NBL1 South MVP and DPOY returns

2022 NBL1 South MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Shea Ili has returned to the Sandringham Sabres for the 2024 season. 

After missing the 2023 season due to concussion precautions, Ili is healthy and ready to return to Sandringham alongside his Melbourne United teammates David Barlow, Tom Koppens, Campbell Blogg and Tanner Krebs.

In 2022, Ili led his Sabres to the South Finals - before missing the campaign with national team duties for the New Zealand Tall Blacks. For the season, he averaged 23 points, 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Shea Ili finding Tori Smith-Milner in the lane ?

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— NBL1 (@NBL1) June 25, 2022

In NBL24, Ili is a frontrunner for the Best Defensive Player award. Leading the league’s best defence and as a result they are sitting first on the ladder, he’s averaging 10.4 points, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals for United this season. 

The NBL1 season starts on March 23, see the full fixture here.

Stay up-to-date with all the latest NBL1 signings via the 2024 Roster Tracker here.