Dillon Boucher

Early life

Growing up in Bell Block, a small township just outside of New Plymouth, Boucher picked up basketball in his final year at Bell Block Primary School, thanks in large part to his older brothers. Boucher continued to play the sport through high school, spending his third-form year at New Plymouth's Spotswood College in 1989 before relocating to Auckland in 1990 and attending Papatoetoe High School. While he enjoyed playing basketball, it was when he was selected for his first New Zealand age-group squad, around the age of 17, he saw the potential to make a career out of it.

Professional career

Boucher played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian National Basketball League from their inception in 2003 until 2005 when he signed with the Perth Wildcats for whom he played for in 2005/06. Boucher then played for the Brisbane Bullets between 2006 and 2008. In 2008, he re-joined the New Zealand Breakers and was part of the team's championship three-peat between 2010/11 and 2012/13. Following the 2012/13 season, Boucher retired from the Breakers and the Australian NBL. At the 2013 Breakers awards night, Boucher's number 24 was retired in honour of his credited career with the club.

With the Auckland Pirates in 2012, Boucher won his ninth NZNBL Championship. Prior to 2011, he played for the Auckland Stars, Waikato Titans and Harbour Heat. He went on to spend the 2013 season with the Wellington Saints.

In November 2013, Boucher signed with the Super City Rangers for the 2014 season. In November 2014, he re-signed with the Rangers as a player/assistant coach for the 2015 season. In November 2015, he re-signed with the Rangers on a three-year deal, continuing on as a player/assistant coach. On 4 May 2017, Boucher became the second player to reach 400 NBL games, joining Phill Jones (406). On 5 June 2017, he played his 409th career NBL game, surpassing Jones as the all-time leader.

Off the court

On 19 January 2016, Boucher was named the successor to Breakers' chief executive Richard Clarke, with Boucher taking over the role of general manager in 2016–17. Since his retirement from the playing roster in 2013, Boucher had been groomed to take on the general manager role, working with Clarke to learn the commercial aspects of the club.

National team career

Boucher made his first Tall Blacks team in 2001. He was part of the squad who shocked the hoops world to claim fourth place at the 2002 FIBA World Championship. Following his national team call up, Boucher became a fixture in the side until his retirement from the international level in 2008.

Personal

In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, Boucher was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to basketball.