Tai Webster

Tai Webster
Webster with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2017
No. 0 – Perth Wildcats
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1995-05-29) 29 May 1995 (age 29)
Auckland, New Zealand
Listed height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight89 kg (196 lb)
Career information
High schoolWestlake Boys
(Auckland, New Zealand)
CollegeNebraska (2013–2017)
NBA draft2017: undrafted
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012Auckland Pirates
2012–2013New Zealand Breakers
2013Waikato Pistons
2017–2018Skyliners Frankfurt
2018–2020Galatasaray
2020–2021New Zealand Breakers
2021–2022Žalgiris Kaunas
2022Petkim Spor
2023–presentPerth Wildcats
2023–2024Otago Nuggets
Career highlights and awards

Tai Jack Webster (born 29 May 1995) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). Prior to playing college basketball in the United States, Webster won a New Zealand NBL championship with the Auckland Pirates in 2012 and an Australian NBL championship with the Breakers in 2013 as a development player. He played four college seasons for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning second-team All-Big Ten as a senior in 2017. He played professionally in Germany and Turkey between 2017 and 2020.

Early career

Born in Auckland, Webster attended Westlake Boys High School where he led them to the National Secondary Schools Basketball Championships in October 2012, scoring 24 points en route to garnering tournament MVP honours. While attending Westlake, he played basketball for the North Harbour juniors; from 2010 to 2012, he played for the North Harbour U17s, U19s and U21s.[citation needed]

Webster made his debut in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) in 2012 with the championship-winning Auckland Pirates.[1][2][3]

In August 2012, Webster joined the New Zealand Breakers as a non-contracted development player for the 2012–13 NBL season.[4] In December 2012, he signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.[5] He had never heard of Nebraska when he was recruited, but signed with the team anyway.[6]

In April 2013, Webster signed with the Waikato Pistons for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season.[7] In 15 games for Waikato, he averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game.[1]

College career

Freshman year

As a freshman for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2013–14, Webster was an immediate contributor, averaging 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32 games (30 starts) while helping the Huskers reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. He led Nebraska with 63 assists and was also among the team leaders in steals. Webster reached double figures four times, including a season-high 14 points against Georgia, and paced the squad in assists eight times. His season-best was five assists on three occasions.[8]

Sophomore year

As a sophomore in 2014–15, Webster backed up starters Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields. In 30 games (four starts), he averaged 3.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.4 minutes per game.[8] Webster called the season "hugely disappointing" since his work in practice did not translate to higher production than as a freshman.[6]

Junior year

As a junior in 2015–16, Webster joined the Nebraska starting lineup. He averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.7 minutes per game.[6]

Senior year

Webster warming up with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2017

As a senior in 2016–17, Webster averaged 17.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 34.7 minutes per game. Leading up to the NBA draft, many thought Webster could be a "second-round sleeper."[9]

College statistics

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 Nebraska 32 30 22.8 .304 .171 .619 2.1 2.0 0.8 0.1 3.9
2014–15 Nebraska 30 4 18.4 .358 .231 .737 1.9 1.2 0.7 0.1 3.9
2015–16 Nebraska 34 18 27.7 .474 .350 .740 4.1 1.9 1.4 0.4 10.1
2016–17 Nebraska 31 31 34.7 .421 .294 .744 5.1 4.0 1.4 0.1 17.0
Career 127 83 25.9 .414 .279 .715 3.3 2.3 1.0 0.2 8.8

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA draft, Webster played for the Golden State Warriors during the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.[10] He later signed with the Skyliners Frankfurt in Germany for the 2017–18 season.[11] He posted 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in his rookie season.[12]

On 7 August 2018, Webster signed with the Turkish team Galatasaray.[12] He re-signed with Galatasaray on 7 August 2019.[13]

On 15 July 2020, Webster signed a one-year contract with the New Zealand Breakers, returning to the team for a second stint.[14] On 9 April 2021, he was ruled out for four weeks with an Achilles injury.[15] Webster averaged 17.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game during the 2020–21 season.[16]

On 11 July 2021, Webster re-signed with the Breakers on a two-year deal.[17] However, on 20 September 2021, he was released by the Breakers[18] reportedly due to his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine.[19]

On 2 November 2021, Webster signed with Lithuanian team Žalgiris Kaunas for the rest of the 2021–22 season.[20][21]

On 31 July 2022, Webster signed with Petkim Spor of the Turkish Basketball Super League.[22] He was released on 30 December 2022.[23]

On 2 January 2023, Webster signed with the Perth Wildcats in Australia for the rest of the 2022–23 NBL season.[24] He played for the Otago Nuggets during the 2023 New Zealand NBL season.[25]

Webster returned to the Wildcats for the 2023–24 NBL season[26] and averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals per game, while shooting at 46 per cent from the field.[27]

Webster re-joined the Nuggets for the 2024 New Zealand NBL season.[28] On 2 May 2024, he scored a career-high 40 points in a 96–85 loss to the Canterbury Rams.[29][30][31][32]

Webster re-joined the Wildcats for 2024–25 NBL season.[27] He missed five games over the first half of the season and then on 19 December 2024, he was ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.[33][34]

National team career

In 2012, Webster represented New Zealand at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he averaged 13.5 points per game. He went on to represent New Zealand at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup[35] and the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[36]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

EuroLeague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2021–22 Žalgiris 21 7 12.5 .326 .222 .739 .9 1.6 .3 .1 4.0 2.0
Career 21 7 12.5 .326 .222 .739 .9 1.6 .3 .1 4.0 2.0

Personal life

Webster is the son of Tony and Cherry Webster. His father played college basketball for Hawaii and played professionally in New Zealand. His older brother, Corey, also plays professional basketball.[8]

As of January 2024, Webster had a son.[37] In May 2024, he joined his partner in the U.S. ahead of the birth of their child.[38]

References

  1. ^ a b Player statistics for Tai Webster
  2. ^ Auckland NBL Champions
  3. ^ "2012 NBL CHAMPIONS: AUCKLAND PIRATES". NZNBL. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  4. ^ BREAKERS WELCOME BACK WEBSTER AS ROSTER IS FINALISED
  5. ^ Webster Officially in the Fold
  6. ^ a b c Bruntz, Michael (5 March 2017). "Webster reflects on winding, rewarding career". CBS Sports. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  7. ^ Tai Webster's signing should get Pistons firing
  8. ^ a b c "Tai Webster Bio". Huskers.com. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  9. ^ Chapman, Grant (11 April 2017). "NBA: Brogdon surprise paves way for Kiwi Tai Webster's NBA dream". New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Tai Webster". realgm.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Former Husker Tai Webster signs with German team Fraport Skyliners". Omaha World-Herald. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Galatasaray signs Jaka Klobucar and Tai Webster". Sportando. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Galatasaray re-signs Aaron Harrison, Zach Auguste and Tai Webster". Sportando. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Breakers confirm Tai Webster signing for upcoming Australian NBL season". Stuff. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  15. ^ Hinton, Marc (9 April 2021). "Rob Loe rejoins NZ Breakers for remainder of NBL season, Tai Webster out injured". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  16. ^ Uluc, Olgun (26 June 2021). "NBL Free Agency: who's on the move". ESPN. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Breakers Beat Off Overseas Rivals and Tai Webster Stays for Two More Years". nzbreakers.basketball. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Tai Webster and Breakers Agree Release". NBL.com.au. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  19. ^ "NZ Breakers part ways with Tai Webster because of Covid-19 vaccination stance". stuff.co.nz. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Tai Webster replaces Emmanuel Mudiay in Zalgiris". zalgiris.lt. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Webster in, Mudiay out of Zalgiris backcourt". euroleague.net. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Eski Galatasaraylı Petkim'de" (in Turkish). basketfaul. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  23. ^ "TEŞEKKÜRLER TAİ WEBSTER". petkimspor.org (in Turkish). 30 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Wildcats sign sharp-shooting Tai Webster". wildcats.com.au. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  25. ^ Seconi, Adrian (1 June 2023). "Otago Nuggets score coup with signing of 22-cap Tall Black". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Tai Webster re-signs with the Wildcats". wildcats.com.au. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  27. ^ a b "'We have a great chance': Tai locked in for NBL25". wildcats.com.au. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  28. ^ Seconi, Adrian (9 February 2024). "Tai Webster returning to boost Nuggets". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024.
  29. ^ "CANTERBURY VS OTAGO: RAMS OUTLAST NUGGETS". nznbl.basketball. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024.
  30. ^ Seconi, Adrian (2 May 2024). "Webster's 40-point haul not enough for Nuggets". odt.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Career night for Tai Webster". facebook.com/otagonuggetsnbl. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  32. ^ "The NZ cold ain't getting to Tai!". facebook.com/wildcats. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  33. ^ Robinson, Chris (19 December 2024). "Wildcats' backcourt blow: Webster sidelined until February". The West Australian. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  34. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (20 December 2024). "Perth Wildcats' decision to rule Tai Webster out for six weeks was based on having him fit for finals". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024.
  35. ^ Tall Blacks cut down squad for FIBA World Cup
  36. ^ "Tai Webster". fiba.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  37. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (4 January 2024). "Perth Wildcats star Tai Webster promises to entertain when he plays in native New Zealand as a visitor". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024.
  38. ^ "Tai Webster will depart the Night 'n Day Otago Nuggets following tonight's game against the Tuatara". facebook.com/NZNBL. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.