Alex McNaught
January 29, 2023
Daniel Fotu
- Nationality: NZL
- Date of Birth: 24/07/99
- Place of Birth: Auckland (New Zealand)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 101
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Saint Mary’s (CA) (2018–2022)
- NBL DEBUT: 18/09/22
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 14/01/24
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: New Zealand 2023-24
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Daniel Fotu was born in Auckland (NZ) and attended Rangitoto College on Auckland’s North Shore. He was also a former floor wiper for the NZ Breakers before signing as a development player.
FAMILY: Daniel’s brother, Isaac Fotu also played 1 games in the NBL.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Daniel Fotu made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 23 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
With the departure of head coach Dan Shamir, Mody Maor was promoted to lead the New Zealand Breakers in NBL23, marking a significant transitional season for the team. Having been forced to play away from home for two seasons due to COVID-19, the Breakers were finally able to return to hosting regular home games, providing a critical boost to the club’s morale.
The off-season saw significant roster turnover, with six of the team’s top eight players from the previous season departing. Yanni Wetzell, Hugo Besson, Peyton Siva, Finn Delany, Ousmane Dieng, and Chasson Randle left the Breakers, leaving only Thomas Abercrombie, Robert Loe, and William McDowell-White as returning members of the squad.
The Breakers brought in several new players to fill these gaps, including Daniel Fotu, who joined as a rookie. Fotu was part of a trio of young local talent added for defensive depth and perimeter shooting off the bench, alongside Alex McNaught and Jayden Bezzant. Veterans Tom Vodanovich (via Sydney), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, and Cameron Gliddon (both via South East Melbourne) also bolstered the team’s depth. On the import front, the Breakers added Dererk Pardon, Jarrell Brantley, and Barry Brown Jr. Additionally, the team leveraged the NBL’s Next Star Program to bring in French NBA prospect Rayan Rupert.
Fotu made his NBL debut in the Breakers’ season opener against Melbourne, a game in which New Zealand suffered a narrow loss. While Fotu’s contributions were limited early in the season, the team began to show glimpses of their defensive potential as they established themselves as a formidable force. Four rounds into the season, the Breakers had already equaled their win total from the previous campaign and celebrated their largest-ever victory at Spark Arena with a commanding 94-62 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers.
By November, New Zealand emerged as a serious contender, battling Sydney in a top-of-the-table clash. Despite a late-game surge led by Barry Brown Jr. (22 points), the Breakers fell short (81-77), losing Rupert to a broken wrist in the process. Fotu’s development continued steadily, with the rookie providing energy and effort in limited minutes, particularly in key matchups such as the Breakers’ dominant 110-84 win over South East Melbourne in late November.
New Zealand entered December in top form, winning 11 of their first 13 games before suffering a setback against Perth (92-84). Corey Webster’s 26-point explosion for Perth highlighted the Breakers’ defensive challenges, but Fotu remained a steady contributor off the bench, providing hustle and versatility when called upon. As the season progressed, Fotu gained valuable experience, appearing in crucial games during the team’s run to the playoffs.
A mid-season slump saw the Breakers drop four consecutive games, including a heartbreaking 78-76 loss to Illawarra, courtesy of a dramatic Tyler Harvey half-court buzzer-beater. The defeat reignited the team’s resolve, as they snapped the losing streak with a 93-88 win over Sydney, driven by Jarrell Brantley’s clutch three-pointer, and a gritty 80-74 victory over Melbourne to clinch a playoff spot.
During the final stretch of the season, Fotu played a supporting role as New Zealand battled Cairns for second place on the ladder. Wins over Brisbane and Illawarra secured the Breakers’ hold on second place, capping a remarkable turnaround season. New Zealand finished the regular season as the second seed, marking a significant achievement under first-year head coach Maor.
Fotu’s rookie campaign showcased his potential as a reliable role player, with his defensive tenacity and work ethic earning him valuable minutes in a competitive Breakers lineup. As the team looks to build on their success in NBL24, Fotu’s development will be crucial in solidifying New Zealand’s depth and sustaining their resurgence as a league contender.
Fotu appeared in 14 games for the season and averaged 1.1 points and 0.9 rebounds. He did not play in any postseason games. He remained a part of the team as they defeated Tasmania in the semifinals before losing the Championship Series to Sydney in five games.
2023/24
Daniel Fotu served as a development player for the New Zealand Breakers during the 2023-24 season. He participated in three games, with his best performance coming against the Sydney Kings on December 22, where he scored 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 24 minutes. Fotu also had solid contributions in limited minutes against the Adelaide 36ers and South East Melbourne Phoenix, showing potential as he gains more experience. His role as a development player highlights the team’s focus on nurturing young talent for the future.
Daniel Fotu played two seasons the New Zealand Breakers. He averaged 1.6 points, 1 rebounds, and 0 assists in 22 NBL games.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 24 | New Zealand | 13-15 (6) | 8 | 63.2 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 57% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 4 | 4 | 100% | 69% | 64% | 8 |
| 2022-23 | 23 | New Zealand | 18-10 (2) | 14 | 38.1 | 15 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 67% | 2 | 3 | 67% | 1 | 1 | 100% | 79% | 0% | 5 | Totals | 22 | 101 | 37 | 24 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 23 | 60.9% | 4 | 9 | 44.4% | 5 | 5 | 100.0% | 73% | 70% | 8 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 24 | New Zealand | 13-15 (6) | 8 | 7.9 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 57% | 0.3 | 0.8 | 33% | 0.5 | 0.5 | 100% | 69% | 64% | 8 |
| 2022-23 | 23 | New Zealand | 18-10 (2) | 14 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 67% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 67% | 0.1 | 0.1 | 100% | 79% | 0% | 5 | Total | 22 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 60.9% | 0.0 | 44.4% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 100.0% | 73% | 70% | 8 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Fotu was a part of the New Zealand UN1* National Team that played at the FIBA Asia Cup in 2016.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Auckland Tuatara (2022), Nelson Giants (2024) | Japan - Gifu Swoops (2024–2025)
Fotu joined the Auckland Tuatara for the 2022 New Zealand NBL season in New Zealand, and New Zealand - Auckland (2022), Nelson (2024) | Japan - Gifu (2024-2025)
He played three games for Auckland in 2022 before his season was cut short by a major knee injury.
Fotu joined the Nelson Giants for the 2024 New Zealand NBL season in New Zealand, where he played 19 games and averaged 18.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
That 2024 season with Nelson became his most productive New Zealand NBL campaign, with the Giants using him as a key frontcourt scorer across the full season.
On July 9, 2024, he signed with Gifu Swoops for the 2024–25 Japanese B3 League season in Japan.
During the 2024–25 season with Gifu, Fotu played 53 games and averaged 10.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
COLLEGE
Fotu played four NCAA Division I seasons at Saint Mary’s (CA) from 2018–19 through 2021–22, suiting up for 126 career games in the West Coast Conference and developing from a freshman rotation forward into a full-time starter before finishing his final year as a key bench scorer on a veteran Gaels group.
As a freshman in 2018–19, Fotu appeared in all 34 games and made four starts, recording 2.8 points per game in 13.8 minutes while shooting .412 from three-point range, with his first career start coming against Bucknell on December 19 and a season-high 16 points against Cal on December 1 where he went 4-for-4 from deep.
In 2019–20, Fotu played every game and made 19 starts, averaging 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 20.5 minutes while shooting 65 percent from the field, and after a season-ending injury to Matthias Tass he shifted into the center role for the remainder of the year, highlighted by 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting in his first start of the season against Seattle on December 28 and his first career double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) against Pacific on February 15.
Fotu took another jump as a junior in 2020–21, starting all 24 games and averaging 8.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per game while leading Saint Mary’s in three-point attempts with 76, posting an overall shooting line of .419/.316/.745 and delivering two double-doubles, including 15 points and 10 rebounds against San Jose State on December 11 and 10 points with 11 rebounds against BYU on February 27.
He also logged several defining “glue-guy” moments that season, including playing all 40 minutes in a win over San Francisco on January 23, setting a career-high with three blocks against Pacific on February 25, and earning Bay Alarm Student-Athlete of the Week on December 14 during a stretch where he scored in every game and averaged 10.0 points in 28.9 minutes during conference play.
As a senior in 2021–22, Fotu appeared in all 34 games off the bench and averaged 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 13.9 minutes, producing his career-best scoring game with 22 points at the Maui Invitational in a win over Notre Dame on November 22, including the go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute, which helped earn him Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team honours and West Coast Conference Player of the Week on November 29.
That senior season also included a season-high eight rebounds and 19 points against Texas Southern, a four-steal game against Yale on December 28, and a key NCAA Tournament contribution of seven points and five rebounds in Saint Mary’s win over Indiana, while he closed his Gaels career as a multi-role forward who had started across multiple seasons and produced across minutes whether in the starting group or as a matchup piece off the bench.
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