BNXT Playoffs: Landstede Hammers Are BNXT League Champions – Thomas and Whitfield Dismantle ZZ Leiden

The Landstede Hammers are BNXT League champions. In a final that looked competitive on paper, the Hammers turned it into a statement, pulling away from ZZ Leiden in the decisive stages to win 90-74. The margin tells a clear story: this was a team that knew exactly how it wanted to win, and executed accordingly.

Whitfield and Thomas Control the Game on Both Ends

The blueprint was straightforward — dominate the glass, punish Leiden inside, and let the perimeter players breathe. Devin Whitfield delivered 20 points and 9 rebounds in just under 31 minutes, combining efficiency with physical presence. But it was Jalen Thomas who may have been the most impactful player on the floor, recording 16 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes. That double-double, achieved with controlled aggression, gave Landstede a structural advantage that Leiden never found an answer to throughout the contest.

Devin Whitfield vs Jalen Thomas — comparaison

Thomas’s Finals MVP award was not simply an honor for statistical accumulation — it was a recognition of how thoroughly he controlled the game’s tempo and its most decisive possessions. Together with Whitfield, he formed a frontcourt tandem that disrupted Leiden’s defensive rotations and secured possession at both ends. In a championship game, rebounding margins often decide outcomes before the final buzzer. Landstede understood that and made it their identity, with Thomas as the driving force.

‘25-‘26 Dutch finals MVP: Jalen Thomas!!🏆🇳🇱@LandstedeBasket #BNXTLeague #DutchChampions pic.twitter.com/LBLJXpqF8x

— BNXT League 🇧🇪🇳🇱 (@BnxtLeague) June 10, 2026

A Balanced Attack That Leiden Could Not Match

What made Landstede particularly difficult to guard was the depth of their offensive contributions. Nelson Haskin added 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in 35 minutes — a quietly complete performance that further stretched Leiden’s interior defense. Erik Sajantila contributed 14 points off a shorter stint, while Boyd Van Der Vuurst de Vries orchestrated efficiently with 12 points and 4 assists, providing the connective tissue between Landstede’s frontcourt dominance and perimeter movement.

Leiden, to their credit, was not without weapons. Sam Huurman led all scorers on the losing side with 18 points, and Roeland Schaftenaar added 17 points and 4 assists in just over 23 minutes — a productive but brief stint that highlighted Leiden’s difficulty sustaining momentum across full rotations. Dimitri Maconda chipped in 16 points, and Lucas Kruithof reached double figures as well. The problem was not individual quality; it was collective cohesion. Leiden’s scoring was fragmented, and Tyreek Scott-Grayson, who could have been a disruptive force with 7 rebounds and 3 assists, was held to only 6 points.

What This Title Means for BNXT Basketball

The BNXT League, which bridges Dutch and Belgian club basketball, has grown in competitive stature since its creation. A championship won with this kind of tactical clarity carries weight beyond the trophy itself. Landstede’s ability to combine interior dominance, balanced scoring, and defensive rebounding represents a model of team construction that stands out in the regional landscape.

For the Hammers, this title validates a roster built around complementary roles rather than a single star. Thomas’s Finals MVP recognition underscores how championships are won through collective excellence, yet they’re often decided by one player’s willingness to dominate both ends of the floor at the moment it matters most.