Dontae Russo-Nance
- Nationality: NZL
- Date of Birth: 20/01/05
- Place of Birth: Auckland (NZ)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 191
- Weight (KG): 90
- Junior Assoc:
- College:
- NBL DEBUT: 29/09/23
- AGE AT DEBUT: 18
- LAST NBL GAME: 15/01/25
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 20
- NBL History: Perth 2024-25
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Dontae Russo-Nance was born in Auckland (NZ). He attended Saint Kentigern College and played as a junior for Waitakere Basketball, where he won three national championships across different age groups before moving to the US for high school. Playing at the Oak Hill Academy, a prestigious school that has produced multiple NBA stars including Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo he was selected as one of 40 top international prospects from around the world to compete in the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Salt Lake City, which took place during the famed NBA All-Star 2023 weekend.
“He’s a strong combo-guard who has already had good success in the NZNBL, and teaming up with Ben Henshall, the Wildcats’ future backcourt will have the opportunity to learn from the likes of Bryce Cotton and the Webster brothers” said head coach John Rillie upon signing Russo-Nance.
“He can score in multiple ways, while also having the ability to play-make for his teammates. He has the physical tools to compete at the NBL level from day one.”
NBL EXPERIENCE
Dontae Russo-Nance made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 18 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.
On 27 May 2023, Dontae Russo-Nance signed a three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats, joining the team as a development player for the 2023/24 season. Despite limited opportunities, Russo-Nance appeared in three games, contributing eight points in his first taste of NBL action.
The Wildcats underwent a significant roster overhaul after missing the playoffs in 2023, highlighted by the addition of Keanu Pinder and promising rookie Ben Henshall. They also signed 18-year-old French prospect Alexandre Sarr through the Next Star Program and bolstered their imports with Jordan Usher and Kristian Doolittle. Russo-Nance joined a revamped team that began the season with a statement win over Tasmania, with Usher scoring 35 points in his debut.
After a slow start that included five losses in six games, the team turned their fortunes around, driven by Bryce Cotton’s resurgence. Cotton (22.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals) reclaimed his MVP form, delivering standout performances such as a season-high 41 points against Sydney on December 1. Perth finished the regular season in second place (17-11) but fell short in the semifinals to eventual champions Tasmania.
Dontae Russo-Nance currently plays for the Perth Wildcats and has played 12 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 1.5 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.4 assists since entering the league in 2023.
CURRENT CONTRACT:
Perth Wildcats – 3 Year Deal (2023-26)
3rd Year Full Roster
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 20 | Perth | 18-11 (3) | 9 | 29.0 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 36% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 1 | 2 | 50% | 46% | 45% | 6 |
| 2023-24 | 19 | Perth | 17-11 (2) | 3 | 8.0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 80% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 80% | 0% | 4 | Totals | 12 | 37 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 50.0% | 2 | 6 | 33.3% | 1 | 2 | 50.0% | 56% | 56% | 6 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 20 | Perth | 18-11 (3) | 9 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 36% | 0.2 | 0.7 | 33% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 50% | 46% | 45% | 6 |
| 2023-24 | 19 | Perth | 17-11 (2) | 3 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 80% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 80% | 0% | 4 | Total | 12 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 50.0% | 0.0 | 33.3% | 0.2 | 0.5 | 50.0% | 56% | 56% | 6 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 24% | 36% | 39% | 0% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 8 | 16 | 50.0% | 2 | 6 | 33.3% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 20 | Perth | 10-8 (4) | 5 | 17.0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 20% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | #DIV/0! | 20% | 0% | 2 |
| 2023-24 | 19 | Perth | 17-11 (2) | 3 | 8.0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 80% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 80% | 0% | 4 | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Auckland (2021–2022), Otago (2024), Manawatu (2025)
In 2021, Russo-Nance debuted in the New Zealand NBL for the Auckland Huskies. He averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game as a bench player, earning runner-up for Youth Player of the Year.
During the 2022 NZNBL season he played for the Auckland Tuatara, going one step further and winning Youth Player of the Year, after averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.8 steals in 16 games.
In 2024, Russo-Nance played with the Otago Nuggets who at the time were owned by parent group of the Perth Wildcats, SEN.
In 2025, Russo-Nance signed with his third NZNBL club, joining the Manawatu Jets, where he played alongside former Wildcats teammate Corey Webster.
AWARDS
- NZNBL Youth Player of the Year (2022)
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