Tai Webster

Last updated

Tai Webster
Tai Webster with ball.jpg
Webster with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2017
No. 0–Otago Nuggets
Position Point guard / shooting guard
League NZNBL
Personal information
Born (1995-05-29) 29 May 1995 (age 28)
Auckland, New Zealand
Listed height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight89 kg (196 lb)
Career information
High school Westlake Boys
(Auckland, New Zealand)
College Nebraska (2013–2017)
NBA draft 2017: undrafted
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012 Auckland Pirates
2012–2013 New Zealand Breakers
2013 Waikato Pistons
2017–2018 Skyliners Frankfurt
2018–2020 Galatasaray
2020–2021New Zealand Breakers
2021–2022 Žalgiris Kaunas
2022 Petkim Spor
2023–present Perth Wildcats
2023–present Otago Nuggets
Career highlights and awards

Tai Jack Webster (born 29 May 1995) 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 Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). Prior to playing college basketball in the United States, Webster won a New Zealand NBL championship with the Auckland Pirates in 2012 and an Australian NBL championship with the Breakers in 2013 as a development player. He played four college seasons for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning second-team All-Big Ten as a senior in 2017. He played professionally in Germany and Turkey between 2017 and 2020.

Contents

Early career

Born in Auckland, Webster attended Westlake Boys High School where he led them to the National Secondary Schools Basketball Championships in October 2012, scoring 24 points en route to garnering tournament MVP honours. While attending Westlake, he played basketball for the North Harbour juniors; from 2010 to 2012, he played for the North Harbour U17s, U19s and U21s.[ citation needed ]

Webster made his debut in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) in 2012 with the championship-winning Auckland Pirates. [1] [2] [3]

In August 2012, Webster joined the New Zealand Breakers as a non-contracted development player for the 2012–13 NBL season. [4] In December 2012, he signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. [5] He had never heard of Nebraska when he was recruited, but signed with the team anyway. [6]

In April 2013, Webster signed with the Waikato Pistons for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season. [7] In 15 games for Waikato, he averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game. [1]

College career

Freshman year

As a freshman for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2013–14, Webster was an immediate contributor, averaging 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32 games (30 starts) while helping the Huskers reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. He led Nebraska with 63 assists and was also among the team leaders in steals. Webster reached double figures four times, including a season-high 14 points against Georgia, and paced the squad in assists eight times. His season-best was five assists on three occasions. [8]

Sophomore year

As a sophomore in 2014–15, Webster backed up starters Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields. In 30 games (four starts), he averaged 3.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.4 minutes per game. [8] Webster called the season "hugely disappointing" since his work in practice did not translate to higher production than as a freshman. [6]

Junior year

As a junior in 2015–16, Webster joined the Nebraska starting lineup. He averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.7 minutes per game. [6]

Senior year

Webster warming up with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2017 Tai Webster 2017.jpg
Webster warming up with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2017

As a senior in 2016–17, Webster averaged 17.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 34.7 minutes per game. Leading up to the NBA draft, many thought Webster could be a "second-round sleeper." [9]

College statistics

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2013–14 Nebraska 323022.8.304.171.6192.12.00.80.13.9
2014–15 Nebraska 30418.4.358.231.7371.91.20.70.13.9
2015–16 Nebraska 341827.7.474.350.7404.11.91.40.410.1
2016–17 Nebraska 313134.7.421.294.7445.14.01.40.117.0
Career1278325.9.414.279.7153.32.31.00.28.8

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Webster played for the Golden State Warriors during the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. [10] He later signed with the Skyliners Frankfurt in Germany for the 2017–18 season. [11] He posted 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in his rookie season. [12]

On 7 August 2018, Webster signed with the Turkish team Galatasaray. [12] He re-signed with Galatasaray on 7 August 2019. [13]

On 15 July 2020, Webster signed a one-year contract with the New Zealand Breakers, returning to the team for a second stint. [14] On 9 April 2021, he was ruled out for four weeks with an Achilles injury. [15] Webster averaged 17.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game during the 2020–21 season. [16]

On 11 July 2021, Webster re-signed with the Breakers on a two-year deal. [17] However, on 20 September 2021, he was released by the Breakers [18] reportedly due to his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine. [19]

On 2 November 2021, Webster signed with Lithuanian team Žalgiris Kaunas for the rest of the 2021–22 season. [20] [21]

On 31 July 2022, Webster signed with Petkim Spor of the Turkish Basketball Super League. [22] He was released on 30 December 2022. [23]

On 2 January 2023, Webster signed with the Perth Wildcats in Australia for the rest of the 2022–23 NBL season. [24] He played for the Otago Nuggets during the 2023 New Zealand NBL season. [25]

Webster returned to the Wildcats for the 2023–24 NBL season [26] and averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals per game, while shooting at 46 per cent from the field. [27]

Webster re-joined the Nuggets for the 2024 New Zealand NBL season. [28] On 2 May 2024, he scored a career-high 40 points in a 96–85 loss to the Canterbury Rams. [29] [30] [31] [32]

Webster is set to re-join the Wildcats for 2024–25 NBL season. [27]

National team career

In 2012, Webster represented New Zealand at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he averaged 13.5 points per game. He went on to represent New Zealand at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup [33] and the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. [34]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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 PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold Career high

EuroLeague

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGPIR
2021–22 Žalgiris 21712.5.326.222.739.91.6.3.14.02.0
Career21712.5.326.222.739.91.6.3.14.02.0

Personal life

Webster is the son of Tony and Cherry Webster. His father played college basketball for Hawaii and played professionally in New Zealand. His older brother, Corey, also plays professional basketball. [8]

Webster has a son. [35]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Penney</span> New Zealand basketball player

Kirk Samuel Penney is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He is the all-time leading scorer for New Zealand's national team and he ranks 12th all-time in points scored at the FIBA World Cup. In 2024, he was inducted in the FIBA Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarrod Kenny</span> New Zealand basketball player

Jarrod Daniel Kenny is a New Zealand basketball player for the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He won two championships in the Australian NBL with the Perth Wildcats in 2016 and 2017 and has represented the New Zealand Tall Blacks multiple times.

Alex John Pledger is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States for Kansas City and Belmont Abbey before playing eleven seasons in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) between 2009 and 2020. In nine seasons with the New Zealand Breakers, he won four NBL championships. In the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL), he won championships with the Auckland Pirates (2012) and Southland Sharks (2018). He was also a regular member of the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Loe</span> New Zealand basketball player

Robert Loe is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Auckland Tuatara of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with Melbourne United of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for Saint Louis University and represents the New Zealand national team. He also holds a British passport.

Leon Hofeni Nehemiah Henry is a New Zealand former professional basketball player. He debuted in the New Zealand NBL in 2004 and won seven championships in 19 years. He also played five seasons in the Australian NBL, where he won three straight championships with the New Zealand Breakers between 2011 and 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Webster (basketball)</span> New Zealand basketball player

Corey Webster is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Auckland Tuatara of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He joined the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the first time in 2008 after a season of college basketball in the United States for Lambuth University, and won championships with the club in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Tai William Evans Wesley is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Utah State Aggies, where he was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2011. After beginning his career with successful stints in Europe, he made a name for himself in Australia and New Zealand, winning two Australian NBL championships and three New Zealand NBL championships. Wesley also represented the Guam national team on numerous occasions.

Everard Verdon Bartlett is a New Zealand basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as the head coach of the Hawke's Bay Hawks of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). Bartlett was a regular in the NZNBL between 2005 and 2022, playing the majority of those years with the Hawke's Bay Hawks. He also had various stints in the Australian NBL for the New Zealand Breakers, Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers, and was a regular with the New Zealand Tall Blacks between 2012 and 2016.

Dion Anthony Prewster is an American-born New Zealand basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for San Jacinto College and Stephen F. Austin State University. He currently serves as an assistant coach of the Shimane Susanoo Magic in the Japanese B.League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tai Wynyard</span> New Zealand basketball player

Tai Hikuroa Wynyard is a New Zealand professional basketball player who last played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He began his career playing in his home country for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL and the Super City Rangers of the New Zealand NBL. After a two-year stint in the United States playing college basketball for Kentucky, Wynyard returned to the Australian and New Zealand NBL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Timmins</span> New Zealand basketball player

Samuel Timmins is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played college basketball for the Washington Huskies. In 2022, he helped the Otago Nuggets win the NZNBL championship.

Derone Jordan Raukawa is a New Zealand basketball player for the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).

Ethan Rusbatch is a New Zealand basketball player for the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He began his New Zealand NBL career in 2012 with the Southland Sharks after spending one season in the United States playing college basketball for Lincoln Trail College. After playing for the Taranaki Mountainairs in 2013, he spent the next four seasons with the Canterbury Rams. He joined the Hawke's Bay Hawks in 2018 and won the NZNBL's Most Improved Player in 2019. He also played two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL.

Shea Ili is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Melbourne United of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Sandringham Sabres of the NBL1 South. He debuted in the Australian NBL in 2014 with the New Zealand Breakers. He was a member of the Breakers' championship-winning team in 2015 and in 2018 he named the NBL Most Improved Player. He joined United in 2019 and in 2021 he won his second NBL championship. He was named NBL Best Sixth Man in 2022 and NBL Best Defensive Player in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finn Delany</span> New Zealand basketball player

Finn Delany is a New Zealand-Irish professional basketball player for Basket Zaragoza of the Liga ACB. He is also contracted with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Southwest Baptist Bearcats.

Thomas James Vodanovich is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Auckland Tuatara of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He played college basketball in the United States for the James Madison Dukes between 2013 and 2017 before having a two-year stint with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He joined the Sydney Kings in 2021 and won an NBL championship in 2022. He won a second NBL championship with the Tasmania JackJumpers in 2024. In 2020, he was named the New Zealand NBL MVP playing for the Manawatu Jets.

Hyrum Tipene Harris is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Wellington Saints of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).

Jordan Hunt is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand New National Basketball League (NZNBL). He debuted in the New Zealand NBL in 2015 with the Wellington Saints and won a championship with them in 2016. After four years of college basketball in the United States with the Southern Oregon Raiders, he helped the Otago Nuggets win the NZNBL championship in 2020 while earning grand final MVP. He subsequently spent the 2020–21 NBL season in Australia with the Cairns Taipans as a development player.

Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Wellington Saints of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He began his career in the New Zealand NBL, playing three seasons for the Wellington Saints before moving to the United States in 2016 to play college basketball for the Sacramento State Hornets. After graduating in 2020, he played a season for the Auckland Huskies and earned NZNBL Defensive Player of the Year and NZNBL All-Star Five. He subsequently joined the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the Australian NBL and played two seasons before joining the New Zealand Breakers in 2022.

Dontae Russo-Nance 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 Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played two seasons in the New Zealand NBL in 2021 and 2022 with the Auckland Huskies/Tuatara, earning Youth Player of the Year honours in 2022. After a season in the United States with Oak Hill Academy, he signed with the Wildcats in May 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Player statistics for Tai Webster
  2. ↑ Auckland NBL Champions
  3. ↑ "2012 NBL CHAMPIONS: AUCKLAND PIRATES". NZNBL. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  4. ↑ BREAKERS WELCOME BACK WEBSTER AS ROSTER IS FINALISED
  5. ↑ Webster Officially in the Fold
  6. 1 2 3 Bruntz, Michael (5 March 2017). "Webster reflects on winding, rewarding career". CBS Sports . Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  7. ↑ Tai Webster's signing should get Pistons firing
  8. 1 2 3 "Tai Webster Bio". Huskers.com. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Chapman, Grant (11 April 2017). "NBA: Brogdon surprise paves way for Kiwi Tai Webster's NBA dream". New Zealand Herald. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Tai Webster". realgm.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Former Husker Tai Webster signs with German team Fraport Skyliners". Omaha World-Herald . 8 September 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Galatasaray signs Jaka Klobucar and Tai Webster". Sportando. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Galatasaray re-signs Aaron Harrison, Zach Auguste and Tai Webster". Sportando. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "New Zealand Breakers confirm Tai Webster signing for upcoming Australian NBL season". Stuff. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  15. ↑ Hinton, Marc (9 April 2021). "Rob Loe rejoins NZ Breakers for remainder of NBL season, Tai Webster out injured". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  16. ↑ Uluc, Olgun (26 June 2021). "NBL Free Agency: who's on the move". ESPN . Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  17. ↑ "Breakers Beat Off Overseas Rivals and Tai Webster Stays for Two More Years". nzbreakers.basketball. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  18. ↑ "Tai Webster and Breakers Agree Release". NBL.com.au. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "NZ Breakers part ways with Tai Webster because of Covid-19 vaccination stance". stuff.co.nz. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  20. ↑ "Tai Webster replaces Emmanuel Mudiay in Zalgiris". zalgiris.lt. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  21. ↑ "Webster in, Mudiay out of Zalgiris backcourt". euroleague.net. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Eski Galatasaraylı Petkim'de" (in Turkish). basketfaul. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  23. ↑ "TEŞEKKÜRLER TAİ WEBSTER". petkimspor.org (in Turkish). 30 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  24. ↑ "Wildcats sign sharp-shooting Tai Webster". wildcats.com.au. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  25. ↑ Seconi, Adrian (1 June 2023). "Otago Nuggets score coup with signing of 22-cap Tall Black". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
  26. ↑ "Tai Webster re-signs with the Wildcats". wildcats.com.au. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  27. 1 2 "'We have a great chance': Tai locked in for NBL25". wildcats.com.au. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  28. ↑ Seconi, Adrian (9 February 2024). "Tai Webster returning to boost Nuggets". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024.
  29. ↑ "CANTERBURY VS OTAGO: RAMS OUTLAST NUGGETS". nznbl.basketball. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024.
  30. ↑ Seconi, Adrian (2 May 2024). "Webster's 40-point haul not enough for Nuggets". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024.
  31. ↑ "Career night for Tai Webster". facebook.com/otagonuggetsnbl. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  32. ↑ "The NZ cold ain't getting to Tai!". facebook.com/wildcats. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  33. ↑ Tall Blacks cut down squad for FIBA World Cup
  34. ↑ "Tai Webster". fiba.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  35. ↑ O'Donoghue, Craig (4 January 2024). "Perth Wildcats star Tai Webster promises to entertain when he plays in native New Zealand as a visitor". The West Australian . Archived from the original on 4 January 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.