Sam Timmins Explained

Sam Timmins
Position:Power forward / center
Height Cm:211
Weight Kg:119
League:NZNBL
Team:Franklin Bulls
Number:33
Birth Date:1997 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Dunedin, New Zealand
High School:
College:Washington (2016–2020)
Career Start:2013
Years1:2013
Team1:Otago Nuggets
Years2:2015
Team2:Canterbury Rams
Years3:2020
Team3:Franklin Bulls
Years4:2020–2021
Team4:Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ
Years5:2021–2023
Team5:Otago Nuggets
Years6:2021–2023
Team6:New Zealand Breakers
Years7:2023–2024
Team7:Sydney Kings
Years8:2024–present
Team8:Franklin Bulls
Years9:2024–present
Team9:Tryhoop Okayama
Highlights:

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

Early life and career

Timmins was born in Dunedin.[1] His father, Brendon Timmins, played rugby in Otago during the 1990s and in Southland in the early 2000s.[2] While living in Southland, Sam played rugby for Eastern Hawks and Star.

When he was 11 years old, his family moved to Japan after his father became a rugby coach for the Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars.[3] Back in Dunedin, he was heavily involved in rugby until age 12, playing as a lock and Number 8 for the Kaikorai club. He grew up playing social basketball, but only began to take the game seriously after arriving at Otago Boys' High School.[4]

In 2013, Timmins joined the Otago Nuggets and made his New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) debut. At age 15, he became the youngest debutant in Nuggets history.[5] A stress fracture in his back sidelined him for the entire 2014 season.[6] That year, he led Otago Boys' High School to the National Schools Championship and was named tournament MVP.[6] He also helped the Junior Tall Blacks come within three points of winning the Under-18 Oceania Championship final.[7]

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.[7] In his debut for the Rams, he had 20 points and nine rebounds.[8] In 16 games during the 2015 season, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.[9]

College career

On 29 April 2015, Timmins signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the Washington Huskies in 2016–17.[10] [11] He joined the Huskies in December 2015 and practiced and travelled with the team for the remainder of the 2015–16 season.[12]

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 per cent from the field. He had a season-high 12 rebounds on two occasions, with his season high in points being 11.[13]

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.[14]

As a junior in 2018–19, Timmins competed in all 36 games while shooting 62 per cent from the field (31-of-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.[15] 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.[14]

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.[15]

Professional career

On 18 March 2020, Timmins signed with the Franklin Bulls for the 2020 New Zealand NBL season.[16] On 2 July 2020, he recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds in an 85–79 win over the Otago Nuggets.[17] [18] He led the league in blocked shots with 1.9 per game.[19]

On 18 December 2020, Timmins signed in Estonia with Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ of the Korvpalli Meistriliiga and Baltic Basketball League.[20] In six games, he averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.[21] After returning to New Zealand, he joined the Otago Nuggets for the 2021 New Zealand NBL season.[22] On 15 May, he recorded 29 points and 25 rebounds in a 92–85 overtime win over the Manawatu Jets.[23] On 10 June, he recorded 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists in a 95–82 win over the Canterbury Rams.[24]

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.[25] [26] On 15 April 2022, he was elevated to the full roster following the departure of Yanni Wetzell.[27] In 15 games during the 2021–22 NBL season, he averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.[28]

Timmins re-joined the Nuggets for the 2022 New Zealand NBL season[29] and helped the team win the championship.[30]

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

Timmins re-joined the Nuggets for the 2023 New Zealand NBL season.[31]

On 20 July 2023, Timmins signed with the Sydney Kings for the 2023–24 NBL season.[32] He missed the start of the season with a calf strain.[33]

Timmins joined the Franklin Bulls for the 2024 New Zealand NBL season.[34]

On 24 June 2024, Timmins signed with Tryhoop Okayama of the Japanese B.League.

National team career

In June 2015, Timmins helped New Zealand win the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Championship in Hungary.[35] He was also a member of the Tall Blacks extended squad in the lead up to the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship.[36] [37] [38]

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.[39]

In July 2023, Timmins was named in the Tall Blacks squad for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.[40] He re-joined the Tall Blacks for qualifiers in February 2024.[41]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17| style="text-align:left;"| Washington| 31 || 18 || 14.5 || .489 || .286 || .375 || 3.8 || .3 || .4 || .6 || 3.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Washington| 34 || 34 || 18.0 || .577 || – || .559 || 4.6 || .2 || .4 || 1.0 || 4.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Washington| 36 || 7 || 10.4 || .620 || – || .364 || 2.2 || .3 || .3 || .7 || 1.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Washington| 31 || 2 || 7.9 || .625 || .375 || .588 || 1.4 || .2 || .2 || .4 || 2.0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 132 || 61 || 12.7 || .563 || .333 || .500 || 3.0 || .2 || .3 || .7 || 2.8

Personal life

Timmins is the son of Brendon and Karen Timmins, and has a sister named Ruby.[2] [7] 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.[42]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sam Timmins. olympic.org.nz. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170430132027/https://www.olympic.org.nz/athletes/sam-timmins/. 30 April 2017.
  2. Web site: Wright . Don . Timmins still force for southern sport . Stuff.co.nz . 23 July 2013 . 9 April 2015.
  3. Web site: 【B3リーグ】2024-25シーズン サム・ティミンズ 選手 契約締結のお知らせ . tryhoop.com . 24 June 2024 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240625102429/https://tryhoop.com/2024/06/24/samtimmins/ . 25 June 2024 . Japanese.
  4. Web site: Egan . Brendon . Rapid rise for Kiwi schoolboy basketball star Sam Timmins . Stuff.co.nz . 20 May 2015 . 15 August 2015.
  5. Web site: Seconi . Adrian . Basketball: Walk, run, win: Nuggets rebound . ODT.co.nz . 15 May 2013 . 13 April 2015.
  6. Web site: Cheshire . Jeff . Sam Timmins Making Case to Top Talented New Zealand Recruiting Class . BleacherReport.com . 3 April 2015 . 9 April 2015.
  7. Web site: van Royen . Robert . Basketball: Timmins heading north to advance sports career . ODT.co.nz . 15 January 2015 . 9 April 2015.
  8. Web site: Egan . Brendon . Canterbury Rams too strong for Manawatu Jets in NBL clash . Stuff.co.nz . 3 April 2015 . 9 April 2015.
  9. Web site: Player statistics for Sam Timmins . FoxSportsPulse.com . 15 August 2015.
  10. News: Canterbury Rams rookie Sam Timmins scores US scholarship . Stuff.co.nz . 29 April 2015 . 29 April 2015.
  11. Web site: Anderson . Niall . Timmins Commits To University Of Washington . NZhoops.co.nz . 29 April 2015 . 29 April 2015.
  12. Web site: #33 SAM TIMMINS . Washington Huskies . 17 May 2017.
  13. Web site: Sam Timmins – 2016–17 Men's Basketball Roster . GoHuskies.com . 17 May 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170531054923/http://www.gohuskies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3413 . 31 May 2017.
  14. Web site: Sam Timmins – 2019–20 Men's Basketball Roster . GoHuskies.com . 18 March 2020.
  15. Web site: Sam Timmins . sports-reference.com . 18 March 2020.
  16. Web site: PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT . bullsbasketball.nz . 18 March 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200318102455/https://www.bullsbasketball.nz/news . 18 March 2020.
  17. Web site: TIMMINS UNSTOPPA'BULL' AS FRANKLIN DOWN THE NUGGETS . nznbl.basketball . 2 July 2020 . 2 July 2020.
  18. Web site: NBL Showdown: Tall Blacks big man Sam Timmins leads Franklin Bulls to crucial win . Stuff.co.nz . 2 July 2020 . 2 July 2020.
  19. Web site: Stats Leaders . nznbl.basketball . dead . https://archive.today/20200726043500/https://www.nznbl.basketball/stats/competition-stats/?WHurl=/leaders%3F . 26 July 2020 . 26 July 2020 .
  20. Web site: Cheshire . Jeff . Timmins lands Estonia contract . odt.co.nz . 18 December 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201223014647/https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/timmins-lands-estonia-contract . 23 December 2020.
  21. Web site: Nuggets add Timmins to their roster . australiabasket.com . 23 April 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210424023408/https://www.australiabasket.com/New-Zealand/news/680655/Nuggets-add-Timmins-to-their-roster . 24 April 2021.
  22. Web site: Cheshire . Jeff . Timmins signs on with Nuggets . odt.co.nz . 28 November 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201128024005/https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/timmins-signs-nuggets . 28 November 2020.
  23. Web site: NUGGETS CLINCH OT WIN WITH SLAMMIN' SAM ON FIRE . nznbl.basketball . 15 May 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210515141915/https://men.nznbl.basketball/nuggets-clinch-ot-win-with-slammin-sam-on-fire/ . 15 May 2021.
  24. Web site: TRIPLE DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR SAM TIMMINS AS NUGGETS BEAT RAMS . nznbl.basketball . 10 June 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210610140253/https://men.nznbl.basketball/triple-double-delight-for-sam-timmins-as-nuggets-beat-rams/ . 10 June 2021.
  25. Web site: Son of Former Otago Highlander Signs with Sky Sport Breakers . NZBreakers.basketball . 30 June 2021 . 30 June 2021.
  26. Web site: Breakers Add Sam Timmins as Development Player . NBL.com.au . 30 June 2021 . 30 June 2021.
  27. News: Breakers and Wetzell Agree Release to EuroLeague Outfit . 15 April 2022 . NBL.com.au . 15 April 2022.
  28. News: Timmins: I'm Coming Back to the Breakers . 30 April 2022 . nzbreakers.basketball . 28 April 2022.
  29. Web site: Cheshire . Jeff . Nuggets thrilled to secure Timmins' services for this season . odt.co.nz . 10 February 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220210023538/https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/nuggets-thrilled-secure-timmins%E2%80%99-services-season . 10 February 2022.
  30. Web site: NUGGETS DOWN TUATARA TO CLAIM 2022 SAL'S NBL TITLE. nznbl.basketball. 13 August 2022. 13 August 2022.
  31. Web site: Seconi . Adrian . Timmins' return 'huge' for Nuggets . odt.co.nz . 16 February 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230216095818/https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/timmins%E2%80%99-return-%E2%80%98huge%E2%80%99-nuggets . 16 February 2023.
  32. Web site: Kings pen Tall Black Timmins to one-year contract . sydneykings.com . 20 July 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720032453/https://www.sydneykings.com/news/kings-pen-tall-black-timmins-to-one-year-contract . 20 July 2023.
  33. Web site: Return of the King . NBL.com.au . 27 October 2023 . 27 October 2023.
  34. Web site: Timmins Returns to Bulls . bullsbasketball.nz . 24 December 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231224041000/https://www.bullsbasketball.nz/post/timmins-returns-to-bulls . 24 December 2023.
  35. Web site: Egan . Brendon . Canterbury Rams aim to bounce back with victory in National Basketball League . Stuff.co.nz . 29 May 2015 . 15 August 2015.
  36. Web site: TALL BLACKS NAME LONG LIST . Basketball.org.nz . 21 June 2015 . 15 August 2015.
  37. Web site: Basketball: Timmins invited to Tall Blacks trial . ODT.co.nz . 22 June 2015 . 15 August 2015.
  38. Web site: Henare announces touring Tall Blacks squad . FoxSportsPulse.com . 15 July 2015 . 15 August 2015.
  39. Web site: PLAYERS INVITED TO TALL BLACKS CAMP AHEAD OF ASIA CUP. Basketball.org.nz. 12 July 2017. 12 July 2017.
  40. Web site: TALL BLACKS SQUAD OF 14 NAMED FOR WORLD CUP PREP TOUR. nz.basketball. 31 July 2023. 1 August 2023.
  41. Web site: TALL BLACKS NAME SQUAD FOR ASIA CUP QUALIFIERS IN FEBRUARY. nz.basketball. 26 January 2024. 26 January 2024.
  42. Web site: Seconi . Adrian . Basketball: Timmins' life about to change . ODT.co.nz . 24 December 2015 . 30 December 2015.