NBL1 recognises First Nations communities as part of NAIDOC Week

The NBL1 will celebrate First Nations communities as part of NAIDOC Week, recognising the important role the competition’s players, staff and volunteers play in the national basketball landscape.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Heal Country, which calls for stronger measures to recognise, protect and maintain all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage.

Players around the country will wear jerseys designed by First Nations artists while courts will pay homage to First Nations communities by having elders perform a Welcome to Country before the commencement of games.

NBL1 General Manager Dean Anglin noted the importance of this week in the wider basketball community.

“First Nations Australians have laid the foundation for the brilliant standard of basketball we now have in this country, demonstrated by the numerous First Nations peoples playing basketball across the world.

“We are delighted to be able to recognise our First Nations NBL1 players and are committed to doing so beyond NAIDOC Week.

“The NBL1 is continuing to create pathways for First Nations players, coaches, referees and volunteers in our game and is thrilled to have a number of First Nations people in the league.

“We will continue to do all we can to ensure NBL1 makes a meaningful and impactful difference in First Nations communities.”

To view the NBL’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, click here.

There are 70 players, including 39 men and 31 women, registered as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders in NBL1. They are:

Evei Kleinig- Central Districts Lions, NBL1 Central 

Thomas Cromarty- Eastern Mavericks, NBL1 Central 

Kedeisha Kartinyeri- Eastern Mavericks, NBL1 Central 

Tobias Dowdell- North Adelaide Rockets, NBL1 Central 

Verle Williams- North Adelaide Rockets, NBL1 Central 

Alex Wilson- Norwood Flames, NBL1 Central 

Emily Close- Sturt Sabres, NBL1 Central 

Jasmin Fejo- West Adelaide Bearcats, NBL1 Central 

Fabian Johnson- West Adelaide Bearcats, NBL1 Central  

Daniel Fejo- Woodville Warriors, NBL1 Central 

Ashalea Perry- Woodville Warriors, NBL1 Central 

Chloe Purvis- Woodville Warriors, NBL1 Central 

Serena Waters- Woodville Warriors, NBL1 Central 

William 'Davo' Hickey- Ballarat Miners, NBL1 South  

Cassidy McLean- Bendigo Braves, NBL1 South  

Dallas Loughridge- Dandenong Rangers, NBL1 South   

Demi Albon- Diamond Valley, NBL1 South  

Shelby Britten- Eltham, NBL1 South  

Jade Dunne- Diamond Valley, NBL1 South  

Imogen Rock- Diamond Valley, NBL1 South  

Eliza van de Kamp- Hobart Chargers, NBL1 South 

Taran Armstrong- North West Thunder, NBL1 South  

Tamuri Wigness- Brisbane Capitals, NBL1 North 

Curt Ahwang- Cairns Marlins, NBL1 North  

Marshall Ware- Cairns Marlins, NBL1 North  

Nathan Jawai- Cairns Marlins, NBL1 North  

Deba George- Cairns Marlins, NBL1 North  

Jaylen Pitman- Cairns Marlins, NBL1 North  

Leichan Williams- Cairns Dolphins, NBL1 North   

Tidjane Diop- Gold Coast Rollers, NBL1 North  

Cameron Goldfinch- Gold Coast Rollers, NBL1 North   

Denzel Kennedy-Ipswich Force, NBL1 North  

Deshawn Ross-Paiwan- Ipswich Force, NBL1 North   

Alana Fraser- Ipswich Force, NBL1 North  

Michael Cedar- Logan Thunder, NBL1 North  

Indiah Bowyer- Logan Thunder, NBL1 North  

Christopher Cedar- Mackay Meteors, NBL1 North   

Ezekiel Corowa- Mackay Meteors, NBL1 North  

Denesha Bobongie- Mackay Meteorettes, NBL1 North  

Jesse Ghee- Northside Wizards, NBL1 North  

Kobe McDowell-White- Red City Roar, NBL1 North  

Darryl McDowell-White- Red City Roar, NBL1 North  

William McDowell-White- Red City Roar, NBL1 North  

Donovan Crowe- Red City Roar, NBL1 North  

Jai Blackman-Corowa- Red City Roar, NBL1 North   

Frazer Roberts- Red City Roar, NBL1 North  

Mikael Willie- Red City Roar, NBL1 North  

Jared Blanchard- Rockhampton Rockets, NBL1 North   

Mylique Prior- Rockhampton Rockets, NBL1 North  

Akaysha Muggeridge- Rockhampton Cyclones, NBL1 North  

Kaylah Frazer- Rockhampton Cyclones, NBL1 North  

Lily Sarra- Southern Districts Spartans, NBL1 North  

JaKobe Hunter- South West Metro Pirates, NBL1 North   

Joel Matysek- South West Metro Pirates, NBL1 North  

Tahlia Fejo- East Perth Eagles, NBL1 West 

Aidan Zeverona- East Perth Eagles, NBL1 West   

Spencer Alone- Eastern Suns, NBL1 West  

Clayton Parfitt- Geraldton Buccaneers, NBL1 West   

Noah Hinkley- Goldfields Giants, NBL1 West  

Alix Hayward- Joondalup Wolves, NBL1 West  

Neseya Parker-Williams- Joondalup Wolves, NBL1 West   

Laniesha Paddon- Joondalup Wolves, NBL1 West  

Kayden Malseed- Lakeside Lightning, NBL1 West  

Troy Kelly- Mandurah Magic, NBL1 West  

Serika Shillingsworth- Mandurah Magic, NBL1 West  

Maddison Allen- Perth Redbacks, NBL1 West  

Talietha Valentine- Perry Lakes Hawks, NBL1 West   

Cody Hill- South West Slammers, NBL1 West   

Hayley Alone- Warwick Senators, NBL1 West  

Talicia Hansen- Willetton Tigers, NBL1 West