Shea Ili (born 6 October 1992) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the National Basketball League (NBL). Ili was raised in Māngere Bridge, playing his basketball at Onehunga High School and appearing for Counties Manukau in rep teams before appearing in the New Zealand NBL with the Auckland Pirates in 2012. In 2014, he joined the New Zealand Breakers as a development player. That season, he was a member of the Breakers' championship-winning team. In 2016, he was elevated to the Breakers' full-time roster, and in February 2018, he was named the NBL Most Improved Player for the 2017–18 season.
In 2015, Ili helped the Southland Sharks win the New Zealand NBL championship before joining the Wellington Saints in 2016 and earning Most Outstanding Kiwi Guard honours. He also garnered his second straight championship. He re-joined the Saints in 2017, and behind a Finals MVP performance, guided the Saints to another championship to garner a personal three-peat. In 2018, he won the New Zealand NBL Most Valuable Player Award and guided the Saints to a fourth straight grand final appearance.
In 2019, Ili made the switch from the Breakers to Melbourne United. With the Saints that same year, he won his fifth New Zealand NBL championship. In 2021, he won his second Australian NBL championship as a member of Melbourne United.
Early life and career
Ili was born in Auckland and raised in the suburb of Māngere 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 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.
Professional career
Early years in the NZNBL (2012–2014) 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.
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 Breakers and continued uprise in the NZNBL (2014–2019)
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.