Sam Mackinnon

Australian basketball coach (born 1976)

Sam MackinnonTaranaki Airs

Position| Head coach
League| NZNBL
Personal information
Born|  (1976-08-25) 25 August 1976 (age 48)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Listed height| 197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Listed weight| 104 kg (229 lb)
Career information
Playing career| 1993–2010
Position| Shooting guard / small forward
Coaching career| 2017–present
Career history
As a player:
1993| North East Melbourne Arrows
1994–1998| S.E. Melbourne Magic
1998–2001| Townsville Crocodiles
2001–2005| West Sydney Razorbacks
2005–2008| Brisbane Bullets
2006| Basket Rimini Crabs
2007| Southern Districts Spartans
2008–2010| Melbourne Tigers
As a coach:
2017–2020| Brisbane Bullets (assistant)
2022| Brisbane Bullets (interim)
2023–2025| South East Melbourne Phoenix (assistant)
2024| South East Melbourne Phoenix (interim)
2024–present| Taranaki Airs
Career highlights

* 2× NBL champion (1996, 2007)
* NBL Grand Final MVP (2007)
* NBL Most Valuable Player (2007)
* 3× All-NBL First Team (2000, 2004, 2007)
* 2× All-NBL Second Team (1998, 2006)
* All-NBL Third Team (1999)
* NBL Best Defensive Player (2007)
* NBL Rookie of the Year (1994)
* ABA national champion (1993)
* 2× Gaze Medal winner (2006, 2007)

Medals

Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
| 2006 Melbourne | Team competition

Samuel Mackinnon (born 25 August 1976) is an Australian basketball coach and former player. He played in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 1994 and 2010, where he won two NBL championships (1996 and 2007) and was named the NBL Most Valuable Player in 2007. He currently serves as the head coach of the Taranaki Airs in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).

## Early life

[edit]

Mackinnon was born in Melbourne, Victoria.[1] His junior association was Diamond Valley.[1]

## Professional career

[edit]

In 1993, Mackinnon debuted in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) for the North East Melbourne Arrows.[2] The Arrows won the 1993 ABA national championship.[3][4]

Mackinnon's NBL career began in the 1994 season with the South East Melbourne Magic, where he won NBL Rookie of the Year.[5] He helped the Magic win the NBL championship in the 1996 season[1] and played in NBL grand finals in 1997 and 1998.[5]

After South East Melbourne folded, Mackinnon joined the Townsville Crocodiles for the 1998–99 NBL season. In the 1999–2000 NBL season, he was named All-NBL First Team.[1] In the 2000–01 NBL season, the Crocodiles made the grand final, however Mackinnon missed the series due to injury.[5]

For the 2001–02 NBL season, Mackinnon joined the West Sydney Razorbacks, but he missed the whole season and the Razorbacks' grand final appearance due to injury.[5] He debuted for the Razorbacks in the 2002–03 NBL season. In the 2003–04 NBL season, he helped the Razorbacks return to the grand final,[5] where they lost 3–2 to the Sydney Kings. That season, he was named All-NBL First Team for the second time[1] and finished as runner-up for league MVP.[5] Following the 2004–05 NBL season, he picked up his third consecutive Club MVP with the Razorbacks.[1]

In March 2005, Mackinnon signed a three-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets.[1] Following the 2005–06 NBL season, he had a four-game stint with Basket Rimini Crabs in Italy.[6] In the 2006–07 NBL season, Mackinnon led the Bullets to the NBL championship while earning grand final MVP honours.[7] He was named NBL MVP,[7] All-NBL First Team,[8] and NBL Best Defensive Player.[9]

During the 2007 NBL off-season, Mackinnon attempted to enter the NBA after securing workouts with the San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat.[10][11] That same off-season, he played four games for the Southern Districts Spartans in the SEABL.[12]

Mackinnon returned to the Bullets for the 2007–08 season but a knee injury cut short his season. He also needed treatment for blood clots in his lungs.[13]

In July 2008, Mackinnon signed a three-year deal with the Melbourne Tigers.[13] He retired from the NBL following the 2009–10 season.[14]

## National team career

[edit]

Mackinnon was a regular member of the Australian Boomers between 1995 and 2007. He competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games,[15] and helped Australia win a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.[citation needed] He was named Boomers captain in 2007[16] but missed the 2008 Olympic Games because of a knee injury suffered during the 2007–08 NBL season.[13]

## Coaching career

[edit]

On 30 July 2017, Mackinnon returned to the Brisbane Bullets as an assistant coach.[17] He remained as an assistant with the Bullets until 2020, when he moved into the front office.[18] In November 2022, he took on the role of the Bullets' interim head coach after the team parted ways with James Duncan.[19] He handed over the interim coach reins to Greg Vanderjagt on 13 December 2022.[20] His tenure as General Manager of Basketball at the Bullets ended in February 2023.[21]

In May 2023, Mackinnon was appointed assistant coach of the South East Melbourne Phoenix for two seasons.[22]

In September 2023, Mackinnon was appointed head coach of the Taranaki Airs in the New Zealand NBL ahead of the 2024 season.[23][24]

On 13 October 2024, Mackinnon was elevated to the Phoenix's interim head coach after the club fired Mike Kelly following a 0–5 start to the 2024–25 NBL season.[25] He served as interim coach in three games and went 2–1.[26][27] He returned to his role as an assistant following round six.[28][29] On 24 March 2025, he parted ways with the Phoenix.[30]

He re-joined the Taranaki Airs as head coach for the 2025 season.[31]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Bullets secure Sam". NBL.com.au. 24 March 2005. Archived from the original on 27 March 2005. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
2. ^ "Sam Mackinnon - Player Statistics 1993". GameDay. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
3. ^ "ABA PREMIER AND RUNNERS-UP CLUBS". ABABasketball.net.au. Archived from the original on 7 April 2001.
4. ^ "FROM THE VAULT - 1993 CBA FINAL - MURRAY BRIDGE vs NE MELBOURNE". SEABL.com.au. 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017.
5. ^ a b c d e f "Sam Mackinnon". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007.
6. ^ "Sam Mackinnon". australiabasket.com. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
7. ^ a b Lutton, Phil (14 August 2007). "Sam the man for Boomers". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
8. ^ "All-NBL team released". NBL.com.au. 9 March 2007. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007.
9. ^ "Mackinnon nabs defensive honours". NBL.com.au. 19 February 2007. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007.
10. ^ "Mackinnon trying to crack the big time". ABC News. 29 May 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
11. ^ Smith, Doug (21 June 2007). "Raps will sift prospects at weekend tryout camp". thestar.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
12. ^ "Sam Mackinnon - Player Statistics 2007". GameDay. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
13. ^ a b c "Tigers nab Mackinnon from Bullets". ABC News. 9 July 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
14. ^ "Chris Anstey and Sam Mackinnon officially announce retirements | Herald Sun". Archived from the original on 27 April 2011.
15. ^ "Sam Mackinnon profile, World Championship for Men '22 and Under' 1997". FIBA.com. Retrieved 20 October 2024.[dead link]
16. ^ "Sam Mackinnon retains Boomers captaincy". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
17. ^ "Slammin' Sam adds score to Bullets coaching team". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
18. ^ "Mackinnon to take on bigger role with Bullets". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
19. ^ "BREAKING: Bullets, Duncan Part Ways". NBL.com.au. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
20. ^ "Club Statement - Head Coach NBL23". brisbanebullets.com.au. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
21. ^ "Brisbane Bullets and Sam Mackinnon part ways". brisbanebullets.com.au. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
22. ^ "Phoenix Signs Sam Mackinnon as Assistant Coach". semphoenix.com.au. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
23. ^ "The #taranakiairs are thrilled to announce the signing of Sam Mackinnon as the new head coach". facebook.com/TaranakiBasketball. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
24. ^ Johnston, Will (1 October 2023). "Taranaki Airs confirm Australian to coach NBL side". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
25. ^ "Kelly, Phoenix part ways". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
26. ^ "Harvey shoots Hawks over Phoenix". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
27. ^ "Mackinnon urges support for local coaches". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
28. ^ "Olgs' Notebook: Tassie's Achilles heel exposed; Eyes on key injuries". ESPN.com. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
29. ^ ""A little crazy": New coach demands high standards". National Basketball League | NBL Australia | Australia's Basketball League. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
30. ^ "Mackinnon to depart Phoenix". NBL Official Website. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
31. ^ "Basketball: McKinnon re-signs for two more seasons". sportsnewstaranaki.co.nz. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* NBL profile
* FIBA profile[dead link]

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