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Shea Ili
Shea Ulima Stephen Ili (born 6 October 1992) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He debuted in the Australian NBL in 2014 with the New Zealand Breakers. He was a member of the Breakers' championship-winning team in 2015 and in 2018 he named the NBL Most Improved Player. He joined Melbourne United in 2019 and in 2021 he won his second NBL championship. He was named NBL Best Sixth Man in 2022 and NBL Best Defensive Player in 2024.
In the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL), Ili has won six championships and earned league MVP in 2018. In the NBL1 South, he won league MVP in 2022.
Ili was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in the suburb of Māngere Bridge. He attended Onehunga High School, where he played basketball and rugby. As a halfback, he progressed to the Auckland under-21 team, but his rugby ambitions were put to aside because of his basketball commitments.
As a youth, Ili competed for Counties Manukau Basketball Association rep teams. In 2011, he was named in the U21 Men's National Championship Tournament Team; in 2013, he was named in the U23 Men's National Championship Tournament Team; and in 2014, he helped Counties Manukau win the U23 Men's National Championship title while being named in the Tournament Team.
In August 2014, Ili joined the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as a development player for the 2014–15 season. A former Breakers Academy player in 2011, Ili was highly rated by the Breakers for his athleticism, work rate and attitude. Ili was an active member of the Breakers roster for eight games during the 2014–15 season and made five appearances. In March 2015, he became a championship-winning player with the Breakers after they defeated the Cairns Taipans in the NBL Grand Final series.
Ili re-joined the Breakers as a development player for the 2015–16 NBL season. He stepped into the backcourt rotation during the pre-season. Ili was given minutes on a regular basis for the Breakers towards the end of the season, including during the playoffs. In 20 games for the Breakers in 2015–16, he averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
On 27 April 2016, Ili signed a full-time contract with the Breakers. A back injury in the lead up to the 2016–17 NBL season saw him miss three months of action. In 17 games, he averaged 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Ili had a breakout start to the 2017–18 NBL season. On 26 October 2017, he scored a career-high 23 points in a 101–96 win over the Brisbane Bullets. For the season, Ili was named the NBL Most Improved Player after averaging 9.2 points, 3.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game.
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Shea Ili
Shea Ulima Stephen Ili (born 6 October 1992) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He debuted in the Australian NBL in 2014 with the New Zealand Breakers. He was a member of the Breakers' championship-winning team in 2015 and in 2018 he named the NBL Most Improved Player. He joined Melbourne United in 2019 and in 2021 he won his second NBL championship. He was named NBL Best Sixth Man in 2022 and NBL Best Defensive Player in 2024.
In the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL), Ili has won six championships and earned league MVP in 2018. In the NBL1 South, he won league MVP in 2022.
Ili was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in the suburb of Māngere Bridge. He attended Onehunga High School, where he played basketball and rugby. As a halfback, he progressed to the Auckland under-21 team, but his rugby ambitions were put to aside because of his basketball commitments.
As a youth, Ili competed for Counties Manukau Basketball Association rep teams. In 2011, he was named in the U21 Men's National Championship Tournament Team; in 2013, he was named in the U23 Men's National Championship Tournament Team; and in 2014, he helped Counties Manukau win the U23 Men's National Championship title while being named in the Tournament Team.
In August 2014, Ili joined the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as a development player for the 2014–15 season. A former Breakers Academy player in 2011, Ili was highly rated by the Breakers for his athleticism, work rate and attitude. Ili was an active member of the Breakers roster for eight games during the 2014–15 season and made five appearances. In March 2015, he became a championship-winning player with the Breakers after they defeated the Cairns Taipans in the NBL Grand Final series.
Ili re-joined the Breakers as a development player for the 2015–16 NBL season. He stepped into the backcourt rotation during the pre-season. Ili was given minutes on a regular basis for the Breakers towards the end of the season, including during the playoffs. In 20 games for the Breakers in 2015–16, he averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
On 27 April 2016, Ili signed a full-time contract with the Breakers. A back injury in the lead up to the 2016–17 NBL season saw him miss three months of action. In 17 games, he averaged 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Ili had a breakout start to the 2017–18 NBL season. On 26 October 2017, he scored a career-high 23 points in a 101–96 win over the Brisbane Bullets. For the season, Ili was named the NBL Most Improved Player after averaging 9.2 points, 3.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game.