Steve Taylor
March 18, 2022
Xavier Munford
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 1/06/92
- Place of Birth: Hillside, New Jersey
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 191
- Weight (KG): 82
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Miami Dade (2010–2011) Iowa Western CC (2011–2012) Rhode Island (2012–2014)
- NBL DEBUT: 4/12/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 29
- LAST NBL GAME: 24/04/22
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 29
- NBL History: South East Melbourne 2022
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Xavier Munford was born in Hillside, New Jersey and attended Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey. As a senior in 2009/10, he helped the Grey Bees to a 26–1 record, and the No. 2 national ranking, while averaging 12 points per game.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Xavier Munford made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 29 years of age. He scored 27 points in his first game.
After making their maiden Finals appearance the year prior, South East Melbourne looked to go one step further. The Phoenix’s first move was re-signing coach Simon Mitchell (one year deal), who then went about retaining the majority of the team’s local core, locking in Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Le’Afa and Mitch Creek re-signing.
Although both Keifer Sykes (to NBA) and Yanni Wetzell (to New Zealand) would exit the club, they would be replaced by Tohi Smith-Milner (via Melbourne), Zhou Qi, a member of the Chinese national team and imports Zach Hankins and Xavier Munford.
South East Melbourne started the season on fire, winning three of its first four games, with Qi (11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks) making it extremely difficult for opposing team’s to score inside and Munford (16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) proving to be a more than adequate replacement for Sykes.
The combination of a short-term injury to Qi and Hankins yet to play a game due to a knee cartilage injury resulted in coach Simon Mitchell bringing in import Brandon Ashley (8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists) as a replacement for Hankins.
The Phoenix had no problems scoring this year, with Mitch Creek (20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) leading the team in scoring and South East Melbourne finishing in the top three highest-scoring teams in the league (87.7 points per game).
Then, due to COVID interruptions, several of their games had to be postponed, forcing the team into a 28 day hiatus where they were unable to play a single game, leaving them a little bit rusty, to say the least, and they were blown out by Brisbane (84-100) in their first game back.
It wouldn’t take long for South East Melbourne to return to their previous form however, winning eight of their next eleven games to sit second on the ladder (11-5) around the halfway mark of the season.
South East Melbourne saw their season backflip from here on, going on a four-game losing streak, losing to the Hawks twice, the Kings and United. The downfall of South East Melbourne coincided with the season-ending shoulder injury of Ryan Broekhoff (11.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals), but even with a favourable schedule across the last month of the season, the Phoenix still struggled to get wins, suffering defeats by Adelaide, Cairns, and Melbourne which ended South East Melbourne’s chances of reaching the playoffs.
It was a disappointing second half of the season for the Phoenix, as they managed to win only six out of their last 14 games, the only high point being a overtime win over Perth (102-100) that ended the Wildcat’s 35-year playoff streak.
Xavier Munford played one season in the NBL. He averaged 16.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 26 NBL games.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 30 | South East Melbourne | 15-13 (6) | 26 | 713.0 | 432 | 103 | 113 | 15 | 88 | 31 | 7 | 58 | 57 | 162 | 356 | 46% | 31 | 94 | 33% | 77 | 95 | 81% | 54% | 50% | 27 | Totals | 26 | 713 | 432 | 103 | 113 | 15 | 88 | 31 | 7 | 58 | 57 | 162 | 356 | 45.5% | 31 | 94 | 33.0% | 77 | 95 | 81.1% | 54% | 50% | 27 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 30 | South East Melbourne | 15-13 (6) | 26 | 27.4 | 16.6 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 6.2 | 13.7 | 46% | 1.2 | 3.6 | 33% | 3.0 | 3.7 | 81% | 54% | 50% | 27 | Total | 26 | 27.4 | 16.6 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 6.2 | 13.7 | 45.5% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.0% | 1.2 | 3.6 | 81.1% | 54% | 50% | 27 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 27 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Munford played with the senior United States national team at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup, where he won a gold medal.
Played for USA during the FIBA World Cup Qualifying window in 2022.
NBA EXPERIENCE
Munford went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft.
On November 1, 2014, Munford was selected by the Maine Red Claws in the third round of the 2014 NBA Development League Draft. He was later traded to the Bakersfield Jam on draft night.
On November 14, he made his professional debut in a 127–125 loss to the Texas Legends, recording seven points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 10 minutes. He appeared in 51 games for Bakersfield in 2014/15, averaging 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
In July 2015, Munford joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2015 NBA Summer League. On November 2, he returned to the Jam. On January 29, 2016, he was named in the West All-Star team for the 2016 NBA D-League All-Star Game. In 42 games for the Jam in 2015–16, he averaged 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
On March 16, 2016, Munford signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies to help the team deal with numerous injuries. Memphis had to use an NBA hardship exemption in order to sign him as he made their roster stand at 18, three over the allowed limited of 15. The next day, he made his NBA debut in a 96–86 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, recording two points, one rebound and two steals in 11 minutes off the bench. On March 27, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Grizzlies. On April 1, he had a 12-point game against the Toronto Raptors. On April 7, he signed a multi-year contract with the Grizzlies.
On June 25, 2016, the Grizzlies parted ways with Munford after they declined to exercise their team option on his contract for the 2016/17 season.
In July 2016, Munford re-joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2016 NBA Summer League. On September 26, 2016, he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, but was later waived on October 12 after appearing in two preseason games.
On November 12, he was acquired by the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA Development League.
In 2016 he played 18 games for the Memphis Grizzlies including four playoff games.
After playing for FC Barcelona in 2017, he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018 for another six NBA games and averaged 24.4 points for their D-League team the Wisconsin Herd.
Munford appeared in two games during the 2017 NBA Summer League for the Golden State Warriors.
On October 5, 2017, Munford signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. Seven days later, he was waived by the Bucks.
On October 15, 2017, the Greensboro Swarm traded Munford and a 2018 second-round pick to the Bucks affiliate Wisconsin Herd for their 2017 and 2018 first-round selections.
On January 7, 2018, Munford signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
On January 28, 2019, the Wisconsin Herd announced that they had signed Munford.
On October 26, 2019, Munford was named to the training camp roster of the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. Munford scored 34 points and had seven rebounds, four assists and one steal in a win against the Erie BayHawks on January 25, 2020.
On March 4, Munford posted 36 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 124–108 loss to the Long Island Nets. During the 2019–20 season, Munford averaged 17.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Spain - FC Barcelona Lassa (2017) | China - Fujian (2018) | Turkey - Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2020–2021)
On February 3, 2017, Munford signed with FC Barcelona Lassa until the end of the season due to the injury problems of the Spanish team. On June 8, 2017, Barcelona announced the end of their contract with Munford.
On December 23, 2018, Munford was reported to have signed with Fujian Sturgeons, and made his debut on the same day with a double-double, scoring 28 points, ten rebounds, five assists and a block in a 106–95 win over the Shanghai Sharks, but was later reported to be replaced by Eugene Jeter after five days.
On August 2, 2020, Munford signed with Frutti Extra Bursaspor of the Turkish Super League (BSL).
COLLEGE
As a freshman at Miami Dade College in 2010/11, Munford averaged 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 32 games.
He was subsequently named the FCSAA's Newcomer of the Year and was a First Team All-NJCAA Region 8 selection.
In 2011, Munford transferred to Iowa Western Community College, where as a sophomore in 2011/12, he averaged 16.6 points per game for the Reivers, leading the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).
He helped guide Iowa Western to a 24–9 record en route to the NJCAA Region 11 finals, and was a 2011/12 NJCAA Division I All-American selection.
Following the 2011/12 season, Munford signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the University of Rhode Island.
As a junior playing for the Rhode Island Rams in 2012/13, Munford was named to the USBWA All-District I team.
In 29 games, he averaged 17.4 points (ranked third in the Atlantic 10 Conference), 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 35.4 minutes per game.
As a senior in 2013/14, Munford became the fastest player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, getting there in his final home game for the Rams against Fordham. In 32 games, he averaged 16.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 35.6 minutes per game.
AWARDS
- NBA D-League All-Star (2016)
Related
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