15th February 2025

Fresh off the runway, we're excited to welcome Tinashe Matambanadzo to the Property Brokers Jets for '25!

5'10 point guard Matambanadzo hails from Zimbabwe and is no stranger to NZ hoops; having played a few rounds in the NZNBL, he jumps back across the ditch to join The Jets off the back of his 2024 season with the North Adelaide Rockets.

Now, this hooper has one heck of a backstory! Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tinashe was only nine years of age when he escaped as a refugee from South Africa to New Zealand. It was here, through his early years at school in Auckland, that his hunger and passion for basketball began.

Matambanadzo had been a fringe player for years in the NBL, going from team to team, including the Southland Sharks, the Supercity Rangers / Auckland Huskies (known now as the Auckland Tuatara), and across the ditch with the Tasmania Southern Huskies, in search of opportunities but struggled to get minutes to prove himself.

2019 saw Matambanadzo secure a breakthrough contract with the Auckland Huskies. However, with COVID-19 cutting down the player pool in 2020, his contract was cut short, and his career declined, resulting in him taking a step back from his basketball career for three years. Fast-forward to 2023, and after much grit and determination to get back in the game, Tinashe landed in Adelaide, Australia, signing with the Forestville Eagles for a season and then moving to the North Adelaide Rockets last year.

"Tinashe is a super-charged combo guard that has already increased the intensity of the training sessions. He makes everyone around him better," says Coach Webster about working with Tinashe on the court before the season kicks off here in Palmerston North.

This athlete is a fighter, and his drive and passion for hoops are just what we need on our roster this season as your Jets work together to make the biggest comeback the league has seen.

"Waited for over a decade for an opportunity like this. Thank you, Jets. Let the David and Goliath story begin," says Tinashe, touching down in Palmy and joining the Jets lineup.

We can't wait to welcome him back to New Zealand and the Manawatū and watch him take flight in The Hangar!

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.