April 11, 2025 • 9 mins
Tall Black Shea Ili is back playing in New Zealand's National Basketball League for the first time since 2019.
Ili's linked back up with the Wellington Saints, on the back of being named the Australian NBL's defensive player of the year for two seasons in a row at Melbourne United.
He spoke to Adam Cooper about his time across the Tasman, and why he's returned to Wellington for the 2025 NBL.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
From first kicks at the Freezer Park to the Phoenix
at Sky Stadium. We've got him covered on the All
Sport Breakfast with Rutherford and Bonn Toyota and King Toyota
news Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'd be coughters nine here on the All Sport Breakfast.
All the Wellington Saints having a pretty good start to
the NBLS season, top of the table. The latest win
for them coming down south And in Vicargo Thursday night
ninety three seventy two over at the Southland Sharks and
their road trip continues down South, so they've gone slightly
further north to meet the Nuggets in Dunedin this afternoon.
(00:32):
But on a very good news piece for the Saints.
Tall Black Shay Eely is back in Saints' colors this
year on the back of back to back seasons being
named the a NBL's Defensive Player of the Year across
the Tasman. Of course, he's been with Melbourne United for
some years now, but he's back at the Saints for
the first time since twenty nineteen and in his return
(00:53):
against south And the other night, about twenty minutes on court,
he contributed thirteen points, ten assists and five rebounds, so
great to have Shae Eddie back in Saints colors for
this year's campaign and Shae is with us now. Appreciate
you joining us ahead of the game this afternoon. Shae,
thanks so much. And you must be pretty happy with
how things started off for your back in Saints colors
the other night.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Oh yeah, it's good to be feedback with the group.
You know, I haven't played, well, I haven't played for
and a half weeks now, but it's good to get
out there, get the lungs going and yeah, the pretty
solid team effort.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So on the back of A and b L what
was it a planned break to have a couple of
weeks off between campaigns?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Went down with concussion, joined the finals and then you know,
symptoms are still lingering around. So it was good to
actually get some some downtime before we started out with
the same Oh.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Good, yeah, well all the best with any further recovery
needed their shape. Well, we'll tell us about the decision
to come back to the Saints here in Wellington for
twenty twenty five. You haven't been part of the team
since pre COVID back in twenty nineteen, so quite some time.
Things are going very well for you across the ditch.
So why the Saints for this year.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Uh, yeah, it's you know, usually playing the NBL one
back in Melbourne. Yeah, it's just easier to to stay
over there while my kids attend school. But with Asia
Cup happening at the end of the towards the end
of the years, you know, the NBL here finishes just
before then and the NBL one in Australia goes on
(02:30):
past that date and you know it runs past the
Asia Cup. So yeah, it's just it was best for
me to to come back to the Saints. And there's
other offers from different teams, but you know, my connection
with Jordan's you know, Yeah, I've played here for four
seasons and it's good to good to be here, and
(02:50):
you know I always tell them that there's no other
place like like one instance, so and I always come
back and play for him, and yeah, I'm now found
myself back here and uh since five years ago, and
yeah it's good to be back and try another championship.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And we know the form you're in and at the
last couple of years for the Melbourne United have been
the best of your career. So linking up with the
Saints roster. There's a lot of different players at different levels,
with different backgrounds. How can you best contribute to the team,
do you think in the New Zealand NBLVIS.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Year, Ah, Yeah, I just you know, I bring the
energy defensively, and I feel like I can help us
on that side of the floor, and you know, and
then my job on the other side of the floor
is to kind of facilitate and make plays. And you know,
we have the talent to make shots, so you know
it's my job to get in the pain and distribute
to the boys so they can execute their shots.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And from what you experienced in your first game back
down at the Cargoll on Thursday night and the big winning,
you're happy with how you fit it into the roster.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah, for sure. I was just out there to kind
of make plays, and you know, the boys were able
to make shots, and you know, if we can play
fast and get out and run, you know, I feel
like no one can kind of stay with us. And
you know, defensively, we have the talent to stop any
team in the league. So you know, it's just a
matter of us staying locked in and executing uskut.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Shay early with us here on the All Sports Breakfast
this morning. Who's back at the Wellington Saints but twice
named Australian National Basketball League Defensive Player of the Year
the past two seasons at Melbourne United. Shaye, How proud
have you been of your performances over these last couple
of years at Melbourne?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
For sure? You know, I put myself on the defensive
end and to be able to be given that that
that award is you know, credit to all the coaches
that trusted me and you know, do know, you know,
He's a massive influence of my career and you know,
to be able to trust me and go out there
and guard the best player on the other team is
(04:57):
you know, it gives me confidence to guard there and
do what I do best. And yeah, my teammates give
me their confidence as well. And yeah, I kind of
found a found a home in Malbourne and you know,
I've been there for the last five years, and yeah,
it's a great place for my stuff and my family,
and yeah, Havy to have it to have they have
(05:17):
had the career I have done out there.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah great. And you talk about Dean Vickerman, there are
a lot of ki We fans will be familiar with
him from his time at the Breakers. Very well respected
coach and you're obviously playing for the Breakers at that
time too, So I figure like him, you say, can
single handedly get the best out of a player like you.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
For sure. I feel like he, you know, gives their
confidence to everyone. Uh, he's a he's a coach that
you know, lets you play it on the on the
offensive end, and you know, take your shots and there's
no no such thing as a bad shot if it's
a good shot for yourself under Dino. But as long
as you're playing hard on the other end and giving
the effort on the defensive end, you know, he doesn't
(05:59):
really mind and what shots you take.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And you've been there for a number of seasons now, Shay.
But when you moved over in twenty nineteen, how hard
was it leaving behind New Zealand heading to a different
country and obviously I'm sure a completely new environment that
then what you'd had been used to up to that point.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, it was tough. You know, I thought I'd you know,
play my career out at the Breakers, and you know,
things didn't go that way. You know, things changed at
the Breakers, and uh, you know it's time for me
to leave and go elsewhere, and dinner was on the
other side of that, and was happy, happy to take
me on when you found out that I wanted to
(06:37):
buy buy myself up on the Breakers, but yeah, malcomed
me with open arms as well as the organization. And
you know, I've never looked back and I've yeah been
there for five years and just extended for another too,
So yeah, happy to be out there and you know,
compete against the guys that you know, grown up playing against,
(06:57):
and you know, all the Qubi boys have been it
out throughout the league, so it's pretty cool to see
familiar faces, even though I'm over the ditch.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
And speaking of familiar faces, her view, enjoyed looking back
up with the most and Saints colors these last couple
of weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Uh, yeah, we got home.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
They you know, we've been pretty close stout the seasons
and every time we you know, the home placed birth
and they was at the Sydney King so would always
link up after games every time we played each other,
as well as Roofs. Well, Roofs is in here. But
it's always good catching all those boys.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
And it's been a six year gap between your time
and the ends at NBL as well. I mean that
we know now the TV coverage is a lot stronger,
there's a lot more money being pumped into the league.
How different is this league now to win you were
last part of it.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Yeah, just the younger boys, you know, get more of
an opportunity with the Rapid League, and it's good to
see that. You know, they're willing to develop the young guys.
And yeah, it just shows when they when they get
on the court in the in the actual NBL game,
that you know they're still confident in their abilities after
you know, playing free in the Rapid League and being
(08:10):
able to play a role in the in the next level.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
And after a great win against South and the Saints
are on a role now top of the table, few
wins on the bounce and you're into need and today
meeting Otago this afternoon. Who are three from six? So
what game are you kind of expecting down the other
s afterday?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
They're a fast paced team. You know, they have a
few players, but most of their their offenses you know,
running gun and we just got to we just got
to be able to you know, maintain their speed and uh,
you know, get stopped and you know we can we
can do that on the defensive end, we have the
ability to stop teams and we just got to be
able to get us go and then go the other
(08:49):
way well.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So it's great to have you back in Saints' colors.
Looking forward to seeing you back at tesB Arena soon
as well. But all the best for that game down
south today and thanks so much for chatting.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Yes, thanks for more from News Talk st B. Listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
From first kicks at the Freezer Park to the Phoenix
at Sky Stadium. We've got him covered on the All
Sport Breakfast with Rutherford and Bonn Toyota and King Toyota
news Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'd be coughters nine here on the All Sport Breakfast.
All the Wellington Saints having a pretty good start to
the NBLS season, top of the table. The latest win
for them coming down south And in Vicargo Thursday night
ninety three seventy two over at the Southland Sharks and
their road trip continues down South, so they've gone slightly
further north to meet the Nuggets in Dunedin this afternoon.
(00:32):
But on a very good news piece for the Saints.
Tall Black Shay Eely is back in Saints' colors this
year on the back of back to back seasons being
named the a NBL's Defensive Player of the Year across
the Tasman. Of course, he's been with Melbourne United for
some years now, but he's back at the Saints for
the first time since twenty nineteen and in his return
(00:53):
against south And the other night, about twenty minutes on court,
he contributed thirteen points, ten assists and five rebounds, so
great to have Shae Eddie back in Saints colors for
this year's campaign and Shae is with us now. Appreciate
you joining us ahead of the game this afternoon. Shae,
thanks so much. And you must be pretty happy with
how things started off for your back in Saints colors
the other night.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Oh yeah, it's good to be feedback with the group.
You know, I haven't played, well, I haven't played for
and a half weeks now, but it's good to get
out there, get the lungs going and yeah, the pretty
solid team effort.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So on the back of A and b L what
was it a planned break to have a couple of
weeks off between campaigns?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Went down with concussion, joined the finals and then you know,
symptoms are still lingering around. So it was good to
actually get some some downtime before we started out with
the same Oh.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Good, yeah, well all the best with any further recovery
needed their shape. Well, we'll tell us about the decision
to come back to the Saints here in Wellington for
twenty twenty five. You haven't been part of the team
since pre COVID back in twenty nineteen, so quite some time.
Things are going very well for you across the ditch.
So why the Saints for this year.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Uh, yeah, it's you know, usually playing the NBL one
back in Melbourne. Yeah, it's just easier to to stay
over there while my kids attend school. But with Asia
Cup happening at the end of the towards the end
of the years, you know, the NBL here finishes just
before then and the NBL one in Australia goes on
(02:30):
past that date and you know it runs past the
Asia Cup. So yeah, it's just it was best for
me to to come back to the Saints. And there's
other offers from different teams, but you know, my connection
with Jordan's you know, Yeah, I've played here for four
seasons and it's good to good to be here, and
(02:50):
you know I always tell them that there's no other
place like like one instance, so and I always come
back and play for him, and yeah, I'm now found
myself back here and uh since five years ago, and
yeah it's good to be back and try another championship.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And we know the form you're in and at the
last couple of years for the Melbourne United have been
the best of your career. So linking up with the
Saints roster. There's a lot of different players at different levels,
with different backgrounds. How can you best contribute to the team,
do you think in the New Zealand NBLVIS.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Year, Ah, Yeah, I just you know, I bring the
energy defensively, and I feel like I can help us
on that side of the floor, and you know, and
then my job on the other side of the floor
is to kind of facilitate and make plays. And you know,
we have the talent to make shots, so you know
it's my job to get in the pain and distribute
to the boys so they can execute their shots.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And from what you experienced in your first game back
down at the Cargoll on Thursday night and the big winning,
you're happy with how you fit it into the roster.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah, for sure. I was just out there to kind
of make plays, and you know, the boys were able
to make shots, and you know, if we can play
fast and get out and run, you know, I feel
like no one can kind of stay with us. And
you know, defensively, we have the talent to stop any
team in the league. So you know, it's just a
matter of us staying locked in and executing uskut.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Shay early with us here on the All Sports Breakfast
this morning. Who's back at the Wellington Saints but twice
named Australian National Basketball League Defensive Player of the Year
the past two seasons at Melbourne United. Shaye, How proud
have you been of your performances over these last couple
of years at Melbourne?
Speaker 3 (04:35):
For sure? You know, I put myself on the defensive
end and to be able to be given that that
that award is you know, credit to all the coaches
that trusted me and you know, do know, you know,
He's a massive influence of my career and you know,
to be able to trust me and go out there
and guard the best player on the other team is
(04:57):
you know, it gives me confidence to guard there and
do what I do best. And yeah, my teammates give
me their confidence as well. And yeah, I kind of
found a found a home in Malbourne and you know,
I've been there for the last five years, and yeah,
it's a great place for my stuff and my family,
and yeah, Havy to have it to have they have
(05:17):
had the career I have done out there.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah great. And you talk about Dean Vickerman, there are
a lot of ki We fans will be familiar with
him from his time at the Breakers. Very well respected
coach and you're obviously playing for the Breakers at that
time too, So I figure like him, you say, can
single handedly get the best out of a player like you.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
For sure. I feel like he, you know, gives their
confidence to everyone. Uh, he's a he's a coach that
you know, lets you play it on the on the
offensive end, and you know, take your shots and there's
no no such thing as a bad shot if it's
a good shot for yourself under Dino. But as long
as you're playing hard on the other end and giving
the effort on the defensive end, you know, he doesn't
(05:59):
really mind and what shots you take.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And you've been there for a number of seasons now, Shay.
But when you moved over in twenty nineteen, how hard
was it leaving behind New Zealand heading to a different
country and obviously I'm sure a completely new environment that
then what you'd had been used to up to that point.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, it was tough. You know, I thought I'd you know,
play my career out at the Breakers, and you know,
things didn't go that way. You know, things changed at
the Breakers, and uh, you know it's time for me
to leave and go elsewhere, and dinner was on the
other side of that, and was happy, happy to take
me on when you found out that I wanted to
(06:37):
buy buy myself up on the Breakers, but yeah, malcomed
me with open arms as well as the organization. And
you know, I've never looked back and I've yeah been
there for five years and just extended for another too,
So yeah, happy to be out there and you know,
compete against the guys that you know, grown up playing against,
(06:57):
and you know, all the Qubi boys have been it
out throughout the league, so it's pretty cool to see
familiar faces, even though I'm over the ditch.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
And speaking of familiar faces, her view, enjoyed looking back
up with the most and Saints colors these last couple
of weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Uh, yeah, we got home.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
They you know, we've been pretty close stout the seasons
and every time we you know, the home placed birth
and they was at the Sydney King so would always
link up after games every time we played each other,
as well as Roofs. Well, Roofs is in here. But
it's always good catching all those boys.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
And it's been a six year gap between your time
and the ends at NBL as well. I mean that
we know now the TV coverage is a lot stronger,
there's a lot more money being pumped into the league.
How different is this league now to win you were
last part of it.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Yeah, just the younger boys, you know, get more of
an opportunity with the Rapid League, and it's good to
see that. You know, they're willing to develop the young guys.
And yeah, it just shows when they when they get
on the court in the in the actual NBL game,
that you know they're still confident in their abilities after
you know, playing free in the Rapid League and being
(08:10):
able to play a role in the in the next level.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
And after a great win against South and the Saints
are on a role now top of the table, few
wins on the bounce and you're into need and today
meeting Otago this afternoon. Who are three from six? So
what game are you kind of expecting down the other
s afterday?
Speaker 3 (08:27):
They're a fast paced team. You know, they have a
few players, but most of their their offenses you know,
running gun and we just got to we just got
to be able to you know, maintain their speed and uh,
you know, get stopped and you know we can we
can do that on the defensive end, we have the
ability to stop teams and we just got to be
able to get us go and then go the other
(08:49):
way well.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So it's great to have you back in Saints' colors.
Looking forward to seeing you back at tesB Arena soon
as well. But all the best for that game down
south today and thanks so much for chatting.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Yes, thanks for more from News Talk st B. Listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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