Dom Kelman-Poto
- Nationality: NZL
- Date of Birth: 11/12/94
- Place of Birth: Auckland (New Zealand)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 110
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Adelphi University (2015-2018)
- NBL DEBUT: 28/10/18
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 30/11/23
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 28
- NBL History: New Zealand 2019, 2024
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Dom Kelman-Poto was born in Auckland (New Zealand).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Dom Kelman-Poto made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 23 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
In 2018, the Breakers underwent a significant transformation with a new ownership regime. A consortium led by former NBA player Matt Walsh acquired majority ownership through Breakers Basketball Ltd, ending Liz and Paul Blackwell’s 13-year tenure as owners. The off-season also marked the departure of several franchise stalwarts. Paul Henare concluded his 15-year association as a player and coach, while New Zealand’s all-time leading scorer Kirk Penney retired. Alex Pledger joined Melbourne, Mika Vukona moved to Brisbane, and young talent Robert Loe signed with Cairns.
Thomas Abercrombie was elevated to captain in the absence of Vukona, while Kevin Braswell, a former Breakers player, was appointed as head coach. Braswell faced the challenging task of rebuilding the roster. Tai Wesley returned to the team from Melbourne, and Corey Webster signed a three-year deal after a stint in Europe. The team also added Jarrad Weeks (via Cairns) and Majok Majok (via Melbourne) to the local roster. For their import players, the Breakers signed Patrick Richard, Armani Moore, and Shawn Long.
Dom Kelman-Poto joined the Breakers as a development player and made a single appearance during the season. In his limited minutes on January 5, 2019, against Perth, he did not register any stats but gained valuable experience by training and competing alongside seasoned professionals.
The Breakers struggled for consistency during the season. By January, they had fallen to the bottom of the ladder with an 8-12 record after three consecutive losses, including a defeat to last-placed Cairns. Despite efforts to turn their season around, the Breakers finished with a 12-16 record, placing sixth and missing the playoffs.
2023/24
Dom Kelman-Poto once again served as a development player for the New Zealand Breakers during the 2023-24 season. While his opportunities on the court were limited to just one game, his involvement underscored the Breakers’ commitment to developing young talent. The team focused on solidifying their roster by retaining key players like William McDowell-White and Thomas Abercrombie, while adding impactful new signings such as Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Zylan Cheatham. Although Kelman-Poto did not make a statistical impact in his lone appearance, his inclusion in the squad highlighted the Breakers’ long-term approach to fostering emerging players for future success.
Dom Kelman-Poto played two seasons the New Zealand Breakers. He averaged 1.5 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists in 2 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 | 29 | New Zealand | 13-15 (6) | 1 | 555.3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 100% | 102% | 0% | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 24 | New Zealand | 12-16 (6) | 1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | Totals | 2 | 556 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
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 | 29 | New Zealand | 13-15 (6) | 1 | 555.3 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 100% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.0 | 1.0 | 100% | 102% | 0% | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 24 | New Zealand | 12-16 (6) | 1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | Total | 2 | 278.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 100.0% | 0.5 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Super City Rangers (2018), Southland Sharks (2019, 2021–2022), Franklin Bulls (2020, 2024)
Kelman-Poto joined the Super City Rangers for the 2018 New Zealand NBL season, and he averaged 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 18 games.
Kelman-Poto joined the Southland Sharks for the 2019 New Zealand NBL season, and he averaged 12.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across 18 games.
Kelman-Poto joined the Franklin Bulls for the 2020 New Zealand NBL season during the COVID-shortened competition, and he averaged 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across 15 games.
Kelman-Poto returned to the Southland Sharks for the 2021 New Zealand NBL season, and he averaged 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 19 games while being named to the NZNBL All-Star Five.
Kelman-Poto returned to the Southland Sharks for the 2022 New Zealand NBL season, and he averaged 15.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 11 games.
Kelman-Poto rejoined the Franklin Bulls for the 2024 New Zealand NBL season, and he averaged 15.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 20 games.
COLLEGE
Dom Kelman-Poto spent his NCAA years in the Adelphi University men’s program (2015–2018) and was part of the Panthers’ Northeast-10 era, including earning NE10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognition in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 while settling into college basketball in the U.S. system.
In the 2015–16 season, Kelman-Poto appeared in 24 games and averaged 9.9 minutes, 1.8 points, and 2.1 rebounds per game, with his best scoring night coming when he scored eight points on 4-for-7 shooting at Saint Anselm on January 26, 2016.
That freshman year also included a pair of five-rebound games (vs Salem International on December 8 and at Saint Rose on December 12), giving him multiple flashes as a boards-and-energy option when his minutes opened up.
Kelman-Poto’s 2016–17 season ended up being a complete write-off as he did not play due to injury, effectively freezing his on-court Adelphi résumé at one active season despite remaining associated with the program across that period.
Before arriving at Adelphi, he was a two-time team MVP at Proctor Academy, and Adelphi’s own career-highs listing for him reflects the snapshot of his Panthers production: a top game of eight points (vs Saint Anselm, 1/26/16), five rebounds (twice), and two assists (at Dowling, 11/13/15).
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