Dontae Russo-Nance

Biography

Is fresh off the best NZ NBL season of his career as he now takes the leap to a full roster spot at the Perth Wildcats in NBL26.

Having grown up in Auckland, the guard was an exciting prospect coming through the New Zealand basketball ranks and went on to impress in 2019 as a 14-year-old at the Junior NBA Global Championships in Orlando.

From there, he first played in the NZ NBL at the Auckland Huskies in 2021 just aged 16 and was the league's Youth Player of the Year in 2022.

Joined the Wildcats as a development player for a first season in NBL24 before making seven appearances in the NZ NBL at the Otago Nuggets for 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Remained at Perth as a development player in NBL25, then produced 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.5 steals with the Manawatu Jets of NZ NBL before now being elevated to a full roster spot at the 'Cats.

Team Members

Alex Higgins-Titsha

#

27

201

cm

F

Angus Brandt

#

26

208

cm

F

Anthony Dell'Orso

#

2

198

cm

G

Blake Neilsen

#

201

cm

F

Brandon Knight

#

17

191

cm

G

Cameron Huefner

#

25

203

cm

F

Dylan Windler

#

3

198

cm

G

Elijah Pepper

#

40

193

cm

G

Jaron Rillie

#

9

190

cm

G

Jesse Wagstaff

#

24

203

cm

F

Jimmy Whitt

#

33

cm

G

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr

#

0

211

cm

F

Kristian Doolittle

#

5

201

cm

F

Marley Sam

#

13

cm

G

Tana Kopa

#

8

198

cm

G

Current Starting 5

Get to know the NBL, five players at a time. Discover a fresh line-up every week.

Next five revealed after 26 September 2026.

1

Bryce Cotton

#11

Guard

Height

182cm

Weight

76kg

Next Game

Six-time NBL MVP and three- time champion widely regarded as one of the league's greatest guards; moved from Perth to Adelaide for NBL26

2

Kendric Davis

#1

Guard

Height

180cm

Weight

83kg

Next Game

Reigning Championship Series MVP who led Sydney Kings to the 2026 title after an MVP- runner-up debut season at Adelaide

3

Parker Jackson-Cartwright

Parker Jackson-Cartwright

#6

Guard

Height

180cm

Weight

74kg

Next Game

Breakers floor general and two- time European league MVP who has become a match-winning superstar in his first two NBL seasons

4

Nathan Sobey

#20

Guard

Height

190cm

Weight

82kg

Next Game

Olympic bronze medallist and 294- game NBL veteran, now co- captain of South East Melbourne Phoenix

5

Jack Mcveigh

#9

Forward

Height

203cm

Weight

93kg

Next Game

Championship- winning forward with NBA experience (Houston Rockets) and a 2024 Olympic appearance for Australia