Reuben Te Rangi

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Reuben Te Rangi

| image = Reuben Te Rangi 2019.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Te Rangi with the Brisbane Bullets in 2019

| position = Shooting guard / small forward

| height_cm = 198

| weight_kg = 105

| league = NZNBL

| team = Franklin Bulls

| number = 7

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|10|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| high_school = Auckland Grammar School
(Auckland, New Zealand)

| career_start = 2012

| years1 = 2012

| team1 = Harbour Heat

| years2 = 2012–2016

| team2 = New Zealand Breakers

| years3 = 2013–2014

| team3 = Southland Sharks

| years4 = 2015–2016

| team4 = Super City Rangers

| years5 = 2016–2020

| team5 = Brisbane Bullets

| years6 = 2017–2018

| team6 = Southland Sharks

| years7 = 2019

| team7 = Wellington Saints

| years8 = 2020

| team8 = Canterbury Rams

| years9 = 2020–2024

| team9 = South East Melbourne Phoenix

| years10 = 2021–2022

| team10 = Knox Raiders

| years11 = 2023–2024

| team11 = Auckland Tuatara

| years12 = 2024–2025

| team12 = Tasmania JackJumpers

| years13 = 2025–present

| team13 = Franklin Bulls

| years14 = 2025–present

| team14 = New Zealand Breakers

| highlights =

2× NBL champion (2013, 2015)
NBL Best Sixth Man (2019)
NBL Most Improved Player (2019)
3× NZNBL champion (2013, 2018, 2019)
NZNBL Finals MVP (2018)
NZNBL Rookie of the Year (2012)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}

{{MedalCountry|{{bk|NZL}}}}

}}

Reuben Te Rangi (born 14 October 1994) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for the Franklin Bulls of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He started his Australian NBL career in 2012 with the Breakers, with whom he won two championships in 2013 and 2015. Te Rangi joined the Brisbane Bullets in 2016 and won both the Best Sixth Man Award and Most Improved Player Award in 2019. He played four seasons with the South East Melbourne Phoenix before signing with the Tasmania JackJumpers in 2024. He returned to the Breakers in 2025.

Te Rangi is a regular New Zealand Tall Black and has played many seasons in the New Zealand NBL.

Early life

Te Rangi was born in Auckland and raised in the South Auckland suburb of Manurewa.{{cite web|url=https://olympic.org.nz/athletes/reuben-te-rangi|title=Reuben Te Rangi|work=olympic.org.nz|access-date=4 January 2020}}{{cite web|last=Hein|first=David|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/news/World-champ-Te-Rangi-New-Zealand-s-next-big-hope|title=World champ Te Rangi New Zealand's next big hope|work=fiba.basketball|date=24 May 2012|access-date=4 January 2020}} He attended Auckland Grammar School and played junior basketball for Counties Manukau Basketball Association.{{cite web|url=https://nz.basketball/nz_player/reuben-te-rangi/|title=Reuben Te Rangi|work=nz.basketball|access-date=4 January 2020}}

Professional career

=Australian NBL=

Te Rangi made his debut in the Australian NBL during the 2012–13 season as a development player with the New Zealand Breakers. He was subsequently a member of the Breakers' championship-winning team.{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-southland-times/20130612/282140698934243|title=Breakers contract has teenage Te Rangi confident, buzzing|work=The Southland Times |date=12 June 2013|access-date=4 January 2020}} For the 2013–14 season, he was elevated to the Breakers' roster on a full-time contract. In March 2015, he won his second NBL championship when the Breakers defeated the Cairns Taipans in the NBL Grand Final.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/19rxbkuuo4bp91tid253imw1id|title=Grand Final Report: Ibekwe jumper wins Breakers the Championship|work=NBL.com.au|date=8 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311165633/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/19rxbkuuo4bp91tid253imw1id|archive-date=11 March 2015}} A year later, he helped the Breakers reach the 2016 NBL Grand Final series, where they were defeated by the Perth Wildcats.{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/77601001/nz-breakers-beaten-by-perth-wildcats-in-anbl-finals-decider|title=NZ Breakers beaten by Perth Wildcats in ANBL finals decider|work=Stuff |date=6 March 2016|access-date=4 January 2020}}

In April 2016, Te Rangi joined the Brisbane Bullets.{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11630874|title=Basketball: Te Rangi signs on with Brisbane Bullets|newspaper=New Zealand Herald |date=29 April 2016|access-date=15 June 2020}} In February 2019, he was named the NBL's Best Sixth Man and Most Improved Player.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/110661602/tall-black-reuben-te-rangi-scores-double-success-at-aussie-nbls-awards-night|title=Tall Black Reuben Te Rangi scores double success at Aussie NBL's awards night|work=Stuff |date=18 February 2019|access-date=4 January 2020}}

On 22 July 2020, Te Rangi signed a two-year deal with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/reuben-te-rangi-signs-with-south-east-melbourne|title=Reuben Te Rangi Signs with South East Melbourne|work=NBL.com.au|date=22 July 2020|access-date=22 July 2020}} On 24 March 2022, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Phoenix.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/phoenix-sign-te-rangi-to-contract-extension|title=Phoenix Sign Te Rangi to Contract Extension|work=NBL.com.au|date=24 March 2022|access-date=24 March 2022}} In January 2023, he played his 300th NBL game.{{cite web|last=Hersz|first=Tom|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/milestone-man-te-rangi-sticks-to-process|title=Milestone Man Te Rangi Sticks to Process|work=NBL.com.au|date=22 January 2023|access-date=23 January 2023}}

On 26 July 2024, Te Rangi signed with the Tasmania JackJumpers for the 2024–25 NBL season.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/jackjumpers-add-more-championship-talent|title=JackJumpers add more championship talent|work=NBL.com.au|date=26 July 2024|access-date=26 July 2024}} In January 2025, he played his 350th NBL game.{{cite news |title=High praise for milestone man Te Rangi |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/high-praise-for-milestone-man-te-rangi |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=NBL Official Website |date=7 January 2025}}

On 8 April 2025, Te Rangi signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers, returning to the club for a second stint.{{cite news |title=Home is where the heart is: Te Rangi back to NZ |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/home-is-where-the-heart-is-te-rangi-back-to-nz |access-date=8 April 2025 |work=nbl.com.au |date=8 April 2025 |language=en}}

=New Zealand NBL=

Te Rangi made his debut in the New Zealand NBL in 2012 with the Harbour Heat and subsequently won the Rookie of the Year award.{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/nbl/results/2012-nbl-final-four|title=2012 NBL Final Four|work=basketball.org.nz|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129024410/http://www.basketball.org.nz/nbl/results/2012-nbl-final-four|archive-date=29 November 2012}}

In 2013, Te Rangi joined the Southland Sharks and helped them win the championship.{{cite web|last=Worthington|first=Sam|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/8919059/Hungry-Sharks-claim-unlikely-NBL-title|title=Hungry Sharks claim unlikely NBL title|work=Stuff |date=14 July 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826121538/http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/8919059/Hungry-Sharks-claim-unlikely-NBL-title|archive-date=26 August 2014}} He returned to the Sharks in 2014 but was cut mid-season following an off-court incident in New Plymouth.{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/93497328/reuben-te-rangi-falls-in-love-with-basketball-again-as-he-points-his-career-in-the-right-direction|title=Reuben Te Rangi falls in love with basketball again as he points his career in the right direction|work=Stuff |date=9 June 2017|access-date=4 January 2020}}

For the 2015 season, Te Rangi joined the Super City Rangers.{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/65678151/supercity-rangers-sign-reuben-te-rangi-for-nz-nbl|title=SuperCity Rangers sign Reuben Te Rangi for NZ NBL|work=Stuff |date=2 February 2015|access-date=4 January 2020}} He returned to the Rangers in 2016 and helped them reach the NBL final, where they lost to the Wellington Saints.{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/80756254/wellington-saints-win-2016-nbl-title-with-win-over-super-city-rangers|title=Wellington Saints win 2016 NBL title with win over Super City Rangers|work=Stuff |date=4 June 2016|access-date=4 January 2020}}

For the 2017 season, Te Rangi was welcomed back to the Southland Sharks. He helped the Sharks reach the NBL final, where they lost to the Wellington Saints.{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/NBL-News/saints-create-history-claiming-their-tenth-title|title=Saints create history claiming their tenth title|work=Basketball.org.nz|date=17 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126000755/http://nz.basketball/NBL-News/saints-create-history-claiming-their-tenth-title|archive-date=26 January 2019}} In 2018, Te Rangi helped the Sharks avenge their defeat to the Saints by beating them in the final behind his Finals MVP performance.{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Niall|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12101636|title=Basketball: Southland Sharks beat Wellington Saints in superb final to win NBL title|work=The New Zealand Herald |date=5 August 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805135130/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12101636|archive-date=5 August 2018}}

For the 2019 season, Te Rangi joined the Wellington Saints.{{cite web|last=Hyslop|first=Liam|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/108963413/reuben-te-rangi-joins-paul-henare-at-wellington-saints-for-world-cup-year|title=Reuben Te Rangi joins Paul Henare at Wellington Saints for World Cup year|work=Stuff |date=30 November 2018|access-date=4 January 2020}} He went on to play in his fourth straight NBL final, where he won his third NBL championship.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Tony|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/114400236/wellington-saints-claim-record-11th-nbl-title-with-stunning-comeback-win-over-hawks|title=Wellington Saints claim 11th NBL title with stunning comeback win over Hawks|work=Stuff |date=21 July 2019|access-date=4 January 2020}} He played for the Canterbury Rams in 2020{{cite news|url=https://canterburyrams.basketball/rams-announce-the-addition-of-reuben-te-rangi-for-the-2020-sals-nbl-showdown/|title=Rams Announce The Addition Of Reuben Te Rangi For The 2020 Sals NBL Showdown|work=canterburyrams.basketball|date=14 July 2020|access-date=14 July 2020}} and the Auckland Tuatara in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://tuatarabasketball.com/tall-blacks-star-te-rangi-joins-tuatara/|title=TALL BLACKS STAR TE RANGI JOINS TUATARA|work=tuatarabasketball.com|date=14 February 2023|access-date=14 February 2023}} He re-joined the Tuatara in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://tuatarabasketball.com/tall-blacks-captain-te-rangi-returns-to-tuatara/|title=TALL BLACKS CAPTAIN TE RANGI RETURNS TO TUATARA|work=tuatarabasketball.com|date=19 January 2024|access-date=19 January 2024}} He joined the Franklin Bulls for the 2025 season.{{cite news |title=South Auckland Homecoming for Tall Black |url=https://www.bullsbasketball.nz/post/south-auckland-homecoming-for-tall-black |access-date=11 March 2025 |work=BULLS BASKETBALL |date=11 March 2025 |language=en}}

=NBL1=

On 11 March 2021, Te Rangi signed with the Knox Raiders for the 2021 NBL1 South season.{{cite web|url=https://knoxraiders.nbl1.com.au/news/raiders-add-phoenix-forward-reuben-te-rangi/|title=Raiders add Phoenix Forward Reuben Te Rangi|work=knoxraiders.nbl1.com.au|date=11 March 2021|access-date=6 April 2021|quote=South East Melbourne Phoenix starter Reuben Te Rangi will suit up with the Knox Raiders in NBL1 South 2021.}} He re-joined the Raiders for the 2022 NBL1 South season.{{cite web|url=https://nbl1.com.au/player/bc4019e6-1695-11ec-add4-9e9119a224b2/6c27c22c-d54c-11eb-a7fd-e252a347baa9/reuben-te-rangi/south|title=Reuben Te Rangi|work=nbl1.com.au|access-date=26 September 2022}}

National team career

In 2012, Te Rangi played for the Junior Tall Blacks at the FIBA Oceania Under-18 Championship and the Albert Schweitzer Tournament.{{cite web|url=https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/player/p/pid/86624/sid/8110/tid/337/tid2//_/2017_FIBA_Asia_Cup/index.html|title=Reuben Te Rangi|work=fiba.com|access-date=4 January 2020}} He made his debut for the Tall Blacks in 2013 and played at the FIBA Oceania Championships in the same year. He went on to play at the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship. He captained the Tall Blacks at the 2017 Asia Cup in Lebanon, and in 2018, he was a member of the bronze medal winning team at the Commonwealth Games. He played during the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asia Qualifiers, but missed the World Cup due to injury.

In July 2023, Te Rangi was named in the Tall Blacks squad for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://nz.basketball/tall-blacks-squad-of-14-named-for-world-cup-prep-tour/|title=TALL BLACKS SQUAD OF 14 NAMED FOR WORLD CUP PREP TOUR|work=nz.basketball|date=31 July 2023|access-date=1 August 2023}}