Shea Ili

Ili was born in Auckland and raised in the suburb of Mangere Bridge. He attended Onehunga High School, where he was not only a member of the basketball team, but was also a talented rugby player. 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 Mens National Championship Tournament Team; in 2013, he was named in the U23 Mens National Championship Tournament Team; and in 2014, he helped Counties Manukau win the U23 Mens National Championship title while being named in the Tournament Team.

Early years in the NZNBL (2012–2013)

Ili made his debut in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) as a 19-year-old with the Auckland Pirates in 2012. He appeared in four games for the Pirates that year and was a member of their championship-winning squad. The Pirates folded following the 2012 season, which resulted in Ili joining the Super City Rangers for the 2013 season. He was one of the Rangers' standouts in 2013 despite them just winning just two games. He appeared in 15 games for the Rangers that year, averaging 10.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Marred stint with the Southland Sharks (2014)

In December 2013, Ili made the move down south as he signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2014 season. The lure of playing alongside experienced guards Luke Martin and Kevin Braswell at the Sharks was enough for Ili to put pen to paper. It took some time for Ili to adjust to the quieter lifestyle of Invercargill, and he said his main focus during his time in the south was to work hard and get better. However, he appeared in just 10 games for the Sharks in 2014 after he was suspended indefinitely by the team in late May following a fight outside a bar in New Plymouth that he and teammates Reuben Te Rangi and Leon Henry were involved in. The trio were stood down by the team for the second half of the season, and in June, all three pleaded guilty to attacking bar staff. Ili pleaded guilty to two charges: common assault and assault with intent to injure. In August, Henry and Ili agreed to carry out clinics in Taranaki to assist young basketballers, to help make good the damage they caused to the community. Neither wanted a discharge without conviction. 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.

New Zealand Breaker and continued uprise in the NZNBL (2014–present)

First season with the Breakers (2014–15)

Despite a tumultuous three months for Ili, on 15 August 2014, he was announced as a development player signing by the New Zealand Breakers for the 2014–15 NBL season. A former Breakers Academy player in 2011, Ili was highly rated by the Breakers for his athleticism, work rate and attitude. Three months later, on 24 November 2014, Ili re-signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2015 season. Keen to make amends, Ili welcomed a return to Southland. Southland Sharks general manager Jill Bolger acknowledged that the off-field incident was a blow to the franchise but was still keen to have Ili back in 2015.

Ili was an active member of the Breakers roster for eight games during the 2014–15 season and made five appearances. On 8 March 2015, he became a championship-winning player with the Breakers after they defeated the Cairns Taipans in Game 2 of the NBL Grand Final series, thus sweeping the best-of-three series.

Second season with the Sharks (2015)

With the Southland Sharks in 2015, Ili began to demonstrate his athletic prowess. His energy and growing skill set complemented the talents of teammates Todd Blanchfield, Kevin Braswell and Tai Wesley. Sharks coach Paul Henare made it clear that Ili starting to stamp his mark on the New Zealand competition was no fluke considering his work ethic, which included his time working with the Breakers during the 2014–15 Australian NBL season. On 19 June 2015, Ili scored a career-high 24 points off the bench in a 101–91 win over the Manawatu Jets. The Sharks dominated the league in 2015, finishing the regular season on a 14-game win streak to claim their first minor premiership with a 15–3 record. The Sharks won through to the NZNBL Grand Final, where they defeated the Wellington Saints 72–68 to win their second championship in three years. Ili appeared in all 20 games for the Sharks in 2015, averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

Second season with the Breakers (2015–16)

Heading into the 2015–16 NBL season, the Breakers were without star guard Corey Webster, who was in the United States chasing an NBA contract. As a result, Ili, a designated development player, stepped into the backcourt rotation where hopes were high the 22-year-old could transform his aggression and athleticism into something effective at NBL level. 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.

First season with the Saints (2016)

On 25 February 2016, Ili signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2016 season, joining Tai Wesley in a move up north. On 22 May 2016, Ili scored a career-high 28 points in the Saints' 78–75 loss to the Southland Sharks. Six days later, Ili was the best performer for the Saints in their 96–83 win over the Nelson Giants, scoring a game-high 25 points in another promising showing. The Saints finished the regular season in second place with a 13–5 record, and won through to the NZNBL Grand Final, where they defeated the Super City Rangers 94–82. Ili appeared in 19 games for the Saints in 2016, averaging career highs in points (14.8) and assists (5.5), to go with 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals. He missed one game during the season to attend his own wedding. He was honoured at the season's end with the John Macdonald Trophy for being named the Most Outstanding Kiwi Guard.

Third season with the Breakers (2016–17)

On 27 April 2016, Ili signed a full-time contract with the Breakers. However, he was an early casualty as the Breakers launched their pre-season due to a stress fracture in his back that ruled him out for at least six weeks. Ili picked up the injury while playing for the Saints, though played a full part in the Tall Blacks' Olympic qualifying programme. Only after commencing preparations for the new Australian NBL season was the full extent of the problem discovered. The Breakers wasted no time bringing in a short-term replacement for Ili, with Australian Isaih Tueta joining the squad in mid-September ahead of the 2016–17 NBL season. After spending three months on the sidelines, Ili was reactivated in late November and made his debut as a fully contracted roster player in Cairns against the Taipans. After making the grand final in 2016, the Breakers missed the playoffs in 2017 with a 14–14 record. Ili appeared in 17 games for the Breakers in 2016–17, averaging 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

Second season with the Saints (2017)

Ili returned to the Saints in 2017 for another run at a title. He was a dominate force in his second season as a Saint, highlighted by his pass-first nature to his free-scoring teammates. On 6 April 2017, Ili didn't put a shot up from the field in his side's 100–87 win over the Taranaki Mountainairs, scoring one point from a free-throw in 19 minutes, but he managed 10 assists and turned the ball over just once. With characteristic humbleness, Ili said after the game that his job was made a lot easier by the talented players around him, such as his backcourt starting partner Corey Webster. Throughout April, Ili continued his maturation into the league's best local point guard. On 17 April, he had 22 points and 15 assists in a 102–79 win over the Canterbury Rams. Eight days later, he had 27 points, 10 assists and six steals in a 110–84 win over the Nelson Giants. On 19 May, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 109–94 win over the Southland Sharks. He guided the Saints to a perfect 18–0 regular season and helped them earn to another grand final appearance. In the NZNBL championship decider on 17 June, Ili set a new career high with 31 points in the Saints' 108–75 rout of the Sharks. The win saw the Saints collect their 10th NBL Championship, with Ili winning his third straight NZNBL title. The Saints became the first team to complete an unbeaten season, capping off a perfect 20–0 campaign with their grand final win over Southland. Ili's 31-point effort earned him Finals MVP honours. He also picked up All-Star Five honours in the end-of-season awards. For the season, he averaged career highs with 16.1 points, 6.5 assists and 2.3 steals, to go with 4.2 rebounds while appearing in all 20 games.

In June 2015, 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. A month later, he was named in the final squad ahead of the team's European tour, going on to play in Game 2 of New Zealand's Oceania Series against Australia.

In July 2016, Ili competed for New Zealand at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila. Over the three games they played, Ili averaged 3.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Unbeknownst to Ili, he picked up a stress fracture in his back during the 2016 New Zealand NBL season, and played through it on the Tall Blacks' tour through China, Europe and the Philippines. It was only while preparing for his first season as a full roster player with the New Zealand Breakers that he discovered the seriousness of his tight back.

On 12 July 2017, 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. 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 subsequently named to the tournament's All-Star Five. The Tall Blacks finished the tournament in fourth place after losing to South Korea in the bronze medal game; Ili missed the game after splitting the webbing on his hand during the semi-final defeat to Australia.

Ili's older brother, Stacey, is a professional rugby union player.

In March 2016, Ili married Morgan Roberts. Roberts currently attends Oregon Tech University on a basketball scholarship. In 2015, she earned a Tall Ferns trial after eye-catching performances for the North Harbour Under 23 and Harbour Breeze WBC teams.