NICKNAME/S: T

BIO: Tohiraukura Makaere Smith-Milner was born and raised in Auckland, where he attended Rosmini College and played junior basketball for Waitakere.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Tohi Smith-Milner made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Smith-Milner signed with Melbourne as a development player in 2015 and helped United finish on top of the ladder (18–10). He appeared in 11 games during the season, averaging 4.0 points and 0.5 rebounds. Despite the strong finish under new coach Dean Demopoulos, the team lost to New Zealand in the semifinals, losing to the Breakers in two straight games.

2016/17
With the league allowing three import players per team this season, Melbourne United replaced import duo Stephen Holt and Hakim Warrick with Cedric Jackson, Ramone Moore, and Devin Williams. They essentially signed a fourth import by adding Tai Wesley (via New Zealand), who was allowed to sign as a local under the Asian player rule. Melbourne also swapped one Boomers big man for another, with David Andersen (via Europe) replacing Daniel Kickert (to Sydney).

In coach Dean Demopoulos’ second season, United started poorly (3-7), leading to Cedric Jackson (10.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.4 steals) being cut due to a poor attitude and failure to buy into the team’s defensive principles.

Casper Ware arrived as his replacement and immediately changed the squad’s direction. Around this time, Chris Goulding (17.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals), who had missed six games due to ankle issues, began to find his form. David Barlow (5.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) also returned from a calf injury that had sidelined him for two years.

Behind Ware (22.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals) and a healthy roster, United turned things around, winning 10 of their last 18 games. Despite this, the team still needed to address its frontcourt issues. Devin Williams (3.2 points and 4.0 rebounds), who lasted 16 games despite fan and media calls for his replacement, was finally cut. Josh Boone (10.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) was brought in as his replacement, quickly establishing himself as the league’s best rebounder by cleaning up Ware and Goulding’s missed shots.

Demopoulos struggled to manage player relationships in his second year as head coach, and by the end of the season, it was public knowledge that his relationship with certain players wasn’t ‘civil’. A divide between the veterans and Demopoulos saw United unable to replicate the success of the previous season, finishing in sixth place (13-15). Both parties moved on at the end of the season.

Tohi Smith-Milner struggled to find playing opportunities in his second season with United, appearing in only eight games and scoring a total of three points.

2017/18
2017 saw the beginning of the ‘Dean Vickerman’ era, with the former Sydney assistant coach replacing Dean Demopoulos, who had struggled to fit in with the playing group during his tenure. Vickerman signed on for two seasons, and shortly after, the team re-signed David Barlow and imports Josh Boone and Casper Ware. Vickerman also brought forward Craig Moller (via Sydney) as a replacement for the departing Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and added Casey Prather (via Perth) as the team’s third import.

Melbourne won their season opener against Adelaide (99–97) with Prather (20 points) leading the team offensively. Despite United’s hot start, they would win only five of their first ten games.

On December 16, Prather went down with a dislocated elbow in the second quarter of Melbourne’s win over Illawarra (84–78) and was subsequently ruled out for a minimum of eight weeks. While United searched for an injury replacement, development player Felix Von Hofe was elevated into the team until they signed former NBA talent Carrick Felix. Felix joined the team in December, and with his addition, United sparked a strong run home, finishing 15-3 for the remainder of the season.

Tohi Smith-Milner averaged 2.3 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game, while Melbourne finished in first place and faced fourth-seed New Zealand in the semifinals. In game one, Prather (15 points) led the team in scoring despite starting on the bench, and United secured an 11-point win (88–77). Prather (12 points) then helped Melbourne win game two in overtime (88–86), advancing them to the Grand Final. On the opposite side of the bracket, the Adelaide 36ers eliminated the reigning champions, Perth, in two games.

The opening game of the Grand Final saw Casper Ware (20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) start strong but leave with a hip injury. Chris Goulding stepped up, scoring 26 points to lead Melbourne to a 107-96 win. Daniel Johnson (18 points) and Mitch Creek (14 points, 9 rebounds) led Adelaide.

In game two, Adelaide tied the series with a 110-95 win, led by Majok Deng (18 points), Mitch Creek (17 points), and Ramone Moore (17 points). Casey Prather (20 points) and Chris Goulding (19 points) were Melbourne’s best, while Adelaide’s Josh Childress suffered a series-ending shoulder injury.

Game three saw tensions rise as Nathan Sobey was ejected after clashing with Prather. Melbourne edged out a 101-98 win, with Ware (25 points), Prather (23 points), and Goulding (15 points) leading the way.

In game four, Adelaide took a 55-31 halftime lead and won 90-81, with Johnson (29 points) and Prather (23 points) top scoring.

In the decisive game five, Goulding, Ware (both 23 points), and Prather (19 points, 11 rebounds) led Melbourne to a 100-82 win, securing the title. Chris Goulding was named Finals MVP, and Prather won his third consecutive NBL championship.

2018/19
Melbourne United entered the 2018/19 season looking to defend their championship. They retained their core group by first re-signing team captain Chris Goulding (two-year deal) and David Barlow (one-year deal) before securing Josh Boone (one-year deal) and Casper Ware (one-year deal), who were in high demand with strong interest from multiple overseas teams. The team also added DJ Kennedy (via Turkey), Mitch McCarron (via Cairns), and Alex Pledger (via New Zealand) to further bolster their lineup. Additionally, United brought in Tohi Smith-Milner as a depth forward, providing energy and spacing off the bench.

Tohi Smith-Milner (0.8 points, 0.2 rebounds) saw limited court time during the 2018/19 season. His best performance came in a game against New Zealand on October 14, 2018, where he recorded 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 assist.

Smith-Milner’s role was primarily focused on contributing in short bursts, offering size and floor spacing when needed. Although his minutes were minimal, he remained ready whenever his number was called.

Dean Vickerman’s leadership earned him the NBL Coach of the Year award as Melbourne went on to defeat the Sydney Kings in the semifinals (2-0) before falling short of a championship, losing to Perth in four games.

2019/20
Melbourne United began the season with a complete overhaul of its roster. The team chose not to re-sign imports Casper Ware and Josh Boone, released Daniel Trist, and lost young forward Craig Moller, who signed with Sydney as a free agent.

United then signed Jo Lual-Acuil, Shea Ili (who had played under Dean Vickerman during his time at the Breakers), and Jack Purchase as the team’s development player. Vickerman added import duo Melo Trimble from Cairns and Shawn Long from New Zealand, who were friends and had played together for the USA National Team. The squad was rounded out by re-signing David Barlow, Alex Pledger, Tohi Smith-Milner, and Casey Prather.

Prather returned to the club on a two-year deal after spending the previous season in Europe, but he missed the first seven games of the season due to injury, raising concerns about his health. When Prather did return, his output (9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.7 assists) was well below his career averages. After just six games, he underwent another knee clean-out and was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring tear. United signed former NBA talent Stanton Kidd (9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists) as his injury replacement.

This rocky start led to United losing four of their first five games, with rumors of internal conflicts, a coach under pressure, and frustrated supporters. By late November, however, United sat third on the ladder (7-4) after winning six consecutive games, becoming the highest-scoring team in the competition (99.7 points per game). Melo Trimble (19.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals) led the team in scoring, alongside Long (18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) and Captain Chris Goulding (17.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists).

Tohi Smith-Milner finished the season averaging 3.7 points, 2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, playing a regular role in United’s rotation as they secured a fourth-place finish (15-13) and faced Sydney in the semifinals.

In Game 1, Long (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block) dominated inside, and Trimble (34 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals) came off the bench to lead all scorers, but United fell short (80-86). Xavier Cooks (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Jae’Sean Tate (19 points and 5 rebounds) were the key players for Sydney.

In Game 2, back in Melbourne, United evened the series with a blowout win, as Long (26 points and 11 rebounds), Trimble (21 points and 2 steals), and Kidd (18 points and 4 rebounds) led the charge. United outscored the Kings 32-7 in the second quarter and cruised to a 45-point victory (125-80).

In the series decider at Qudos Bank Arena, the game came down to the final seconds. Goulding (19 points and 3 assists) led Melbourne in scoring, but Tate (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Sydney edge out a two-point win to advance to the Grand Final, ending United’s season.

Smith-Milner produced his best season to date, becoming a regular part of the rotation and averaging 3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 26 games.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
2021/22
After making their maiden Finals appearance the year prior, South East Melbourne aimed to go one step further. The Phoenix’s first move was re-signing coach Simon Mitchell (one-year deal), who then focused on retaining the majority of the team’s local core, re-signing Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Le’Afa, and Mitch Creek.

Although both Keifer Sykes (to NBA) and Yanni Wetzell (to New Zealand) exited the club, they were 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 strong, winning three of their first four games, with Qi (11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks) dominating the interior defense and Munford (16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) proving to be an excellent replacement for Sykes.

A short-term injury to Qi and Zach Hankins yet to debut due to a knee cartilage injury prompted coach Mitchell to bring in import Brandon Ashley (8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists) as a temporary replacement for Hankins.

The Phoenix had no issues on offense, with Mitch Creek (20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) leading the team and helping South East Melbourne rank among the top three highest-scoring teams in the league (87.7 points per game).

However, due to COVID interruptions, several games were postponed, forcing the team into a 28-day hiatus. Rusty after the break, they were blown out by Brisbane (84-100) in their first game back.

Despite this setback, the Phoenix quickly returned to form, winning eight of their next eleven games to sit second on the ladder (11-5) at the halfway mark of the season.

Unfortunately, their season took a turn as they went on a four-game losing streak, losing twice to the Hawks, as well as to the Kings and United. The collapse coincided with a season-ending shoulder injury to Ryan Broekhoff (11.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals). Even with a favorable schedule in the last month, the Phoenix struggled to get wins, suffering defeats to Adelaide, Cairns, and Melbourne, ultimately ending their playoff hopes.

It was a disappointing second half of the season for the Phoenix, who managed only six wins out of their last 14 games. A rare high point was an overtime victory over Perth (102-100), which ended the Wildcats’ 35-year playoff streak.

Smith-Milner contributed 1.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.1 assists across 23 games, while South East Melbourne finished the season in sixth place (15-13).

2022/23
The Phoenix entered NBL23 hoping to leave the memories of an injury-plagued season behind them. The team’s core group of Ryan Broekhoff, Izaya Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, Cameron Gliddon, Reuben Te Rangi, and co-Captains Mitch Creek and Kyle Adnam all returned. Imports Trey Kell III and Gary Browne were added to bolster the backcourt, and big man Alan Williams signed to replace Zhou Qi.

Qi, who was initially thought to be returning to China, made a last-minute change and re-signed with the Phoenix, creating a ‘twin towers’ situation with Williams that many wondered how it would work.

The Phoenix’s opening game saw them take the court without Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne, all unavailable due to pre-season injuries, and with Qi’s arrival still two weeks away. As a result, Adnam was inserted into the starting five and had a career-high scoring night against Tasmania. The efforts of Adnam (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), Mitch Creek (23 points and 6 rebounds), and Alan Williams (12 points and 7 rebounds) saw South East Melbourne defeat Tasmania (84-79), sparking excitement for the season ahead.

When South East Melbourne managed to field all five of their starters, they were one of the most well-balanced units in the competition. However, this rarely happened. Qi (6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.2 assists) played only nine games before returning home for family reasons, Kell (12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) missed five games due to broken ribs, and Broekhoff (10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) missed a third of the season with a persistent hamstring issue.

Mitch Creek (23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) was the only starter to appear in every game, elevating his play and becoming an MVP candidate as he tried to cover the gaps left by injured teammates.

Qi’s early departure opened the door for first-year players like Grant Anticevich (2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds) and Anzac Rissetto (1.2 points and 0.4 rebounds), while the perimeter players, including Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne (12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.5 steals), only managed to play 61 of a possible 84 regular-season games. This led to more opportunities for Adnam (8.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) and Te Rangi (5.1 points and 3.0 rebounds) to step into starting roles.

The injury struggles also saw significant minutes for lesser-known players Junior Madut (4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds) and Owen Foxwell (3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals), both of whom delivered strong performances when called upon.

South East Melbourne climbed to the second spot on the ladder after a shaky start, but injuries derailed their season, leading to a fall to fifth place (15-13) and a Play-In Tournament match-up against Perth.

Although the Phoenix were without sharpshooter Broekhoff, they entered the Play-In Qualifier against the Wildcats as favourites. However, explosive performances from Perth’s Bryce Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals) and Brady Manek (24 points) ended South East Melbourne’s playoff run (106-99), leaving fans lamenting another ‘almost’ season.

Smith-Milner finished the season with averages of 2.3 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists across 17 games.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2023/24
After a second disappointing season under coach CJ Bruton, several changes were made to the Adelaide 36ers’ roster. Despite imports from last season, Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland both being contracted for a second season, they were allowed to exit their deals and pursue opportunities overseas.

Anthony Drmic (to Tasmania), Ian Clark (to Melbourne), and Kai Sotto (to Japan) all headed elsewhere, but perhaps the most significant loss for 36ers fans was the decision not to bring back big man Daniel Johnson after 13 years with the club.

Former Sixers Jason Cadee (via Brisbane), Isaac Humphries (via Melbourne), and import Jacob Wiley all returned to the club to provide much-needed leadership. New faces to the squad included Trentyn Flowers, courtesy of the Next Stars program, AFL to NBL convert Alex Starling, and imports Trey Kell (via South East Melbourne) and Jamaal Franklin.

Franklin’s time with the club was brief, being released during the middle of the NBL Blitz. In a similar fashion to last season, Adelaide got off to another slow start (with a 1-4 record) before signing DJ Vasiljevic, who had exited his contract with Sydney early to sign a deal to play with Washington in the NBA, only to be released on the eve of the NBL season.

Vasiljevic (19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists) added instant firepower to the squad, but after a horrendous loss to Tasmania, where Adelaide’s inability to shoot both inside (29 per cent from the field) and beyond the three-point line (2-11) saw them produce their equal-lowest score since the beginning of the 40-minute era (59-94), Bruton was shown his walking papers. With the team sitting bottom of the ladder (4-9), Bruton was replaced by assistant coach Scott Ninnis, who had previously coached the team from 2008-2010. Ninnis managed to turn things around in the second half of the season, with an impressive January (5-1) that saw Adelaide back contending for a playoff spot.

Adelaide finished the season as the second-best rebounding team, averaging 43.5 rebounds per game, but they were also the worst in the competition from behind the three-point line, shooting just 29.9 per cent.

Kell (17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals) and Humphries (15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) both delivered career-best seasons, while Wiley (10.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) led the team in rebounding.

Ultimately, the revitalised side finished a win and percentage away from competing in the Play-In Tournament (12 wins, 16 losses), with Tohi Smith-Milner averaging 3.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.9 assists across 14 games.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2024/25
Head coach Justin Schueller entered his second season with a renewed roster focused on returning to playoff contention. Brisbane’s offseason began with the surprise jettisoning of face of the franchise Nathan Sobey, who had been with the club for seven seasons. Despite delivering one of the best years of his career in NBL24.

“Really this decision wasn’t about Nathan, but how we can continue to move forward as a club and build a true contender,” Schueller said. “We needed to lean more into our culture and bring in winners who can help us grow. We can’t shy away from Nathan’s production, but we also know there’s other areas we must improve if we want to win a championship.”

Alongside Sobey, Brisbane also farewelled Aron Baynes (retired), Chris Smith (to Japan), Shannon Scott (to Taiwan), and DJ Mitchell (to England). Mitch Norton was elevated to captain in Sobey’s absence, and the club re-signed Isaac White, Norton, Tyrell Harrison, and import forward Casey Prather. Young forward Josh Bannan also returned for his second NBL season. To refresh the squad, Brisbane added high-scoring import duo James Batemon and dynamic wing Keandre Cook. Former NBA player Deng Adel was given another NBL opportunity, and Tohi Smith-Milner arrived via Adelaide to bolster the frontcourt. Development players Kye Savage, Tristan Devers, and Josh Kunen rounded out the roster.

Smith-Milner signed with the Bullets in April 2024 on a two-year deal with a club option, seeking a fresh start after limited minutes in Adelaide. The veteran forward bringing leadership, toughness, and floor spacing to a Brisbane frontcourt that required depth behind Tyrell Harrison and Josh Bannan.

Smith-Milner signed a one-year deal to play in Brisbane, to play under his former coach from Melbourne United, Justin Schueller.

“Tohi is an athlete with huge potential that we believe is ready to have an impact in this league,” Schueller said on bringing Smith-Milner to the club.

“His ability to space and stretch the floor with his shooting, IQ and versatility makes him a key piece to our roster build.”

Brisbane opened the season with two road losses before securing a Round 4 victory over South East Melbourne. Smith-Milner was gradually integrated into the rotation, providing rebounding support and setting strong screens in limited minutes. His best early showing came in Round 6 against Tasmania, where he pulled down 7 rebounds in just 15 minutes. He also chipped in 8 points and 6 rebounds in a high-scoring loss to Melbourne in Round 8, and added value off the bench with effort plays and floor spacing as the Bullets reached 9–8 by the end of December.

Unfortunately, a wave of injuries derailed Brisbane’s season. James Batemon was ruled out in mid-December with a hamstring tear, while Tyrell Harrison (concussion), Josh Bannan (concussion), Jarred Bairstow (ankle), and Sam McDaniel (shoulder) all missed major stretches during January. Deng Adel was limited to 10 games with recurring groin and hand injuries. On January 11, three players went down in one game on a slick court in Gippsland, prompting Schueller to admit, “I don’t know if we can field a side right now.”

Smith-Milner stepped up during the club’s most injury-depleted stretch. In Round 27 against Melbourne, he delivered his best game of the year with 10 rebounds and a season-high 8 points while holding his own against a stacked United frontcourt. He followed that with a 7-rebound outing in the final game of the season in Cairns. While not a high-volume scorer, Smith-Milner’s ability to battle in the post and provide steady rebounding helped the Bullets survive stretches with depleted big-man depth.

Brisbane added Emmett Naar and Josh Adams mid-season to stabilise the backcourt, with Adams producing a 23-point, 7-rebound effort against Melbourne on January 26. Despite those flashes, the Bullets never climbed above seventh after the new year and finished the season 12–17, in eighth place and out of the playoff picture.

Casey Prather (21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals) finished third in league scoring and earned both Club MVP and All-NBL First Team honours. Keandre Cook (16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.7 steals) led the league in steals and was a consistent two-way threat. James Batemon (15.5 points, 2.8 assists) delivered several big games prior to injury, including his 51-point explosion against Perth. Tyrell Harrison (14.3 points, 9.7 rebounds) led the NBL in rebounding and was crowned Most Improved Player. Josh Bannan (13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds) was awarded the NBL Youth Player of the Year after a strong sophomore campaign.

Captain Mitch Norton (7.4 points, 2.9 assists) played in all 29 games and earned both the Defensive Player and Players’ Player awards. Isaac White contributed 6.6 points per game off the bench, while Smith-Milner (5.1 points, 2.9 rebounds), Rocco Zikarsky (4.6 points), and Deng Adel (4.7 points) added contributions when called upon.

Smith-Milner’s best performances included his 8-point, 10-rebound effort in Round 27 against Melbourne, a 7-rebound showing in the final round versus Cairns, and a solid 6-point, 6-rebound performance during the December 8 clash with United. While not a headline act, his consistency and veteran presence gave Brisbane needed resilience through an injury-hit campaign.

Tohi Smith-Milner currently plays for the Brisbane Bullets and has played 196 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 2.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists since entering the league in 2015.