Shea Ili was born on 6 October 1992 and is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Wellington Saints of the New Zealand National Basketball League.
46 Facts About Shea Ili
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Shea Ili is contracted with Melbourne United of the Australian National Basketball League.
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Shea Ili debuted in the Australian NBL in 2014 with the New Zealand Breakers.
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Shea Ili was a member of the Breakers' championship-winning team in 2015 and in 2018 he named the NBL Most Improved Player.
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Shea Ili joined Melbourne United in 2019 and in 2021 he won his second NBL championship.
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Shea Ili was named NBL Best Sixth Man in 2022 and NBL Best Defensive Player in 2024.
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Shea Ili was born in Auckland and raised in the suburb of Mangere Bridge.
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Shea Ili attended Onehunga High School, where he played basketball and rugby.
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Shea Ili stepped into the backcourt rotation during the pre-season.
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Shea Ili was given minutes on a regular basis for the Breakers towards the end of the season, including during the playoffs.
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On 27 April 2016, Shea Ili signed a full-time contract with the Breakers.
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On 22 March 2018, Shea Ili re-signed with the Breakers on a two-year deal.
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In 27 games, Shea Ili averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
14.
On 19 June 2019, Shea Ili requested a release from the final year of his contract with the Breakers in order to pursue more minutes at another NBL club.
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On 20 June 2019, Shea Ili signed a two-year deal with Melbourne United.
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Shea Ili missed the majority of February 2021 with a left ankle injury.
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On 27 June 2021, Shea Ili re-signed with United on a two-year deal.
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On 26 July 2022, Shea Ili signed a two-year contract extension with United.
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Shea Ili went on to earn NBL Best Defensive Player honours for the second straight year.
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Shea Ili helped United reach the grand final series, where in game two against the Illawarra Hawks, he suffered a head knock during the second quarter and missed the second half of the game.
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Shea Ili was ruled out of game three and game four due to concussion protocols.
22.
On 7 April 2025, Shea Ili re-signed with United on a two-year deal.
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Shea Ili made his debut in the New Zealand National Basketball League in 2012 with the championship-winning Auckland Pirates.
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Shea Ili joined the Super City Rangers for the 2013 season and was one of their standouts despite them winning just two games.
25.
Shea Ili pleaded guilty to two charges: common assault and assault with intent to injure.
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Shea Ili received a four-month sentence of community detention and was ordered to pay reparation of $750 to one victim and $500 to the other.
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Shea Ili appeared in all 20 games for the Sharks in 2015, averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
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Shea Ili appeared in 19 games for the Saints in 2016, averaging career highs in points and assists, to go with 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals.
29.
Shea Ili missed one game during the season to attend his own wedding.
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Shea Ili had a pass-first approach but had greatly improved his shooting over the previous 12 months.
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Shea Ili went on to earn Player of the Week honours for rounds five and seven.
32.
Shea Ili re-joined the Saints for the 2019 season and quickly cemented himself as an MVP favourite.
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In 2021, Shea Ili had a three-game stint with the Geelong Supercats of the NBL1 South.
34.
Shea Ili joined the Sandringham Sabres of the NBL1 South for the 2022 season and won league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.
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However, in January 2025, Shea Ili signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2025 New Zealand NBL season.
36.
In June 2015, Shea Ili was named in a 22-man Tall Blacks squad to trial and be considered for selection for the Oceania Series against Australia in August.
37.
In July 2016, Shea Ili competed for New Zealand at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila.
38.
On 12 July 2017, Shea Ili was invited to a six-day Tall Blacks camp in Auckland, ahead of a final 12-man roster being named to travel to the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon, via preparation matches in China.
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Shea Ili went on to average a team-high 15.5 points, 5.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds for the Tall Blacks during the FIBA Asia Cup, and was named to the tournament's All-Star Five.
40.
The Tall Blacks finished the tournament in fourth place after losing to South Korea in the bronze medal game; Shea Ili missed the game after splitting the webbing on his hand during the semi-final defeat to Australia.
41.
In November 2017 and February 2018, Shea Ili represented the Tall Blacks during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
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Shea Ili helped the Tall Blacks win bronze at the Commonwealth Games.
43.
Shea Ili played at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and took part in qualifiers in 2021 and 2022.
44.
In July 2023, Shea Ili was named in the Tall Blacks squad for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
45.
Shea Ili's older brother, Stacey, is a professional rugby union player.
46.
In March 2016, Shea Ili married Morgan Roberts, a former Oregon Tech University basketball scholarship holder.