BIO: Almansa grew up in Spain where he began playing basketballfor the UCAM Murcia youth team at nine years old. Led his under-14 squad to a sixth-place finish at the Spanish National Championships – the club’s best performance ever at the junior level – while averaging 18 points and 18 rebounds per game. In a group stage victory over La Salle Laguna, he recorded 32 points, 28 rebounds, and six steals.

FAMILY: Son of Cristina Almansa and Steve Horton, an American professional basketball player for CB Murcia.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Izan Almansa made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 19 years of age. He scored 10 points in his first game.

Perth returned for NBL25 after its previous campaign ended in a semifinal loss to Tasmania, farewelling Alexandre Sarr (to Washington), Jordan Usher (to France), Corey Webster (to Auckland) and Kyle Zunic (to Keilor). John Rillie remained head coach and retained captain Jesse Wagstaff, Bryce Cotton, Keanu Pinder, Kristian Doolittle, Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris, Ben Henshall and David Okwera, while adding Elijah Pepper (via UC Davis), Next Star Izan Almansa (via G League Ignite) and Dylan Windler (via Atlanta). Michael Harris was elevated from the development roster, with Dontae Russo-Nance and Thomas Gerovich filling the development positions.

Almansa signed a two-year Next Stars deal after withdrawing from the 2024 NBA Draft, following former Overtime Elite teammate Sarr’s path from Perth to the second selection in the NBA Draft. He had previously spent two years in Real Madrid’s Youth Academy before developing at Overtime Elite and playing for G League Ignite, becoming the first Spanish player to join the NBL Next Stars program.

“I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity to play for the Perth Wildcats and be part of the Next Stars program,” Almansa said after agreeing to play with Perth.

“I am really looking forward to getting to Perth and getting to work. I’m looking forward to competing in the NBL and trying to win a championship.”

Izan Almanza is getting it done on both ends 🤯

Watch the Blitz ⤵️
Australia – live on Kayo 📺
International – live on YouTube 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/jSNM0XsRfj— NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) September 12, 2024

Perth opened the season against South East Melbourne during HoopsFest at RAC Arena on September 20, where Almansa (10 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal) made an efficient debut off the bench as the Wildcats won 106-98. Pinder (29 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Cotton (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Perth, while Jordan Hunter (19 points and 7 rebounds) was the Phoenix’s best.

Almansa (7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds across 29 games) shot 52 percent from the field, scored in double figures seven times and earned 13 starts while splitting his minutes between power forward and centre. His role increased when injuries and illness affected Perth’s frontcourt, giving him extended opportunities as a mobile defender, rebounder and finisher around the basket.

Almansa’s best regular-season scoring game came in his first start against Melbourne at John Cain Arena on November 9, where he scored 12 points during the opening quarter and finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks. Doolittle (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Henshall (15 points and 2 steals) helped Perth build a 19-point advantage, but Chris Goulding (46 points) powered Melbourne’s comeback as United won 106-97.

His best game in a victory came against New Zealand at RAC Arena on December 1, where Almansa (17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) made seven of his 12 field-goal attempts as Perth won 123-112. Cotton (59 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 block) broke the Wildcats’ single-game scoring record and Windler (15 points) provided support, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright (34 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) led the Breakers.

Todd Withers (via Warwick; 5.8 points across 14 games) joined as a nominated replacement player during the season as injuries tested Perth’s depth. Cotton (28.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 24 games) led the league in scoring, with Pinder (15.1 points and 6.3 rebounds across 25 games), Doolittle (14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across 24 games), Windler (11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 24 games) and Henshall (9.8 points and 3.1 rebounds across 28 games) forming Perth’s other leading group. Webster (8.3 points across 16 games) and Pepper (7.5 points across 29 games) completed the main rotation. Cotton won his fifth Andrew Gaze Trophy, the Fans’ MVP award, an All-NBL First Team selection and the Gordon Ellis Medal as Perth’s club MVP, while Doolittle received the Players’ Player and Best Defensive Player awards, Henshall was named Most Improved and Michael Harris (1.3 points across 29 games) received the Coaches’ Award.

Perth closed the regular season against Adelaide at RAC Arena on February 7, where Almansa (2 points and 1 block in 8:19 minutes) appeared off the bench as the Wildcats won 112-104. Cotton (49 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Pinder (18 points and 11 rebounds) led Perth, while Kendric Davis (34 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists) was Adelaide’s best as the Wildcats finished third with an 18-11 record.

The postseason opened against South East Melbourne at the Perth High Performance Centre, where Almansa (4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist) contributed in 13:52 minutes as Perth won 122-105. Pinder (35 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks), Cotton (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Doolittle (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Wildcats, while Angus Glover (25 points and 2 steals), Matt Hurt (24 points and 3 steals) and Nathan Sobey (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) were South East Melbourne’s best.

Game one of the semifinals moved to John Cain Arena, where Almansa (0 points in 0:39 minutes) appeared briefly as Pinder (24 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists), Doolittle (22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Cotton (22 points and 6 assists) led Perth. Goulding (41 points), Ian Clark (22 points) and Jack White (13 points and 10 rebounds) carried Melbourne to a 105-93 win.

Facing elimination at RAC Arena, Almansa (2 points and 1 rebound in 5:05 minutes) contributed off the bench as Perth recovered from a 20-point deficit to win game two 96-89. Windler (27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks), Cotton (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Doolittle (17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) drove the comeback, while Goulding (15 points), Matthew Dellavedova (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists) and White (13 points and 6 rebounds) led Melbourne.

Game three returned to John Cain Arena, where Doolittle (37 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Cotton (33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) and Pinder (15 points and 5 rebounds) kept Perth within reach, while Clark (38 points), Goulding (30 points and 4 rebounds), White (15 points and 9 rebounds) and Dellavedova (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists) led Melbourne. Wagstaff (3 points and 4 rebounds) tied the scores with a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining, but Henshall (9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) was called for a foul on Goulding with 0.8 seconds left. Goulding made the first free throw and deliberately missed the second as Melbourne won 113-112 and took the series 2-1, with Almansa (0 points in 2:05 minutes) appearing briefly off the bench.

Izan Almansa — NBL25 Season Highlights (2024/25)

Watch Izan Almansa’s NBL25 highlights on YouTube

Izan Almansa played one season in the NBL. He averaged 6.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 33 NBL games.