Sam Timmins

Samuel Timmins (born 23 May 1997) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Otago Nuggets of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Washington Huskies. In 2022, he helped the Nuggets win the championship.

This article is about the New Zealand basketball player. For other people with a similar name, see Samuel Timmins (disambiguation).

Sam Timmins
Timmins in February 2018
No. 33 – Otago Nuggets
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueNZNBL
Personal information
Born (1997-05-23) 23 May 1997
Dunedin, New Zealand
Listed height211 cm (6 ft 11 in)
Listed weight120 kg (265 lb)
Career information
High school
CollegeWashington (2016–2020)
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013Otago Nuggets
2015Canterbury Rams
2020Franklin Bulls
2020–2021Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ
2021–presentOtago Nuggets
2021–2023New Zealand Breakers
2023–presentSydney Kings
Career highlights and awards
Medals
FIBA Asia Cup
Bronze medal – third place2022 Jakarta

Early life and career

Born in Dunedin, Otago, Timmins moved to Southland as a youth and lived there while his father played for the Southland Stags rugby union team.[1] He was heavily involved in rugby until he was 12 years old, playing as a lock and Number 8 for the Kaikorai club. He also played social basketball, but only began to take the game seriously after he and his family moved back to Dunedin, where he attended Otago Boys' High School.[2]

In 2013, Timmins joined the Otago Nuggets and made his NZNBL debut. At age 15, he became the youngest debutant in Nuggets history.[3] A stress fracture in his back sidelined him for the entire 2014 season.[4] That year, he led Otago Boys' High School to the National Schools Championship and was named tournament MVP.[4] He also helped the Junior Tall Blacks come within three points of winning the Under-18 Oceania Championship final.[5]

In January 2015, following the collapse of the Otago Nuggets, Timmins moved to Christchurch to play for the Canterbury Rams and attend Middleton Grange School.[5] In his debut for the Rams, he had 20 points and nine rebounds.[6] In 16 games during the 2015 season, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.[7]

College career

On 29 April 2015, Timmins signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the Washington Huskies in 2016–17.[8][9] He joined the Huskies in December 2015 and practiced and traveled with the team for the remainder of the 2015–16 season.[10]

As a freshman in 2016–17, Timmins saw action in 31 games including 18 starts and averaged 3.2 points and 3.8 rebounds while adding 20 blocks and shooting 48.9 percent from the field. He had a season-high 12 rebounds on two occasions, with his season high in points being 11.[11]

As a sophomore in 2017–18, Timmins started in all 34 games and averaged 4.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He set a career high during the season with 13 points against Kennesaw State.[12]

As a junior in 2018–19, Timmins competed in all 36 games while shooting 62.0 percent from the field (31-50) and averaging 1.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. His minutes dropped from 18.0 per game as a sophomore to 10.4 per game as a junior.[13] He had a season-high nine points against UCLA, and had a season-best seven rebounds against Utah while also recording a career high-tying four blocks.[12]

As a senior in 2019–20, Timmins averaged a career-low 7.9 minutes per game to go with 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 31 games.[13]

Professional career

On 18 March 2020, Timmins signed with the Franklin Bulls for the 2020 New Zealand NBL season.[14] On 2 July 2020, he recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds in an 85–79 win over the Otago Nuggets.[15][16] He led the league in blocked shots with 1.9 per game.[17]

On 18 December 2020, Timmins signed in Estonia with Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ of the Korvpalli Meistriliiga and Baltic Basketball League.[18] In six games, he averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.[19] After returning to New Zealand, he joined the Otago Nuggets for the 2021 New Zealand NBL season.[20] On 15 May, he recorded 29 points and 25 rebounds in a 92–85 overtime win over the Manawatu Jets.[21] On 10 June, he recorded 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists in a 95–82 win over the Canterbury Rams.[22]

On 30 June 2021, Timmins signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) on a one-year development contract, with a club option for a second year.[23][24] On 15 April 2022, he was elevated to the full roster following the departure of Yanni Wetzell.[25] In 15 games during the 2021–22 NBL season, he averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.[26]

Timmins re-joined the Nuggets for the 2022 New Zealand NBL season[27] and helped the team win the championship.[28]

On 28 April 2022, Timmins re-signed with the Breakers for the 2022–23 NBL season.[26]

Timmins re-joined the Nuggets for the 2023 New Zealand NBL season.[29]

On 20 July 2023, Timmins signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2023–24 NBL season.[30]

National team career

In June 2015, Timmins helped New Zealand win the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Championship in Hungary.[31] He was also a member of the Tall Blacks extended squad in the lead up to the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship.[32][33][34]

On 12 July 2017, Timmins 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.[35]

In July 2023, Timmins was named in the Tall Blacks squad for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.[36]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Washington 311814.5.489.286.3753.8.3.4.63.2
2017–18 Washington 343418.0.577–.5594.6.2.41.04.3
2018–19 Washington 36710.4.620–.3642.2.3.3.71.9
2019–20 Washington 3127.9.625.375.5881.4.2.2.42.0
Career 1326112.7.563.333.5003.0.2.3.72.8

Personal life

Timmins is the son of Brendon and Karen Timmins, and has a sister named Ruby.[1][5] His father played 74 games for the Otago rugby team and 42 games for the Highlanders, while his mother played netball for Southland. His grandmother, Sandra McGookin, was a six-time New Zealand javelin champion.[37]

References
  1. Wright, Don (23 July 2013). "Timmins still force for southern sport". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  2. Egan, Brendon (20 May 2015). "Rapid rise for Kiwi schoolboy basketball star Sam Timmins". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. Seconi, Adrian (15 May 2013). "Basketball: Walk, run, win: Nuggets rebound". ODT.co.nz. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  4. Cheshire, Jeff (3 April 2015). "Sam Timmins Making Case to Top Talented New Zealand Recruiting Class". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  5. van Royen, Robert (15 January 2015). "Basketball: Timmins heading north to advance sports career". ODT.co.nz. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  6. Egan, Brendon (3 April 2015). "Canterbury Rams too strong for Manawatu Jets in NBL clash". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  7. "Player statistics for Sam Timmins". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. "Canterbury Rams rookie Sam Timmins scores US scholarship". Stuff.co.nz. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  9. Anderson, Niall (29 April 2015). "Timmins Commits To University Of Washington". NZhoops.co.nz. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  10. "#33 SAM TIMMINS" (PDF). Washington Huskies. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  11. "Sam Timmins – 2016–17 Men's Basketball Roster". GoHuskies.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  12. "Sam Timmins – 2019–20 Men's Basketball Roster". GoHuskies.com. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  13. "Sam Timmins". sports-reference.com. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  14. "PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT". bullsbasketball.nz. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020.
  15. "TIMMINS UNSTOPPA'BULL' AS FRANKLIN DOWN THE NUGGETS". nznbl.basketball. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  16. "NBL Showdown: Tall Blacks big man Sam Timmins leads Franklin Bulls to crucial win". Stuff.co.nz. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  17. "Stats Leaders". nznbl.basketball. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  18. Cheshire, Jeff (18 December 2020). "Timmins lands Estonia contract". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020.
  19. "Nuggets add Timmins to their roster". australiabasket.com. 23 April 2021. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021.
  20. Cheshire, Jeff (28 November 2020). "Timmins signs on with Nuggets". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020.
  21. "NUGGETS CLINCH OT WIN WITH SLAMMIN' SAM ON FIRE". nznbl.basketball. 15 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021.
  22. "TRIPLE DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR SAM TIMMINS AS NUGGETS BEAT RAMS". nznbl.basketball. 10 June 2021. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021.
  23. "Son of Former Otago Highlander Signs with Sky Sport Breakers". NZBreakers.basketball. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  24. "Breakers Add Sam Timmins as Development Player". NBL.com.au. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  25. "Breakers and Wetzell Agree Release to EuroLeague Outfit". NBL.com.au. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  26. "Timmins: I'm Coming Back to the Breakers". nzbreakers.basketball. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  27. Cheshire, Jeff (10 February 2022). "Nuggets thrilled to secure Timmins' services for this season". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022.
  28. "NUGGETS DOWN TUATARA TO CLAIM 2022 SAL'S NBL TITLE". nznbl.basketball. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  29. Seconi, Adrian (16 February 2023). "Timmins' return 'huge' for Nuggets". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023.
  30. "Kings pen Tall Black Timmins to one-year contract". sydneykings.com. 20 July 2023. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023.
  31. Egan, Brendon (29 May 2015). "Canterbury Rams aim to bounce back with victory in National Basketball League". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  32. "TALL BLACKS NAME LONG LIST". Basketball.org.nz. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  33. "Basketball: Timmins invited to Tall Blacks trial". ODT.co.nz. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  34. "Henare announces touring Tall Blacks squad". FoxSportsPulse.com. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  35. "PLAYERS INVITED TO TALL BLACKS CAMP AHEAD OF ASIA CUP". Basketball.org.nz. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  36. "TALL BLACKS SQUAD OF 14 NAMED FOR WORLD CUP PREP TOUR". nz.basketball. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  37. Seconi, Adrian (24 December 2015). "Basketball: Timmins' life about to change". ODT.co.nz. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
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