BIO: Cody Ellis was born in Subiaco (WA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Perth basketball program. Ellis received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2008. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2008, 2009).

FAMILY: Cody Ellis is the son of Mike Ellis who played 302 games in the NBL.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Cody Ellis made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 23 years of age. He scored nine points in his first game.

After four years of college basketball for Saint Louis University, Ellis had a five-year stint in the NBL with the Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks.

Ellis was capable of playing either forward role

2015/16
A year after collecting the wooden spoon with a 6-22 record and entering Voluntary Administration, Wollongong returned under the Illawarra name for 2015/16 with Rob Beveridge replacing long-time coach Gordie McLeod. Jahii Carson (free agent), Gary Ervin (free agent), Luke Nevill (free agent) and Brad Hill (free agent) departed, while Adam Ballinger (retired) ended his career. Beveridge added Kevin Lisch (via Zaragoza), AJ Ogilvy (via Manresa), Kirk Penney (via Sevilla), Kevin White (via Sydney) and Cody Ellis (via Sydney), while Jarrad Weeks (via Ehingen Urspring) joined as an injury replacement for Rhys Martin after a knee injury ruled Martin out of the opening portion of the season.

The former King signed with Illawarra on August 10 after two seasons in Sydney, filling one of Beveridge’s final roster spots alongside White and giving the Hawks another player capable of playing either forward position.

Illawarra opened the season in Cairns on October 8, where Ellis (6 points and 2 rebounds) came off the bench and made two three-pointers, while Penney (12 points and 2 assists) and Weeks (12 points and 2 assists) led the Hawks, but Cameron Gliddon (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Cairns to a 79-74 victory. Lisch (7 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) suffered a right knee injury during the third quarter and missed the following three games.

Ellis (6 points across 29 games) appeared in 26 of Illawarra’s 28 regular-season games and all three semifinals, coming off the bench in every regular-season appearance before starting the final two playoff games. He made 25 three-pointers at 36 percent and provided Beveridge with minutes at either forward position. An injury kept him out of two games in late November, with Ellis, Tyson Demos and Martin all listed among Illawarra’s injured players. The nature of Ellis’s injury was not identified, and they were the only two games he missed all season.

Ellis’s best game came against New Zealand in Auckland on January 17, where Ellis (18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) made six of nine shots and both of his three-pointers, including a three with two seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 80-80 and force overtime. Lisch (40 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals) scored Illawarra’s first 15 points across the two overtime periods and Ogilvy (15 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) provided support, while Corey Webster (22 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) led New Zealand. Illawarra won 103-96 in double overtime, completed a four-game season sweep of the defending champions and improved to 14-8, with Ellis matching his NBL career-high in scoring. Breakers coach Dean Vickerman said, “We broke a team rule, when we had the opportunity to foul.”

Illawarra made no mid-season player addition or release after the season began. Weeks (6.1 points across 31 games), who had initially joined as Martin’s injury replacement, moved onto a full-time roster spot and remained with the Hawks after Martin (9.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 18 games) returned from the knee injury that kept him out of the opening 12 games. Weeks appeared in every game for Illawarra.

Penney (20.4 points and 3.1 assists across 27 games) led Illawarra in scoring, while Lisch (19.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals across 27 games) provided another major scoring option and Ogilvy (16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.7 blocks across 31 games) anchored the frontcourt. Coenraad (9.5 points and 3.6 rebounds across 30 games) and Forman (8 points and 3.5 rebounds across 31 games) were the other major contributors. Penney was named to the All-NBL Second Team, Ogilvy and Lisch were selected to the All-NBL First Team, while Lisch also won the NBL Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player awards.

Illawarra closed the regular season against Adelaide at the WIN Entertainment Centre on February 12, where Ellis (9 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists) played 20 minutes from the bench as Ogilvy (17 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Lisch (16 points) led the Hawks, while Daniel Johnson (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block) was Adelaide’s best. Illawarra won 106-95 to finish third with a 17-11 record.

Illawarra opened its semifinal series against second-seeded Perth at Perth Arena, where Ellis (2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) came off the bench as Coenraad (23 points and 3 rebounds), Penney (17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Ogilvy (14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led the Hawks, while Casey Prather (19 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists), Jermaine Beal (18 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists) and Tom Jervis (14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block) led Perth to an 80-68 victory. Lisch (2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) suffered a left ankle injury late in the opening quarter and later returned to the bench in a moon boot and on crutches, ruling him out of game two.

Game two moved to the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Ellis (7 points and 3 rebounds) moved into the starting lineup for the first time all season with Lisch sidelined. Forman (21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks), Ogilvy (20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) and Penney (18 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) led Illawarra, while Prather (21 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) and Beal (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Perth as the Hawks won 104-87 and levelled the series at 1-1.

Game three returned to Perth Arena, where Ellis (10 points and 4 rebounds) remained in the starting lineup as Penney (18 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal), Lisch (11 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal) returned from his ankle injury and Ogilvy (9 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Illawarra. Beal (17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal), Jesse Wagstaff (17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) and Matthew Knight (15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) led Perth as the Wildcats defeated Illawarra 89-74 and won the series 2-1.

2016/17
After finishing third with a 17-11 record before losing its semifinal series 2-1 to Perth, Illawarra entered Rob Beveridge’s second season without reigning NBL MVP Kevin Lisch (to Sydney), who accepted a contract the Hawks could not match, and Kirk Penney (to New Zealand). Beveridge quickly signed Mitch Norton (via Townsville) and Nick Kay (via Townsville) after the Crocodiles folded, with both choosing two-year deals with Illawarra despite receiving larger offers elsewhere following former Townsville coach Shawn Dennis’ recommendation to play under Beveridge. Former NBL MVP Rotnei Clarke returned after two seasons in Europe and Marvelle Harris was added as an import, while AJ Ogilvy, Tim Coenraad, Oscar Forman, Rhys Martin, Kevin White and Cody Ellis returned. The forward had re-signed with Illawarra on a two-year deal in April.

Illawarra opened the season at WIN Entertainment Centre on October 7, where the returning forward finished with 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 11:22 as the Hawks defeated Adelaide 122-88 behind Clarke (23 points, 6 assists, and 1 steal) and Harris (21 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals), while Mitch Creek (24 points) led the 36ers. Ellis (4.4 points across 34 games) remained part of Beveridge’s bench rotation, starting three games and appearing in all 28 regular-season games and all six Finals games, with no injury, illness, suspension or selection absence keeping him out. After the opening victory, the Hawks dropped five straight and fell to 1-5 before recovering to remain in the playoff race.

His best regular-season scoring game came in Adelaide on November 12, where Ellis (11 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 block) made four of six shots and three three-pointers as Illawarra recovered from 16 points behind to defeat Adelaide 85-74. Norton (13 points and 3 assists) and Clarke (13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support, while Matthew Hodgson (18 points and 14 rebounds) and Nathan Sobey (16 points and 11 rebounds) led the 36ers.

Ellis (9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) made three of five shots in Auckland on December 2 as Illawarra defeated New Zealand 95-91, with Clarke (22 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Harris (17 points) leading the Hawks, while David Stockton (24 points and 10 assists) and Robert Loe (21 points and 5 rebounds) led the Breakers.

Against Brisbane on December 19, Ellis (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) made four of five shots as the Hawks won 91-85 on the road. Kay (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Norton (13 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals) helped Illawarra continue its recovery from the poor start, while Torrey Craig (21 points and 7 rebounds) and Cameron Bairstow (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals) led Brisbane.

Clarke (17.3 points across 34 games) became Illawarra’s leading scorer after moving to the bench during the season, winning the NBL Best Sixth Man award and Hawks MVP, while Ogilvy (11 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 34 games) was selected to the All-NBL First Team. Harris (10.4 points across 32 games), Kay (9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds across 34 games), Norton (8.2 points across 31 games), Coenraad (7.7 points across 34 games), Forman (6.3 points across 34 games), Rhys Martin (4.9 points and 1.2 steals across 34 games), White (4.7 points across 34 games) and Michael Holyfield (3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds across 34 games) provided the remainder of the rotation as Illawarra recovered to finish fourth with a 15-13 record.

Illawarra opened its semifinal series against minor premier Adelaide at Titanium Security Arena, where Ellis (0 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists) played 11:56 as the 36ers won 93-78. Coenraad (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the Hawks, while Jerome Randle (26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Sobey (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Adelaide.

Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Ellis (2 points and 1 rebound) played 9:23 as Illawarra levelled the series with a 100-94 victory. Norton (17 points and 3 assists) and Coenraad (17 points and 10 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Randle (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Daniel Johnson (17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led Adelaide.

The deciding game returned to Adelaide, where Ellis (11 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) made four of six shots and two three-pointers as Illawarra defeated the 36ers 106-98. Clarke (20 points) and Harris (17 points) led the scoring, while Rhys Martin (13 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals) provided important minutes off the bench and Ogilvy (4 points and 5 rebounds) rolled his ankle twice during the win. Randle (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Sobey (22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led Adelaide as Illawarra eliminated the top-seeded 36ers 2-1 and advanced to its first Grand Final since 2010.

Ellis’ best game of the season came in Grand Final Game 1 at Perth Arena on February 26, where Ellis (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) made four of eight shots and two three-pointers to lead Illawarra in scoring for the first time in his 61 games with the Hawks. His scoring helped Illawarra cut Perth’s lead to three early in the fourth quarter, but Casey Prather (22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Matthew Knight (18 points and 11 rebounds) and Bryce Cotton (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) carried Perth to an 89-77 win. Clarke (11 points and 6 assists), Coenraad (11 points) and Rhys Martin (11 points) also reached double figures for Illawarra, while Ogilvy (7 points and 6 rebounds) played through his injured ankle and Harris was unavailable after flying to the United States to be with his seriously ill father.

Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Ellis (6 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal) played 14:07 as Perth again won 89-77. Ogilvy (21 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) and Clarke (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Illawarra, while Harris (0 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist) returned from the United States and played 12 minutes. Cotton (20 points and 3 steals), Prather (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists), Angus Brandt (15 points and 11 rebounds) and Damian Martin (12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) led Perth to a 2-0 series lead.

Game three returned to Perth Arena on March 5, where Ellis (6 points and 2 rebounds) made two three-pointers in 13:50 as Illawarra attempted to keep the series alive. Clarke (30 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) set a Hawks Grand Final scoring record and Ogilvy (11 points and 7 rebounds) continued to play through his ankle injury, while Harris (8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) started despite learning the previous day that his father had died. Cotton (45 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) made 12-of-17 shots, seven three-pointers and 14-of-15 free throws to set an NBL Grand Final scoring record, with Prather (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) providing support before Cotton was named Grand Final MVP. Perth won 95-86 and completed the 3-0 sweep.

2017/18
After finishing fourth with a 15-13 record and reaching the 2017 NBL Grand Final, where they were swept by Perth, Illawarra entered 2017/18 with Marvelle Harris (to Team Challenge ALS) and Michael Holyfield (to Beijing Dongfang) departing. Coach Rob Beveridge retained the majority of his local roster and added Demitrius Conger (via Antwerp Giants) and Delvon Johnson (via Södertälje Kings). Beveridge said of his new wing, “I always said we needed a stud three-man, and I feel very confident that we’ve found him.”

Entering the final season of the two-year deal he signed with Illawarra in 2016, Cody arrived eight kilograms lighter after an off-season fitness push, although a bout of chicken pox kept him out of the NBL pre-season Blitz.

Illawarra opened the season in Cairns on October 6, where Ellis (5 points) came off the bench, while Ogilvy (22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block) and Clarke (22 points) led the Hawks, but Alex Loughton (19 points and 3 rebounds) made the deciding free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining to give Cairns an 88-87 win.

Ellis (6.7 points across 20 games) appeared in Illawarra’s first three games before being left out for eight consecutive games. The absences were not injury-related, with it later revealed Hawks management had directed coach Rob Beveridge not to play him and allow his contract to expire. Ellis remained with the team and eventually returned to the rotation, later describing it as “a frustrating year all-round.” He finished the season shooting 43 per cent from the field, 42 per cent from three and 93 per cent from the free throw line.

Ellis’s best game of the season came immediately upon his return against Melbourne at Hisense Arena on December 4, where he made 6-of-10 shots and finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists without a turnover. Clarke (24 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kay (11 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) were Illawarra’s other leading contributors, but Casey Prather (18 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and a block) led Melbourne to a 91-73 win. The performance started a much stronger second half of the season for Ellis, who scored in double figures five times after returning to the rotation.

Mitchell Norton (7.8 points across 19 games) fractured his thumb in the same Melbourne game and underwent surgery, missing nine consecutive games. Indiana Faithfull (via Sydney Comets) was added as injury cover and averaged 2.1 points across nine games before Norton returned in late January. Johnson (4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds across 28 games) remained with Illawarra for the entire season despite calls for his replacement and the Hawks made no mid-season import change.

Conger (19.7 points and 5.7 rebounds across 27 games) led Illawarra in scoring, finished second in NBL MVP voting and earned All-NBL First Team honours, while Clarke (18 points across 25 games) returned for another season and remained the Hawks’ other major scorer. Kay (11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 28 games), Ogilvy (9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 22 games), Coenraad (6.9 points and 3 rebounds across 28 games) and Martin (5.9 points and 1.3 steals across 28 games) were the other major contributors. Kevin White (2.8 points across 26 games) served as captain, while Oscar Forman (3.7 points across 26 games) played his final NBL season.

Illawarra closed its season against minor premier Melbourne at Hisense Arena on February 18, where Ellis (6 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block), Kay (27 points, 7 rebounds, and a block) and Coenraad (24 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal) helped the Hawks win 94-84, while Tai Wesley (14 points and 4 rebounds) led Melbourne. Illawarra finished fifth with a 12-16 record.

Cody Ellis played five seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Sydney Kings and the Illawarra Hawks. He averaged 5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 127 NBL games.