Dontae Russo-Nance
Dontae Russo-Nance signs with The Jets for 2025
Fresh out the arrivals gate, we're pumped to welcome Dontae Russo-Nance to the Property Brokers Jets for '25!
Having grown up in Auckland, 19-year-old Russo-Nance is an exciting prospect coming through the New Zealand basketball ranks. He impressed in 2019 as a 14-year-old at the Junior NBA Global Championships in Orlando, where he averaged 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
In 2022, Russo-Nance continued with the Auckland Huskies franchise, now known as the Tuatara. He helped the Tuatara reach the NZNBL grand final, scoring 11 points in an 81–73 loss to the Otago Nuggets. In 18 games, he averaged 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and a league-leading 2.9 steals per game. He was subsequently named 2022 Youth Player of the Year.
Dontae was then selected for the All-Star Five at Canberra's Basketball Without Borders Asia camp in August 2022 and attended Oak Hill Academy in Wilson, Virginia.
“As we rebuild the Jets, we could not be more excited to announce the signing of Dontae. I can’t wait to get him to Palmy and on the court, and continue to develop his game.” Coach Webster
Presented with plenty of options following his successful intro to pro basketball, Dontae joined the Perth Wildcats in 2023 as a development player in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). Due to injury his season with the Wildcats was cut short. Russo-Nance has now been released from his three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats to return to New Zealand and play in the 2025 Sal's NBL for the Property Brokers Jets.
This kid's going places, and we're thrilled to be part of his journey! We can't wait to welcome Dontae to Palmy next year and see him in action 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.