Mick Downer on NBL Talent in Japan, NBL vs B.League, and Offensive Rebounding
April 3, 2026
DJ Newbill
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 22/05/92
- Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 193
- Weight (KG): 95
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Southern Miss (2010–2011) Penn State (2012–2015)
- NBL DEBUT: 8/10/17
- AGE AT DEBUT: 25
- LAST NBL GAME: 5/03/20
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 27
- NBL History: New Zealand 2018 | Cairns 2019-20
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Dj Newbill was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) where he attended Strawberry Mansion High School in Philadelphia.
As a junior in 2008/09, he averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game and garnered Second Team All-State and All-Public League honours.
As a senior in 2009/10, he was named the Pennsylvania Class AA Player of the Year and Public League Player of the Year after averaging 24.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game. He led Strawberry Mansion to a 28–2 record, and the Class AA State Championship.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Dj Newbill made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 25 years of age. He scored 12 points in his first game.
After a injury decimated season, New Zealand looked to rebuild in Paul Henare’s second year as coach. Kevin Dillard, who joined the team for the last nine games, was retained and it was hoped that the on court success witnessed during the last month of the season would be able to be extended across NBL18. The major move of the off-season saw the Breakers cut ties with Corey Webster after multiple situations where the two parties no longer saw eye to eye. This led to Webster first signing a two-year deal with Perth, then after turning the heads of some European team’s whilst playing in the 2017 NBA Summer League, requested a release prior to the NBL season starting. The remainder of the roster was retained and with league expanding the number of import a team can sign from two to three, added backcourt duo DJ Newbill and Édgar Sosa.
New Zealand then started the season in hot form, going 6–1 after five rounds thanks to the selflessness of Newbill (13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Sosa (15.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Back-up guard Shea Ili (9.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) also posted impressive numbers, becoming a vital piece of the team’s second unit and claimed the NBL’s Most Improved Player at the end of the season.
With a win over the Perth Wildcats on 9 November, the Breakers moved to a 7–1 record, tying their best start in franchise history. They went on to defeat Perth again three days later, moving them to a 8–1 record. They moved to 9–1 with a win over Brisbane on 19 November, as they headed into the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification break atop the NBL ladder and on a nine-game winning streak.
After returning from the FIBA break, the Breakers lost four out of their first five games and dropped to 10–5 following Round 10. With Dillard (18.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals) injured, they chose to bring in NBA player Rakeem Christmas (7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds) in early January to bolster their squad.
Despite finishing the regular season with back-to-back losses, New Zealand finished in fourth place (15–13) and went on to face Melbourne and former coach Dean Vickerman in the semifinals. United handed the Breakers back-to-back defeats in the semifinals, following a overtime loss in Game 2 (88–86). Club legend Kirk Penney played (10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) his final NBL game in the game two loss, finishing with a 17-point effort.
CAIRNS TAIPANS
2018/19
After finishing sixth with an 11-17 record the previous season, Cairns moved in a new direction, parting ways with long-time coach Aaron Fearne after eight seasons and appointing Mike Kelly. The Taipans entered the rebuild having lost Cameron Gliddon (to Brisbane), Mitchell McCarron (to Melbourne), Jarrad Weeks (to New Zealand) and Stephen Weigh (retired), with Robert Loe (via New Zealand), Lucas Walker (via Perth), Jarrod Kenny (via Perth), Dexter Kernich-Drew (via Perth) and Mitch Young (via Brisbane) among the additions.
On June 29, Cairns signed DJ Newbill (via New Zealand) as its first import after his debut NBL season with the Breakers. Kelly was particularly attracted to his ability to contribute at both ends and said, “He can help us win right now, but he can also continue to improve throughout the season.” Cairns later completed its import trio with Melo Trimble and Devon Hall.
DJ (16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) made an immediate impact in the season opener against Brisbane on October 13, helping Cairns defeat the Bullets 88-70 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Trimble (32 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) starred on debut and Loe (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) was productive from the bench, while Reuben Te Rangi (18 points and 3 rebounds) led Brisbane.
Newbill (14.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 27 games) started 26 times and was the only Taipan to finish inside the club’s top four in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks. Despite his two-way impact, Cairns followed its opening victory with 14 consecutive losses before finally breaking through again in January.
His only absence came on October 26, when a shoulder injury ruled him out against Adelaide. Newbill returned two days later against Sydney and came off the bench for 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals as Cairns lost 98-90.
Cairns finally snapped its 14-game losing streak on January 3, where Newbill (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists), Hall (24 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) and Nathan Jawai (18 points and 4 assists) helped the Taipans demolish Brisbane 109-80 for their first home win of the season, while Lamar Patterson (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Bullets.
Eight days later, Cairns produced another upset at RAC Arena as Newbill (13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block), Trimble (32 points and 7 rebounds) and Jawai (14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led the Taipans past Perth 81-79, while Bryce Cotton (20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led the Wildcats.
Newbill’s best game of the season came against his former team on January 24, where he made five three-pointers and scored 15 points in the final quarter on his way to a career-high 32 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Trimble (31 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Walker (16 points and 9 rebounds) also produced big games, making Newbill and Trimble the first NBL teammates since 2009 to both score 30 points in the same game, but Shawn Long (32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks) led New Zealand to a 113-106 victory.
Trimble (21.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals) led the Taipans offensively, earning All-NBL Second Team honours as well as the club’s Most Valuable Player and Members’ Choice MVP awards, while Newbill was named Cairns’ Best Defensive Player. Jawai (10 points and 5.2 rebounds), Hall (8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds), Loe (7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds), Alex Loughton (6.5 points) and Walker (6.1 points and 4 rebounds) were the team’s other major contributors, but Cairns went 3-11 at home and 3-11 on the road.
Cairns closed the season against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on February 16, where Newbill (12 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists), Trimble (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Loughton (17 points and 3 rebounds) kept the Taipans within reach before Andrew Bogut (12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks) helped Sydney win 89-84, leaving Cairns last with a 6-22 record.
2019/20
After finishing at the bottom of the ladder with a 6-22 record in 2018/19, Cairns underwent another roster overhaul under second-year head coach Mike Kelly. Melo Trimble (to Melbourne), Rob Loe (to New Zealand) and Lucas Walker (to Sydney) departed, while Alex Loughton and Mitch Young retired. Kelly added Scott Machado (via South Bay Lakers), Cameron Oliver (via Delaware), Majok Deng (via Adelaide), Mirko Djeric (via Serbia) and rookie Kouat Noi, while Fabijan Krslovic was upgraded from development player to the full-time roster.
After spending the off-season playing in Russia, DJ Newbill returned to Cairns for a second season and was named co-captain alongside Nathan Jawai. Kelly said both had “taken great strides” during the off-season and returned with the attitude, “I want to be better and I want to help my team be better.”
Cairns opened the season at home against Sydney, where Newbill (10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) was joined by Noi (14 points and 12 rebounds) and Machado (13 points and 8 assists), but Casper Ware (23 points and 5 assists) led the Kings to a 79-71 win.
Newbill (18.5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.3 steals across 30 games) missed the October 11 road loss to Brisbane, his only game out for the season. No injury was confirmed for the absence and he returned three days later against Illawarra, finishing with 26 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal as Cairns fell 89-88.
After opening the season 0-3, Cairns collected its first win in Perth on October 18, where Newbill (11 points and 4 assists) helped the Taipans defeat the defending champion Wildcats 99-76. Deng (22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Oliver (22 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Cairns, while Nicholas Kay (15 points) and Terrico White (15 points) were Perth’s leading scorers.
Newbill’s best scoring game came against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on December 8, where he finished with 31 points and 3 assists as Cairns defeated the Kings 109-98 for its first ever win at the venue. Noi (22 points and 5 rebounds) and Machado (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists) helped Cairns end a seven-game losing streak against Sydney and hand the Kings their first home loss of the season, while Ware (23 points and 7 assists) led Sydney.
A week later, Newbill produced another of his best games against South East Melbourne, scoring 15 points during the third quarter and finishing with 30 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. Oliver (23 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Machado (18 points and 6 assists) also contributed, but John Roberson (32 points and 4 assists), Adam Gibson (25 points and 5 assists) and Mitch Creek (25 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals) led the Phoenix to a 112-105 overtime win.
On January 3, Newbill (28 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led Cairns to a 91-89 win over Brisbane, with Oliver (21 points and 12 rebounds) and Machado (16 points and 6 assists) providing support, while E.J. Singler (20 points and 6 rebounds) led the Bullets. Taylor Braun was later suspended for one game for an unduly rough play incident involving Newbill during the fourth quarter, but Newbill did not miss any further games.
Cairns recovered from its 0-3 start to win seven of its next 11 games and reach 7-7, before a five-game winning streak moved the Taipans firmly into the top four. After one loss to Sydney, Cairns won another four consecutive games and secured a postseason berth with two games remaining, finishing third with a 16-12 record, their best finish since 2014/15.
Newbill led Cairns in scoring while becoming the second Taipan after Darnell Mee to win the NBL Best Defensive Player award and was also selected to the All-NBL Second Team. Machado (16.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 31 games) led the league in assists, earned All-NBL First Team honours and finished runner-up in the NBL MVP voting, while Oliver (17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks across 31 games) joined Newbill on the All-NBL Second Team. Deng (11.9 points and 4 rebounds across 31 games), Noi (9.5 points and 5.8 rebounds across 22 games), Jawai (8 points and 3.4 rebounds across 31 games) and Djeric (7.3 points and 3 rebounds across 29 games) rounded out the main rotation, while Kelly was named NBL Coach of the Year.
Cairns opened its semifinal series against defending champion Perth at RAC Arena, where Newbill (25 points) and Machado (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists) led the Taipans, while Oliver (19 points and 17 rebounds) controlled the boards. Bryce Cotton (42 points and 6 assists) and Kay (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Perth, who escaped with a 108-107 overtime win.
Game two moved to Cairns, where Newbill (16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) helped the Taipans force a deciding game with an 85-74 win. Oliver (22 points and 19 rebounds) dominated inside and Machado (13 points and 4 rebounds) also contributed, while Clint Steindl (18 points) and White (13 points and 4 rebounds) led Perth.
The deciding game returned to RAC Arena, where Newbill was given the task of shutting down league MVP Cotton and held him to 5 points on 2-of-16 shooting, although Cotton added 9 assists. Newbill (6 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block) struggled offensively, while Oliver (20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Machado (19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns. White (26 points and 4 rebounds) and Kay (24 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) carried Perth to a 93-82 win and ended the Taipans’ season.
Dj Newbill played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the New Zealand Breakers and the Cairns Taipans. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 86 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 27 | Cairns | 16-12 (3) | 30 | 1,001.3 | 554 | 90 | 91 | 18 | 72 | 38 | 3 | 53 | 71 | 192 | 380 | 51% | 68 | 163 | 42% | 102 | 120 | 85% | 63% | 59% | 31 |
| 2018-19 | 26 | Cairns | 6-22 (8) | 27 | 849.7 | 385 | 109 | 67 | 24 | 85 | 31 | 6 | 59 | 63 | 136 | 326 | 42% | 44 | 131 | 34% | 69 | 109 | 63% | 51% | 48% | 32 |
| 2017-18 | 25 | New Zealand | 15-13 (4) | 29 | 885.5 | 405 | 125 | 94 | 43 | 82 | 40 | 3 | 59 | 74 | 151 | 340 | 44% | 46 | 126 | 37% | 57 | 84 | 68% | 53% | 51% | 25 | Totals | 86 | 2736 | 1344 | 324 | 252 | 85 | 239 | 109 | 12 | 171 | 208 | 479 | 1046 | 45.8% | 158 | 420 | 37.6% | 228 | 313 | 72.8% | 57% | 53% | 32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 27 | Cairns | 16-12 (3) | 30 | 33.4 | 18.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 6.4 | 12.7 | 51% | 2.3 | 5.4 | 42% | 3.4 | 4.0 | 85% | 63% | 59% | 31 |
| 2018-19 | 26 | Cairns | 6-22 (8) | 27 | 31.5 | 14.3 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 12.1 | 42% | 1.6 | 4.9 | 34% | 2.6 | 4.0 | 63% | 51% | 48% | 32 |
| 2017-18 | 25 | New Zealand | 15-13 (4) | 29 | 30.5 | 14.0 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 5.2 | 11.7 | 44% | 1.6 | 4.3 | 37% | 2.0 | 2.9 | 68% | 53% | 51% | 25 | Total | 86 | 31.8 | 15.6 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 5.6 | 12.2 | 45.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 37.6% | 1.8 | 4.9 | 72.8% | 57% | 53% | 32 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 32 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
In April 2015, prior to the 2015 NBA draft, Newbill competed in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and helped his team Cherry Bekaert win the championship while claiming Portsmouth Invitational All-Tournament Team honours.
After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Newbill joined the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2015 NBA Summer League. In four games for the Clippers, he averaged 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- France - ASVEL (2015–2016) | Turkey - Akhisar Belediyespor (2016) | Belgium - Telenet Oostende (2016–2017) | Poland - Polski Cukier Toruń (2018) | Russia - Avtodor Saratov (2019) | Japan - Osaka Evessa (2020–2023), Utsunomiya Brex (2023–2026)
Newbill joined ASVEL for the 2015–16 LNB Pro A season in France after signing on July 29, 2015, and he parted ways with ASVEL on January 11, 2016 after averaging 6.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 15 LNB Pro A games while also averaging 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals in seven FIBA Europe Cup games.
Newbill signed with Akhisar Belediyespor in February 2016 for the rest of the 2015–16 Turkish second division season and averaged 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals in eight games.
He joined Telenet Oostende for the 2016–17 season in Belgium after signing on July 17, 2016, helping the club win the Belgian League championship and Belgian Cup while reaching the Belgian Supercup final and averaging 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 45 league games, 8.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in six FIBA Europe Cup games, and 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 14 Basketball Champions League games.
Newbill signed with Polski Cukier Toruń for the 2017–18 Polish Basketball League season and helped the club finish the season before later moving to Russia.
Newbill joined Avtodor Saratov for the 2018–19 VTB United League season after signing on February 28, 2019, and he averaged 16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 11 VTB United League games.
Newbill signed with Osaka Evessa for the 2020–21 Japanese B.League season on August 21, 2020, and averaged 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 52 games.
He remained with Osaka Evessa for the 2021–22 Japanese B.League season and averaged 23.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 44 games.
Newbill stayed with Osaka Evessa for the 2022–23 Japanese B.League season and averaged 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 60 games.
On June 30, 2023, Newbill signed with Utsunomiya Brex for the 2023–24 Japanese B.League season and averaged 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 63 games while earning B.League MVP honours in 2024.
Newbill remained with Utsunomiya Brex for the 2024–25 Japanese B.League season and averaged 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 55 games while winning B.League MVP, B.League Finals MVP and the B.League championship in 2025.
Newbill then helped Utsunomiya Brex win the 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia title and earned tournament MVP and All-Star Five honours after averaging 24.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists.
Newbill played for Utsunomiya Brex in the 2025 FIBA Intercontinental Cup and averaged 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while recording 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists against Unicaja Málaga.
Newbill continued with Utsunomiya Brex for the 2025–26 Japanese B.League season and averaged 19.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists through the verified season sample while also averaging 23.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.6 steals in East Asia Super League play.
COLLEGE
D.J. Newbill began his NCAA career at Southern Miss in 2010–11 and immediately stepped into a major role on a veteran Golden Eagles team that finished 22–10, ranking third on the roster in scoring at 9.2 points per game and second in rebounding at 6.2 per game.
He started all 32 games as a freshman, averaged 30.5 minutes per contest, and shot 53.5 percent from the field to earn Conference USA All-Freshman Team honours, while also recording six double-doubles and leading Southern Miss in rebounding in 11 different games.
Newbill’s best rebounding night at Southern Miss came in a 64–51 win at UTEP in mid-February, when he posted 15 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, reinforcing his impact as a two-way freshman contributor despite playing up in experience against older lineups in Conference USA.
In August 2011, Newbill transferred to Penn State and was required to sit out the 2011–12 season under NCAA transfer regulations, preserving three seasons of eligibility beginning in 2012–13.
When he became eligible at Penn State in 2012–13, Newbill was thrust into expanded responsibility early in the season and finished the year as the team’s leading scorer at 16.3 points per game while also leading the Nittany Lions in assists at 4.0 per game, ranking second on the roster in rebounds at 5.0 per game and adding 1.2 steals per contest, with his season including a career-high 27 points against Michigan State on January 16, 2013.
Newbill’s role and recognition continued to climb in 2013–14, when he was named Second Team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media and added NABC All-District 7 second-team recognition, highlighted by a signature late-game performance against Ohio State on January 29, 2014 when he scored the tying and game-winning field goals and finished with 25 points.
As a senior in 2014–15, Newbill earned Second Team All-Big Ten honours again, was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team, and averaged 20.7 points per game across 34 games, with one of the defining moments of his final season coming on March 8, 2015 when he hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to beat Minnesota and finished with 31 points in the 79–76 win.
Across his Penn State career from 2012–13 to 2014–15, Newbill produced three straight heavy-minute seasons and finished his overall NCAA career across Southern Miss and Penn State with 131 games played and 124 starts while averaging 16.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, combining high-usage scoring at the Big Ten level with the rebounding and efficiency base he established as a freshman starter in Conference USA.
AWARDS
- 1x time NBL Best Defensive Player (2020)
- 1x All-NBL Second Team
Related
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