Ayre using NZNBL to Work on Craft before NBL25

After a breakout NBL season with the Phoenix in NBL24, Ben Ayre is enhancing his reputation across the ditch and turning heads after a blazing start with NZNBL side, Wellington.

Currently no player in the league is averaging more minutes than the diminutive guard from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, posting an astonishing 36.9 minutes per game in a tribute to his endurance.

He is also leading his side in assists with 6.8 per game and in a team chock full of playmakers, he is sitting atop the hill as the side’s best.

You just need to watch his behind-the-back dish to Saints’ teammate and new Adelaide 36ers recruit Lat Mayen to see some of the outrageousness Ayre is dishing up.

THE SWAT! THE SLAM! LAT MAYEN! 🤯 🔥 🤩#SalsNBL #RatedE @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/NOqZYwloBO

— Sal’s NBL (@nznbl) April 25, 2024

And while his scoring and passing output is at career high levels, it’s his work on the opposite end that Ayre is looking to hone in on this off-season. 

“I think I’m a good defender but just trying to be more consistent. Pick up the floor and just build and add pressure to other teams as well as getting guys involved and trying to evolve my game,” Ayre told Phoenix Media.

“I want to get back to being that pesty kind of player.”

That ‘pesty’, in-your-face attitude on court was there for everyone to see in NBL24 – Ayre is never one to back down from a confrontation – which makes training in the Heartland all the more anticipated now that the Phoenix have recruited two of the league’s best agitators in Nathan Sobey and Angus Glover.

“I’ve always got into it a little bit with Sobes (Nathan Sobey) and Angus (Glover) as well. So, I know they’re about that life and I’m excited now for them to be on the same side as me and get to compete all year with them.”

“It’s a cool direction the club is going in and I think the main thing is we’re just getting more competitors.

“We just want guys who can come out and compete, play hard and train hard, and I think these guys all do that from what I’ve heard.”

The point guard will continue to play for the Wellington Saints until the end of their season in July before returning to the Heartland to prepare for NBL25.

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