Sam Mackinnon
| S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Assistant coach | |||||||||||
| League | Melbourne Tigers | |||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||
| 2017–2020 | Brisbane Bullets (assistant) | |||||||||||
| 2022 | Brisbane Bullets (interim) | |||||||||||
| 2023–present | South East Melbourne Phoenix (assistant) | |||||||||||
| 2024– | Taranaki Airs | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Medals
| ||||||||||||
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. He currently serves as an assistant coach with the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the NBL.
Playing career
Born in
After South East Melbourne folded, Mackinnon was signed by the Townsville Crocodiles at the beginning of the 1999 season, and it was not long before Townsville became serious title contenders. In 2001, Townsville made the Grand Final, however Mackinnon missed the series due to injury. Once his contract ended in Townsville, Mackinnon elected to sign with the West Sydney Razorbacks where he became their captain and put up career-best numbers in his first season. During the following season Mackinnon led West Sydney into the NBL Grand Final series against cross-town rivals the Sydney Kings. Sydney won the series 3–2.
In March 2005, Mackinnon signed with the
During the 2007 NBL off-season there was much speculation concerning whether or not Mackinnon would be signed as a free agent in the National Basketball Association. In June 2007, Mackinnon was reported as having "completed trials with Champions San Antonio Spurs, runners-up Cleveland Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat."[3] On the weekend of 23–24 June 2007, the Toronto Raptors included Mackinnon in a list of free agents invited to a camp to help fill out their roster.[4] Unfortunately, an offer of playing in the NBA did not materialize and Mackinnon re-signed with the Brisbane Bullets.
Knee injuries sidelined him for most of the 2007–08 season. On 8 July 2008, the Melbourne Tigers announced they had signed Mackinnon to a three-year deal.
Mackinnon retired from the NBL following the 2009–10 season.[5]
National team career
Mackinnon was a regular member of the
Coaching career
On 30 July 2017, Mackinnon returned to the Brisbane Bullets as an assistant coach.[7] He remained as an assistant with the Bullets until 2020, when he moved into the front office.[8] In November 2022, he took on the role of the Bullets' interim head coach after the team parted ways with James Duncan.[9] He handed over the interim coach reins to Greg Vanderjagt on 13 December 2022.[10] His tenure as General Manager of Basketball at the Bullets ended in February 2023.[11]
In May 2023, Mackinnon was appointed assistant coach of the South East Melbourne Phoenix for two seasons.[12]
In September 2023, Mackinnon was appointed head coach of the Taranaki Airs in the New Zealand NBL for two seasons.[13][14]
Awards
- NBL Rookie of the Year(1994)
- NBL Best Defensive Player(2007)
- NBL Most Valuable Player(2007)
- NBL Grand Final MVP(2007)
- Australian International Player of the Year (2007)
References
- ^ "Bullets secure Sam". NBL.com.au. 24 March 2005. Archived from the original on 27 March 2005. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Mackinnon nabs defensive honours
- ^ "Basketball Australia".
- ^ "Raps will sift prospects at weekend tryout camp | The Star". The Toronto Star. 21 June 2007.
- ^ "Chris Anstey and Sam Mackinnon officially announce retirements | Herald Sun". Archived from the original on 27 April 2011.
- ^ http://www.nbl.com.au/breakers-home/news/article/2007/september/sam-mackinnon-to-captain-boomers/ [dead link]
- ^ "Slammin' Sam adds score to Bullets coaching team". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Mackinnon to take on bigger role with Bullets". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "BREAKING: Bullets, Duncan Part Ways". NBL.com.au. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Club Statement - Head Coach NBL23". brisbanebullets.com.au. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "Brisbane Bullets and Sam Mackinnon part ways". brisbanebullets.com.au. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Phoenix Signs Sam Mackinnon as Assistant Coach". semphoenix.com.au. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Johnston, Will (1 October 2023). "Taranaki Airs confirm Australian to coach NBL side". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 27 November 2023.