The Auckland Tuatara have confirmed their first import for the upcoming Sal’s NBL season with the signing of American guard Charles Pride.
It will be the 25-year-old Pride’s first professional contract after a stellar college career at St Bonaventure and the Bryant Bulldogs.
During that time, he was a career 45% shooter from the floor while twice shooting better than 40% from three-point range.
The native of Syracuse, New York signed with the Charlotte Hornets in 2025 California and Las Vegas Summer Leagues and was a second-round pick of the Austin Spurs in the G-League Draft.
He comes highly recommended with legendary NBA reporter Adrian “Woj” Wojnarowski giving his personal endorsement, having reached out to Tuatara coach Cam Gliddon to encourage the signing.
Wojnarowski, famous for breaking the biggest stories and latest trades in the NBA over the past decade or more, has become the general manager of St Bonaventure University Bonnies and worked with Pride.
“Charles Pride is among the finest young people I’ve come across in basketball in a long time – relentlessly competitive and endlessly empathetic,” Wojnarowski said.
“He will make the big shots, the right passes, dive on the floor for loose balls and be more excited for his teammates’ successes than his own.
“Auckland Tuatara has a winner in Charles Pride – and all of us at St Bonaventure have a new team to root for in New Zealand.”
Pride joins a Tuatara roster that includes Tall Black stars Rob Loe, Tom Vodanovich and Dan Fotu as well as talented young North Shore locals Dylan Wilkie and Josh Wyllie.
More signings are due to be announced in the coming weeks.