Fresh off his college career at the University of Virginia, Taine Murray couldn’t think of anywhere better to start life as a professional than the Brisbane Bullets and to have fellow Rosmini College student Tohi Smith-Milner with him.

On the back of graduating from the University of Virginia earlier this year, Murray has signed on with the Bullets to begin his NBL career and will add to the back court for Brisbane with the combination of his playing making and ball handling abilities along with his shooting touch.

The 23-year-old New Zealander was keen to make an immediate start to his professional basketball career after finishing at college, and when the Bullets came calling and Smith-Milner gave it the seal of approval, it didn’t take him long to sign on.

It's now only fitting that Murray will make his NBL debut this Friday night back in his hometown of Auckland when the Bullets open the new season on the road to the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena.

Murray is grateful for the faith the Bullets have shown in him to offer him a contract straight out of college and he now can't wait to get things rolling.

"I'm really excited to get started and we've already had a promo at the Entertainment Centre so that's when things started to feel pretty real being there where we play our home games," Murray said.

"Obviously as a young guy coming into this league, I'm just looking to try and establish myself and I'm going to bring floor spacing just with my shooting ability.

"I'm also able to put it on the floor too and I'll be a team-first player and every team that I'm on I just try to win and make other's around me better. I'm just super excited to be a part of it and to learn off these older guys, and hopefully try to carve out a role on this team."

Playing for the Tall Blacks

Not long after moving to Brisbane and just starting to feel settled, Murray joined his Tall Blacks teammates including Smith-Milner at the FIBA Asia Cup where ultimately New Zealand would finish fourth.

"Obviously it's a huge honour to play for New Zealand and I think we had a great team, and we really came together well," he said.

"We obviously just fell short at the end but there was lots of learnings for myself and as a group, and it was super cool to also do it with Tohi who is obviously here with the Bullets as well."

Settling in at the Bullets

It's already been a bit of a whirlwind for Murray since he signed on at the Bullets and arrived in Brisbane with the Asia Cup with New Zealand and then the NBL Blitz in Canberra, but he couldn't be happier so far with the way he's fitting in.

"It's been awesome so far and it's been great to meet all the guys and the coaching staff, and all the management in the office," Murray said.

"Everyone has been super welcoming of me and I'm just really excited for this next opportunity.

"I was in Brisbane for probably for two weeks and then went away with the national team to the Asia Cup tournament and then came back to Brisbane, and then we went away for the Blitz. I'm super excited to be here and to get it all started now."

Having a familiar face in Brisbane

Murray was open to any opportunities to begin his professional career, but when the Bullets came calling and given the club's rich history with New Zealanders including everyone from Dillon Boucher to Mika Vukona and now currently Smith-Milner and Tyrell Harrison, it instantly appealed.

The chance to then reconnect with Smith-Milner especially with the pair having attended the same high school in Auckland albeit a few years apart was the final seal of approval that Murray needed to sign on board.

"Tohi actually went to the same high school as me in New Zealand even though I am a bit younger than him," Murray said.

"So I guess in a way I've always looked up to his path while I was a young student at Rosmini College where we both went to high school. It's kinda full circle for us to now be back together here at the Bullets and playing on the same team.

"What was awesome before I even signed was being able to pick up the phone and talk to Tohi just about the opportunity that was presented at the Bullets, and he had nothing but good things to say and I really trust his opinion.

"He really saw how I could fit into this system and what the Bullets are trying to create so that was super reassuring for myself and my family to have his word on it."

Looking back on time at college

After finishing up at Rosmini College back in Auckland and then having a season as a development player with the New Zealand Breakers, Murray started a four-year journey at the University of Virginia.

That included averaging 4.1 points, 1.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds in over 18 minutes a game as a senior where he shot 42 per cent from three-point range. He also attended the McIntyre School of Commerce coming away with a degree in business management and minor in global commerce.

"I've got nothing but good things to say about Virginia and obviously playing for a coach like Tony Bennett and with the system and staff they have there," Murray said.

"It was amazing just to be a part of that and obviously the relationships and everything that I built during my four years there is something that I'm really fortunate to have. I'm proud to be an alumni of Virginia having recently graduated from there."

Setting goals for career

Murray has always found himself a goal setter and the first one when he settled on following the basketball path, was to get himself to college and not only to play at a big school but to come away with a degree.

He achieved that at Virginia and then his original goal after graduating was to be able to play basketball professionally. The Bullets are now providing that opportunity to him but that's just the beginning of what he hopes to now achieve.

"I think a long-term goal of myself is to be a professional athlete for as long as I can and to play this sport for a living," Murray said.

"I've obviously tried to work towards that every day and it's super cool that I've found this situation, and have been presented this opportunity to be able to play for Brisbane to fulfil that goal.

"I had lots of goals during college that were both individual and team-based, and was super fortunate and blessed to now be in this position to keep playing. There's only a select few players from college who get to play professionally so I feel super fortunate for that."

Choosing basketball over rugby

Murray grew up in a rugby family with his father, Carl, playing professionally in New Zealand and also representing Hong Kong internationally.

He himself did have a love for rugby too, but the passion for basketball soon took over and the whole family has now jumped on board for the journey since too.

"I always played both rugby and basketball growing up, and I would say that rugby probably was my first love," Murray said.

"I didn't really pick up basketball until later compared to some of my peers and teammates that I've had, but it was probably around when I was 16 or 17 that I had to make a choice.

"It was getting a bit too much trying to play both and I just fell in love with basketball, and I love the grind that goes with playing basketball to get better.

"I've never really looked back since to be honest and obviously I come from a rugby background with my dad so it's been a new adventure for my family getting into the basketball scene."

Chris Pike

Bullets perfect spot for Murray to start career