Liu Chuanxing
February 20, 2022
Taane Samuel
- Nationality: NZL
- Date of Birth: 26/04/99
- Place of Birth: Wellington, NZ
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 200
- Weight (KG): 105
- Junior Assoc: NZ - Wellington
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 29/01/22
- AGE AT DEBUT: 22
- LAST NBL GAME: 23/04/22
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 22
- NBL History: Brisbane 2022
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Taane Samuel was born in Wellington, NZ.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Taane Samuel made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 22 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
After finishing sixth and missing the playoffs, Brisbane replaced Andrej Lemanis with former Sydney Kings assistant James Duncan. Vic Law (to Perth), Matt Hodgson (to Perth), Harry Froling (to Illawarra), BJ Johnson (to Orlando) and Callum Dalton (to Melbourne) departed, while Lamar Patterson returned and Robert Franks (18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds across 27 games), Jack Salt, Deng Deng, Liu Chuanxing and Next Star Tom Digbeu joined the roster.
Brisbane signed Taane Samuel to a one-year development player deal after he helped Wellington win the NZNBL championship and earned All-Star Five selection. “Playing in the NBL has always been a goal of mine,” he said.
The New Zealand forward made his NBL debut at Nissan Arena on January 29, playing the final 37 seconds without scoring as South East Melbourne won 88-73 behind Creek (22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), while Patterson (26 points and 5 assists) led Brisbane.
Samuel (3.4 points across 9 games) remained outside Brisbane’s regular rotation as a development player, with his opportunities increasing only after injuries and illness reduced the roster late in the season. No basketball injury was reported during NBL22.
Samuel was selected for New Zealand’s February World Cup qualifying window in Manila, making his Tall Blacks debut against India and missing Brisbane’s February 24 and February 26 games while on international duty.
He scored six points against Adelaide on April 3 as Brisbane won 92-91, then Samuel (6 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) played a season-high 16 minutes against Illawarra on April 9, but Reath (28 points and 11 rebounds), Cleveland (18 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Harvey (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Hawks to a 108-77 victory.
Samuel was unavailable against Melbourne on April 16, although Brisbane did not identify his individual issue, and returned for the season finale.
After his one-year development deal ended, Samuel (to Wellington) returned to the Saints for the 2022 NZNBL season.
His best game and only start came in Brisbane’s season finale at Cairns Convention Centre on April 23, where Samuel (14 points and 4 rebounds) made 5-of-8 shots as the seven-player Bullets lost 112-98. Franks (30 points and 15 rebounds) and Krebs (20 points) also contributed, while McCall (42 points, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) and Majok Deng (30 points and 6 rebounds) led Cairns, leaving Brisbane eighth with a 10-18 record.
Taane Samuel played one season in the NBL. He averaged 3.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 9 NBL games.
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 | 23 | Brisbane | 10-18 (8) | 9 | 75 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 13 | 22 | 59% | 1 | 5 | 20% | 12 | 17 | 71% | 52% | 61% | 14 | Totals | 9 | 75 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 13 | 22 | 59.1% | 1 | 5 | 20.0% | 12 | 17 | 70.6% | 53% | 61% | 14 |
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 | 23 | Brisbane | 10-18 (8) | 9 | 8.3 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 59% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 20% | 1.3 | 1.9 | 71% | 52% | 61% | 14 | Total | 9 | 8.3 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 59.1% | 0.1 | 20.0% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 70.6% | 53% | 61% | 14 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Frankston 2025
Samuel joined Frankston for the 2025 NBL1 South season after signing on 13 March 2025, and during the 2025 NBL offseason he made an immediate impact for the Frankston Blues, averaging 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.15 assists and 0.35 blocks while producing one of his best games with 35 points and 10 rebounds in a key 115–100 win over Mt Gambier.
Taane Samuel remained a major scorer for Frankston through the 2025 NBL1 South season, adding 26 points and 10 rebounds in a 91–90 win over North West Tasmania, winning the 2025 NBL1 ANZAC Round Medal, and later posting 28 points against Hobart and 26 points in a win over Diamond Valley.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
In 2017, Samuel played for New Zealand during the FIBA World Cup Qualifying window.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- New Zealand - Manawatu Jets (2019–2020), Wellington Saints (2021–2023)
Samuel joined the Manawatu Jets for the 2019 New Zealand NBL season, playing his first season in New Zealand, and he averaged 12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across 18 games after signing with the Jets on 19 March 2019.
Samuel returned to the Manawatu Jets for the 2020 New Zealand NBL season and averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 17 games, with that season also bringing New Zealand NBL Youth Player of the Year honours.
Samuel joined the Wellington Saints for the 2021 New Zealand NBL season and averaged 16.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across 20 games as the Saints won the NZNBL championship, with Samuel also earning selection in the NZNBL All-Star Five.
In 2022, Taane Samuel returned to play with the Wellington Saints and averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 18 games.
Samuel returned to the Wellington Saints for the 2023 New Zealand NBL season and averaged 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 17 games.
Related
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