency for the 2025 Sal's NBL season is currently in play, and as we lock in our roster for 2025, we have some exciting announcements to come. Keep up to date with all the latest Jets news by following us on our socials @jetsbasketballnz on Instagram, Facebook, and X.  

About Property Brokers Jets:

At the heart of Jets Basketball is community. As one of the eight founding teams of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1982, the Jets have proudly represented the Manawatū region. Over the years, the team has reached two NBL finals, in 1992 and 2020. Originally known as the Palmerston North Jets, the team expanded its regional focus and rebranded to the Manawatū Jets in 2002. Despite a brief hiatus in 2015, the Jets made a successful return to the league in 2018, reigniting their commitment to the sport and the community.

Today, the Jets’ vision extends beyond the court. It's about fostering a love for basketball and providing opportunities for kids across Manawatū. Whether they're playing in schoolyards, local playgrounds, or competitions at the Arena, our mission is to open doors for every child who dreams of reaching the highest level of the sport. At the Property Brokers Jets, we’re not just building a team; we’re building a future for the next generation of basketball players.