Sam Timmins
A versatile New Zealand big man who brought Washington Huskies hustle and championship grit back home to the NZNBL.
Born 1997 (age 29)·New Zealand basketball player·Birthday: May 23·Generation Z
Biography
Sam Timmins carved out his basketball identity through relentless work in the paint. The Christchurch native took his game to the University of Washington, where for four years he was the Huskies' blue-collar anchor—setting brutal screens, battling for rebounds, and protecting the rim. While not a flashy scorer, his understanding of positioning and team defense made him a constant presence. Returning to New Zealand, he translated that college experience into domestic success. His rugged style and leadership became a cornerstone for the Otago Nuggets, helping them capture an NZNBL championship and establishing himself as one of the league's most impactful interior forces.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Sam was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sam Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Sam's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NZNBL championship with the Otago Nuggets in 2022.
- Played 123 games across four seasons for the Washington Huskies in the NCAA's Pac-12 Conference.
- Represented New Zealand at the FIBA Asia Cup in 2022.
Did You Know?
He recorded a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in his final collegiate game for Washington.
His father, Trent Timmins, was a Tall Black and played professionally in New Zealand.
He was named to the NZNBL All-Star Five in the 2023 season.
“My job is to do the tough stuff, to set the tone inside.”
