Taine Murray

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 Murray was born in Hong Kong to New Zealand parents. He grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, where he attended Rosmini College. 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. In 10 games, he averaged 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

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. He appeared in just two games during the season, logging no box score statistics.

Recruiting On 13 September 2020, following interest from multiple American college programs, Murray committed to the University of Virginia.

College career 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. As a senior, he averaged 4.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds in over 18 minutes a game where he shot 42 per cent from three-point range. He also attended the McIntire School of Commerce, coming away with a degree in business management and minor in global commerce. He took on a bigger role very early in the 2025–26 season following the injury to Sam McDaniel.

On 4 March 2026, Murray signed with the Tauranga Whai for the 2026 New Zealand NBL season. On 18 July 2026, he scored 44 points in a 107–95 loss to the Wellington Saints.

On 3 September 2026, Murray was ruled out for four to six weeks with a lower limb injury, subsequently missing the start of the 2026–27 NBL season.

National team career 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.

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.

In July 2025, Murray was named in the Tall Blacks squad for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.

In November 2025, Murray was named in the Tall Blacks squad for the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, as a replacement for Shea Ili. In February 2026, Murray was named in the squad for two more Asian qualifiers. In June 2026, he was named in the squad for another two Asian qualifiers.

Career statistics

College

Personal life Murray's father, Carl, is a former rugby player in New Zealand.