Cody Ellis

Cody Gordon Ellis (born 24 April 1990) is an Australian basketball player for the Warwick Senators of the NBL1 West. After four years of college basketball for the Saint Louis Billikens, Ellis had a five-year stint in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks.

Cody Ellis

Ellis in September 2020
No. 25 – Warwick Senators
Position	Power forward
League	NBL1 West
Personal information
Born	(1990-04-24) 24 April 1990 (age 34) Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Listed height	202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight	110 kg (243 lb)
Career information
High school	Duncraig Senior (Perth, Western Australia) Lake Ginninderra (Canberra, ACT)
College	Saint Louis (2009–2013)
NBA draft	2013: undrafted
Playing career	2008–present
Career history
2008–2009	Australian Institute of Sport
2013–2015	Sydney Kings
2014–present	Stirling/Warwick Senators
2015–2018	Illawarra Hawks
Career highlights and awards
WCC champion (2020) Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year (2013) Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team (2010)
Medals Men’s basketball Representing  Australia Summer Universiade 2013 Kazan Team competition

Early life and career

Ellis was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia.^[1] In 2008 and 2009, he attended the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and played for the program's SEABL team.^[2] He was also a member of the Under 19 Australian Emus team that finished fourth at the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.^[1]

College career

Ellis moved to the United States for the 2009–10 college season to play for the Saint Louis Billikens. He missed the first 14 games of the season before being cleared by the NCAA and joined the team in January 2010. He played in 22 games with 19 starts and averaged 10.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He subsequently earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honours.^[3][4]

As a sophomore in 2010–11, Ellis played in 21 games for the Billikens before suffering a season-ending dislocated shoulder in February 2011. For the season, he averaged 6.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.^[3][4]

As a junior in 2011–12, Ellis managed his first full season while serving as a key sixth man for the Billikens, appearing in every game (34) and coming off the bench in all but one. He averaged 10.1 points per game and led the team with 69 three-pointers made, which tied for the eighth most in a single season at SLU.^[3][4]

As a senior in 2012–13, Ellis earned Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year honours. He appeared in all 35 games off the bench, averaging 10.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He led the team with 62 three-point field goals and was seventh in the A-10 with a .829 free-throw percentage.^[3][4]

Ellis ended his career at SLU as one of 27 1,000-point scorers (1,062) in school history, and ranked sixth all-time at SLU in three-pointers made (194) and fourth in attempts (580).^[3]

Professional career

NBL

Sydney Kings (2013–2015)

On 13 July 2013, Ellis signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League.^[1][5][6] However, his arrival in Sydney was delayed until December 2013 while he completed his studies in business at Saint Louis.^[7] He made his debut for the Kings on 3 January 2014 against the Cairns Taipans,^[8] and in 16 games during the 2013–14 NBL season, Ellis averaged 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.^[9]

On 25 March 2014, the Kings took up the second-year option on Ellis two-year contract, re-signing him for the 2014–15 season.^[10] He scored a career-high 18 points on 17 January 2015 in an 80–76 loss to the Cairns Taipans.^[11] He appeared in all 28 games for the Kings in 2014–15, averaging 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.^[12]

Illawarra Hawks (2015–2018)

On 10 August 2015, Ellis signed with the Illawarra Hawks for the 2015–16 NBL season.^[13] On 17 January 2016, he scored 18 points in the Hawks' 103–96 double-overtime win over the New Zealand Breakers.^[14] In 29 games for the Hawks in 2015–16, Ellis averaged 6.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

On 20 April 2016, Ellis re-signed with the Hawks on a two-year deal.^[15] He helped the Hawks reach the 2017 NBL Grand Final, where they faced the Perth Wildcats. In game one of the series, Ellis scored a team- and season-high 12 points in an 89–77 loss.^[16] The Hawks went on to lose the best-of-five series in three games. Ellis appeared in all 34 games for the Hawks in 2016–17, averaging 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Ellis entered the 2017–18 NBL season eight kilos lighter.^[17] However, a bout of chicken pox kept him out of the NBL pre-season blitz.^[18] Ellis started the 2017–18 season out of the rotation after management at the Hawks sent down the edict to the coaching staff that he wasn't to play.^[19][20] Eventually he hit the floor and finished the season strongly.^[20] In 20 games for the Hawks in 2017–18, he averaged 6.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

In September 2018, Ellis joined the Cairns Taipans as a pre-season injury replacement for Lucas Walker.^[21]

SBL / NBL1 West

Stirling/Warwick Senators (2014–present)

Every year between 2014 and 2023, Ellis played for the Warwick Senators in the State Basketball League (SBL) / NBL1 West. Known as the Stirling Senators when he first joined the club,^[22] Ellis played in the SBL during the NBL off-seasons before continuing in the league following his NBL tenure.^{[23][24][25][26][27]}

Ellis' first three seasons in the SBL saw him average over 22 points per game.^[28][29] With the league's change from 48-minute games to 40-minute games in 2017,^[30] his scoring average dropped to 17 per game,^[31] which then dropped to 14.5 and 13.4 in 2018 and 2019 respectively.^[32][33]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 SBL season was cancelled.^[34] Ellis later played for the Senators in the West Coast Classic,^[35][36] where they won the title with a 96–81 victory over the Perry Lakes Hawks in the grand final.^[37] In 13 games, he averaged 14.69 points, 4.62 rebounds and 5.08 assists per game.^[38]

In December 2020, Ellis re-signed with the Senators for the 2021 NBL1 West season.^[39] In 23 games, he averaged 17.17 points, 5.65 rebounds, 4.47 assists and 1.82 steals per game.^[40]

In December 2021, Ellis re-signed with the Senators for the 2022 NBL1 West season.^[41] He was limited to 15 games in 2022 due to a knee injury,^[42] averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.07 assists, 1.27 steals and 1.07 blocks per game.^[43]

In January 2023, Ellis re-signed with the Senators for the 2023 NBL1 West season.^[44] In May 2023, he played his 200th SBL/NBL1 game.^[45] In 20 games, he averaged 15.85 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.15 steals per game.^[46]

After initially retiring following the 2023 season,^[47][48] Ellis returned to the Senators in March 2024 for the 2024 NBL1 West season.^[49][50]

National team career

In June 2013, Ellis was selected in the Australian squad for the Stanković Cup in China and the Universiade in Russia, where he won gold and silver respectively.^[51][52][53]

Personal life

Ellis is the son of retired Perth Wildcats legend, Mike Ellis.^[8] Ellis and his wife, Lauren, have a son.^[54][55]

References

1. . SydneyKings.com. 13 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
2. . ausport.gov.au. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
3. "Cody Ellis Biography". slubillikens.com. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
4. "Cody Ellis Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
5. "Cody Ellis signs two-year deal with Sydney Kings". News.com.au. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
6. Hope, Shayne (15 July 2013). "Case of wrong time over Cody Ellis". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
7. . NBL.com.au. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
8. Walshaw, Nick (2 January 2014). "Cody Ellis rushing to make NBL debut and help Kings after six-month absence from basketball". DailyTelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
9. "Player statistics for Cody Ellis – 2013/14". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
10. . NBL.com. 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
11. "KINGS GO DOWN TO TAIPANS". SydneyKings.com. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
12. "Player statistics for Cody Ellis – 2014/15". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
13. "HAWKS COMPLETE ROSTER WITH CODY ELLIS' ARRIVAL". Hawks.com.au. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
14. . Hawks.com.au. 17 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
15. "EXCITING YOUNGSTER CODY ELLIS STAYS WITH HAWKS FOR NEXT TWO SEASONS". Hawks.com.au. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
16. . NBL.com.au. 26 February 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
17. Santamaria, Liam (4 September 2017). "TRIM CODY ELLIS SET FOR BREAKOUT CONTRACT YEAR". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
18. Jennings, Mitch (27 September 2017). "NBL: Hard chat brings out the best in Ellis". IllawarraMercury.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
19. Cohen, Mitch (6 November 2017). "Ellis the victim of Hawks' slow start". IllawarraMercury.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
20. "IN LIMBO ELLIS BACKS SENATORS TO GO ALL THE WAY". SBL.asn.au. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
21. "Walker injury update, training team changes". Taipans.com. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
22. Van Houwelingen, Laura (31 March 2014). "Ellis Comes Home". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
23. . StirlingSenators.com.au. 11 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
24. . StirlingSenators.com.au. 20 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
25. "Senators look to make noise despite tough preparation". SportsTG.com. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
26. "2018 MEN'S SBL SEASON PREVIEW". SBL.asn.au. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
27. "2019 MEN'S SBL SEASON PREVIEW". SBL.asn.au. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
28. . FoxSportsPulse.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
29. . SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
30. "SBL Moves to 40 Minute Game Format". SportsTG.com. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
31. "Player statistics for Cody Ellis – 2017". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
32. "Player statistics for Cody Ellis – 2018". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
33. "Player statistics for Cody Ellis – 2019". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
34. "MEDIA RELEASE: SBL 2020 CANCELLED". SBL.asn.au. 14 May 2020. from the original on 14 May 2020.
35. "2020 WEST COAST CLASSIC". SBL.asn.au. 12 June 2020. from the original on 12 June 2020.
36. "ROUND 1 MEN'S WEST COAST CLASSIC PREVIEW". SBL.asn.au. 24 July 2020. from the original on 24 July 2020.
37. "DEEP SENATORS TOO MUCH AS WARWICK WINS FIRST BANNER". SBL.asn.au. 28 September 2020. from the original on 28 September 2020.
38. "Player statistics for Cody Ellis – 2020". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
39. "NBL-1 West Player Announcement". facebook.com/WarwickSenatorsCCSRA. 22 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
40. "Cody Ellis". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
41. "NBL1 Player Announcement". facebook.com/WarwickSenatorsCCSRA. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
42. "Senators captain can't wait to lock horns with Wortho once more". NBL1.com.au. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
43. "Cody Ellis". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
44. "We are thrilled to be welcoming back Cody Ellis for the 2023 season!". facebook.com/WarwickSenatorsCCSRA. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
45. Pike, Chris (26 May 2023). "Senators mean the world to 200-gamer Ellis". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023.
46. "Cody Ellis – 2023 Stats". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
47. "We celebrate the retirement of our very own club legend, Cody Ellis!". facebook.com/WarwickSenatorsCCSRA. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
48. Pike, Chris (14 September 2023). "Ellis retires on own terms with no regrets". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
49. "Cody Ellis Returns for 2024". facebook.com/WarwickSenatorsCCSRA. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
50. "Added bonus for Ellis to celebrate Thwaites' 200th". NBL1.com.au. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024.
51. "EMERGING BOOMERS TALENT READY FOR STANKOVIC CUP". Basketball.net.au. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
52. "AUSTRALIAN TEAMS NAMED FOR 2013 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES". Basketball.net.au. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
53. . UniSport.com.au. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
54. . NBL.com.au. 6 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
55. Kennedy, Paulo (27 February 2014). . NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2016.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cody Ellis.

• Saint Louis player bio
• Cody and Mike Ellis talk basketball and the NBL
• Mike Ellis proud of son but bewildered no NBL spot for Cody