Taine Murray
 Murray with the Virginia Cavaliers in 2023 | |
| Brisbane Bullets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBL |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 19 April 2002 Hong Kong |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Rosmini College (Auckland, New Zealand) |
| College | Virginia (2021–present) |
| Playing career | 2020–present |
| Career history | |
| 2020 | Auckland Huskies |
| 2020–2021 | New Zealand Breakers |
| 2025–present | Brisbane Bullets |
Medals | |
Taine Jackson Murray (born 19 April 2002) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers.
Early life and career
[edit]Murray was born in Hong Kong to New Zealand parents.[1] He grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, where he attended Rosmini College.[1] He began playing for Rosmini College's basketball team in 2017. He helped the team to an 82–14 record across his tenure, including national championships in 2017 and 2018, and a second-place finish in 2019. He scored a career-high 49 points in a win over Auckland Grammar School.[1]
Murray joined the Auckland Huskies prior to the 2020 New Zealand NBL season.[2] In 10 games, he averaged 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.[3]
In August 2020, Murray joined the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2020–21 season as a non-contracted development player.[4] He appeared in just two games during the season, logging no box score statistics.[5]
Recruiting
[edit]On 13 September 2020, following interest from multiple American college programs, Murray committed to the University of Virginia.[6]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taine Murray SG |
Auckland, New Zealand | Rosmini College (NZ) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Sep 13, 2020 | |
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  247Sports: (NR)
| ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Rivals: 77 247Sports: 82 ESPN: – | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
College career
[edit]Murray played four seasons of college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers between 2021 and 2025. In 96 career games, he averaged 3.0 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.[7]
Professional career
[edit]Brisbane Bullets (2025–present)
[edit]On 15 April 2025, Murray signed a two-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets of the NBL.[8]
National team career
[edit]Murray was named to the New Zealand team competing in the 2019 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championships, averaging 7 points, 1 rebound and 1.5 assists per game.[9]
He was called up to the senior New Zealand national team for the first time for a 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifier against Australia on 20 February 2021. Murray led the inexperienced team in scoring with 14 points as they fell 52–81.[10][11]
Career statistics
[edit]| 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
[edit]| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Virginia | 19 | 0 | 7.5 | .394 | .348 | .500 | .9 | .1 | .1 | .1 | 2.0 |
| 2022–23 | Virginia | 13 | 0 | 7.2 | .316 | .167 | .667 | .9 | .2 | 0 | .2 | 1.4 |
| 2023–24 | Virginia | 33 | 2 | 13.5 | .482 | .450 | .611 | 1.2 | .9 | .2 | .1 | 3.3 |
| Career | 65 | 2 | 10.5 | .437 | .373 | .594 | 1.1 | .5 | .1 | .1 | 2.1 | |
Personal life
[edit]Murray's father, Carl, is a former rugby player in New Zealand.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Taine Murray". Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site. 7 June 2021.
- ^ Egan, Brendon (11 June 2020). "Otago Nuggets select Jordan Ngatai first in NBL Showdown draft". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Taine Murray". realgm.com. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Shamir: "Taine Murray is One for the Future"". nzbreakers.basketball. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Taine Murray". nzbreakers.basketball. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand Guard Taine Murray Becomes Virginia Basketball's First 2021 Commitment | TheSabre.com". virginia.sportswar.com. 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Taine Murray College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Collegiate product joins Bullets". nbl.com.au. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Taine MURRAY at the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships 2019". FIBA.basketball.
- ^ "Cameron names 1O debutants for Tall Blacks against Australia". Basketball New Zealand. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "New Zealand v Australia boxscore - FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers - 20 February". FIBA.basketball.