Australian NBL New Zealand Breakers (2014–2019) In August 2014, Ili joined the
New Zealand Breakers of the Australian
National Basketball League (NBL) as a development player for the
2014–15 season. A former Breakers Academy player in 2011, Ili was highly rated by the Breakers for his athleticism, work rate and attitude. In March 2015, he became a championship-winning player with the Breakers after they defeated the
Cairns Taipans in the NBL Grand Final series. Ili re-joined the Breakers as a development player for the
2015–16 NBL season. He stepped into the backcourt rotation during the pre-season. Ili was given minutes on a regular basis for the Breakers towards the end of the season, including during the playoffs. In 20 games for the Breakers in 2015–16, he averaged 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. On 27 April 2016, Ili signed a full-time contract with the Breakers. In 17 games, he averaged 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Ili had a breakout start to the
2017–18 NBL season. On 26 October 2017, he scored a career-high 23 points in a 101–96 win over the
Brisbane Bullets. For the season, Ili was named the
NBL Most Improved Player after averaging 9.2 points, 3.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game. On 22 March 2018, Ili re-signed with the Breakers on a two-year deal. During the off-season, he attended an NBA mini-camp run by the
Dallas Mavericks. While he struggled offensively during the
2018–19 season, Ili's defence was a highlight, proving himself to be one of the best stoppers in the league. On 30 December 2018, he scored a season-high 19 points in a 109–98 loss to the
Adelaide 36ers. On 3 February 2019, he scored 18 points in a 111–102 overtime loss to
Melbourne United. In 27 games, Ili averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. On 19 June 2019, Ili requested a release from the final year of his contract with the Breakers in order to pursue more minutes at another NBL club.
Melbourne United (2019–present) On 20 June 2019, Ili signed a two-year deal with
Melbourne United. Despite a 0–3 start for Melbourne to begin the
2019–20 season, Ili helped the team recover to a 4–4 record after round 6. A minor calf injury to Ili in round 8 saw him miss two round 9 games. Ili was moved into the starting line-up during United's 2–1 semi-final series loss to the
Sydney Kings. In 29 games, he averaged 6.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. The
2020–21 NBL season began in January 2021. Ili missed the majority of February 2021 with a left ankle injury. He helped United win the 2020–21 championship and shot a career-high 43.2% from 3-point range. On 27 June 2021, Ili re-signed with United on a two-year deal. and earned the
NBL Best Sixth Man Award after averaging a career high in assists and steals off the bench, while shooting the ball at above 41% from 3-point range for the second consecutive year. United lost 2–1 in the semi-finals to the
Tasmania JackJumpers despite Ili's team-high 18 points in game three. On 26 July 2022, Ili signed a two-year contract extension with United. During the 2022 pre-season, he suffered a concussion which lingered until December. He suffered another concussion in January 2023. For the
2022–23 season, he was once again named a finalist for best defender. In the
2023–24 season, Ili was named the
NBL Best Defensive Player. United finished as minor premiers and reached the NBL Grand Final series, where they lost 3–2 to the
Tasmania JackJumpers. Ili missed two rounds early in the
2024–25 season with a calf injury. He went on to earn NBL Best Defensive Player honours for the second straight year. He helped United reach the grand final series, where in game two against the
Illawarra Hawks, he suffered a head knock during the second quarter and missed the second half of the game. He was subsequently ruled out of game three and game four due to concussion protocols. He returned to the line-up in game five and had 20 points, six assists and four steals, but United finished as runners-up with a 3–2 series defeat following a 114–104 loss. On 7 April 2025, Ili re-signed with United on a two-year deal. He missed the pre-season blitz due to minor concussion symptoms. Prior to the start of the 2025–26 season, he was named United vice captain alongside
Kyle Bowen. He sustained a right hamstring injury in United's exhibition game against the
New Orleans Pelicans in Melbourne on 3 October, which sidelined him until mid November after missing nine games. After a one-game return, he was sidelined again, this time due to a left hamstring injury sustained at training. He returned to action on 12 December but suffered another hamstring injury on 18 December. He returned to action on 30 January 2026 but suffered another left hamstring injury on 12 February, which ruled him out for the rest of the regular season. He appeared in just 10 games. He re-joined United for their Play-In Qualifier on 5 March.
New Zealand NBL and NBL1 South Ili made his debut in the
New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) in
2012 with the championship-winning
Auckland Pirates. He joined the
Super City Rangers for the
2013 season and was one of their standouts despite them winning just two games. However, he appeared in just 10 games after he was suspended indefinitely by the team in late May following a fight outside a bar in
New Plymouth that he and teammates
Reuben Te Rangi and
Leon Henry were involved in. The trio were stood down by the team for the second half of the season, and in June, all three pleaded guilty to attacking bar staff. Ili pleaded guilty to two charges: common assault and assault with intent to injure. In August, Henry and Ili agreed to carry out clinics in
Taranaki. Neither wanted a discharge without conviction. Ili received a four-month sentence of community detention and was ordered to pay reparation of $750 to one victim and $500 to the other. The Sharks welcomed back Ili for the
2015 season and he subsequently began to show his athletic prowess. On 19 June 2015, Ili scored a career-high 24 points off the bench in a 101–91 win over the
Manawatu Jets. He helped the Sharks reach the grand final, where they defeated the
Wellington Saints 72–68 to win the championship. Ili appeared in all 20 games for the Sharks in 2015, averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. On 22 May 2016, Ili scored a career-high 28 points in the Saints' 78–75 loss to the Southland Sharks. Six days later, he had a game-high 25 points in a 96–83 win over the
Nelson Giants. He helped the Saints reach the grand final, where they defeated the Super City Rangers 94–82 to win the championship. Ili appeared in 19 games for the Saints in 2016, averaging career highs in points (14.8) and assists (5.5), to go with 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals. For the season, he was named the league's
Most Outstanding Kiwi Guard. Ili returned to the Saints for the
2017 season. He had a pass-first approach but had greatly improved his shooting over the previous 12 months. On 17 April, he had 22 points and 15 assists in a 102–79 win over the
Canterbury Rams. On 25 April, he had 27 points, 10 assists and six steals in a 110–84 win over the Nelson Giants. On 19 May, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 109–94 win over the Southland Sharks. He helped the Saints return to the grand final, where he set a new career high with 31 points in a 108–75 win over the Sharks to win another championship. He subsequently earned
Finals MVP honours. He was also named
All-Star Five. In the Saints' season opener on 27 April, Ili recorded game highs of 32 points and 10 assists in a 113–108 loss to the Southland Sharks. He went on to earn Player of the Week honours for rounds five and seven. He helped the Saints reach the grand final, where they lost 98–96 loss to the Sharks, despite Ili's game-high 27 points. In 19 games, he averaged a career-high 22.2 points to go with 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He was subsequently named
league MVP. Ili re-joined the Saints for the
2019 season and quickly cemented himself as an MVP favourite. In the Saints' semi-final against the Southland Sharks, Ili scored a game-high 32 points in a 95–89 win. In the grand final, Ili had nine points, eight assists and five rebounds in a 78–68 victory over the
Hawke's Bay Hawks to help the Saints win another championship. For the season, Ili was named Most Outstanding Kiwi Guard and All-Star Five. In
2021, Ili had a three-game stint with the
Geelong Supercats of the
NBL1 South. He joined the
Sandringham Sabres of the NBL1 South for the
2022 season and won
league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. After missing the
2023 NBL1 season due to concussion precautions, Ili re-joined the Sandringham Sabres for the
2024 season and averaged 17.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. In September 2024, it was reported that Ili would return to the Sabres for the
2025 NBL1 season. He was ruled out for the rest of the season on 26 June 2025 following a head knock. The Saints went on to win the 2025 NZNBL championship. ==National team career==