Tohi Smith-Milner

Tohi Smith-Milner
No. 18 – Brisbane Bullets
PositionPower forward
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1995-10-06) 6 October 1995 (age 29)
Auckland, New Zealand
Listed height205 cm (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight117 kg (258 lb)
Career information
High schoolRosmini College
(Auckland, New Zealand)
CollegePolk State (2014–2015)
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012Auckland Pirates
2013–2015Super City Rangers
2015–2020Melbourne United
2016Sandringham Sabres
2017Canterbury Rams
2017Frankston Blues
2018Nelson Giants
2019Kilsyth Cobras
2020Auckland Huskies
2021Wellington Saints
2021–2023South East Melbourne Phoenix
2022Sandringham Sabres
2023–2024Wellington Saints
2023–2024Adelaide 36ers
2024–presentBrisbane Bullets
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  New Zealand
FIBA Asia Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Jakarta
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Gold Coast Team

Tohiraukura Makaere Smith-Milner (born 6 October 1995) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He has previously played in the Australian NBL for Melbourne United, South East Melbourne Phoenix and Adelaide 36ers, and has represented the New Zealand Tall Blacks.

Early life

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Smith-Milner was born and raised in Auckland,[1] where he attended Rosmini College and played junior basketball for Waitakere.[2]

Professional career

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NZNBL and Australian state leagues

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Smith-Milner started his professional career in 2012 with the championship-winning Auckland Pirates in the New Zealand NBL. He joined the Super City Rangers in 2013 but did not play, going on to make his debut for the Rangers 2014 and averaging 12.7 points per game.[3]

After a season in the United States playing college basketball for Polk State College in 2014–15,[4] Smith-Milner re-joined the Rangers for the 2015 season.[3]

In 2016, Smith-Milner played for the Sandringham Sabres in the SEABL. In 2017, he played for both the Canterbury Rams in the New Zealand NBL and the Frankston Blues in the SEABL. He played for the Nelson Giants in the New Zealand NBL in 2018 and the Kilsyth Cobras in the NBL1 in 2019.[5] He played for the Auckland Huskies in 2020,[6] the Wellington Saints in 2021,[7] and the Sandringham Sabres in 2022.[8]

Smith-Milner joined the Wellington Saints in 2023.[9] He re-joined the Saints in 2024.[10]

Australian NBL

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In 2015, Smith-Milner joined Melbourne United of the Australian NBL. He spent three seasons as a development player before signing a full-time contract in 2018.[11][12] He spent two seasons with United as a fully contracted player.[13]

On 13 August 2021, Smith-Milner signed a two-year deal with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, with the second year being a Club Option.[14]

On 26 August 2023, Smith-Milner signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the 2023–24 NBL season.[15]

On 19 April 2024, Smith-Milner signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets.[16] In November 2024, he played his 150th NBL game.[17]

National team career

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Smith-Milner played for the New Zealand Tall Blacks in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon, where he averaged 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds.[18] The following year, he was a member of the bronze-medal winning Tall Blacks squad at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[5] In 2019, he played in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, where he averaged 5.2 points and 2.8 rebounds.[19]

In July 2022, Smith-Milner helped New Zealand win bronze at the FIBA Asia Cup. He was subsequently named to the All-Star Five.[20]

In July 2023, Smith-Milner was named in the Tall Blacks squad for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.[21]

Personal life

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Smith-Milner and his partner Hana had their first child in November 2024.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Tohiraukura Smith-Milner". fiba.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Tohi Smith-Milner". nz.basketball. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Player statistics for Tohi Smith-Milner". NZNBL. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Tohiraukura Smith-Milner". polkeagles.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b "TALL BLACK TOHI SMITH-MILNER SIGNS WITH COBRAS". kilsythbasketball.com. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Auckland Huskies Draft Tohi-Smith Milner". aucklandhuskies.co.nz. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Tohi Smith-Milner locked in for 2021". saints.co.nz. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Tohiraukura Smith-Milner". nbl1.com.au. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Tohi Smith-Milner Returns for 2023". saints.co.nz. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Tohi Smith-Milner Returns for 2024". saints.co.nz. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Smith-Milner elevated to contracted playing roster". melbourneutd.com. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Tohi Smith-Milner is UNITED!". melbourneutd.com. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Tohi Smith-Milner". realgm.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Smith-Milner Signs in South East Melbourne". NBL.com.au. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  15. ^ "36ers signs big man Tohi Smith-Milner". adelaide36ers.com. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Brisbane adds championship-winning big". NBL.com.au. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b "New dad Tohi reaches 150 NBL games". Brisbane Bullets | Official NBL Website. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Tohi SMITH-MILNER". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  19. ^ "Tohi SMITH-MILNER". fiba.basketball. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  20. ^ "TALL BLACKS DISPATCH JORDAN TO CLAIM BRONZE AT FIBA ASIA CUP". nz.basketball. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  21. ^ "TALL BLACKS SQUAD OF 14 NAMED FOR WORLD CUP PREP TOUR". nz.basketball. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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