NICKNAME/S: Drewey, The Factor

BIO: Andrew Barry Casson was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Melbourne basketball program. Gaze grew up at Albert Park Basketball Stadium where his father, Lindsey operated as the general manager. Growing up Gaze attended Albert Park College and played basketball for the Melbourne Tigers junior and state league (Victorian Basketball Association) team. During this time he also studied at Victoria University in Melbourne.

When the Melbourne Tigers were elevated from the VBA to the NBL in 1984 Andrew and Lindsey, the head coach of the Tigers, began their NBL careers.

FAMILY: He has an older sister, Janet. Gaze is also the nephew of former Australian Opals coach Tony Gaze and the cousin of Mark Gaze, who played 182 games in the NBL (1983–1991) and represented Australia at the 1982 FIBA World Championships. Additionally he is the second cousin of Canberra Capitals guard Kate Gaze, the daughter of Mark Gaze and former WNBL player Michelle O’Connor.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Andrew Gaze made his NBL debut with the Melbourne Tigers at 18 years of age. He scored 16 points in his first game.

Andrew Gaze joined the Melbourne Tigers during their inaugural season in the NBL as an 18-year-old. The Tigers finished their first year with an 11-13 record, narrowly missing the playoffs. Despite the team’s struggles, Gaze had a remarkable debut season, earning the NBL Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals in 24 games.

1985
In his second NBL season, Gaze continued his stellar form, averaging 30.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. His statistical output at just 19 years of age remains unmatched to this day.. However, the Tigers regressed, finishing with a disappointing 5-21 record.

1986
By 1986, Gaze established himself as the league’s premier scorer, averaging 36.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Teaming up with import Paul Stanley, who averaged 33.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, the duo combined for an extraordinary 71 points per game. Gaze claimed his first NBL scoring title, a feat he would repeat every year until 2001.

Despite their offensive firepower, the Tigers managed only six wins and 20 losses. Gaze’s efforts were recognized with his first All-NBL First Team selection, setting the stage for a record-breaking career.

1987
At 21, Gaze delivered one of the greatest individual seasons in NBL history. He averaged 44.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.8 assists, setting the record for the highest points per game in a season—a record that still stands today. Gaze’s standout performances included a career-high 60-point game against the Newcastle Falcons and five additional 50-point games.

However, the Tigers’ on-court struggles persisted, finishing the season with a dismal 3-23 record and losing every away game.

1988
Following his historic 1987 season, Gaze’s scoring dipped slightly to 37 points per game, which still ranks as the fourth-highest scoring season in NBL history. The Tigers improved marginally, finishing with an 8-16 record, their best result since entering the league.

1989
The 1989 season marked a turning point for the Melbourne Tigers. The team restructured its roster, moving on from imports James Bullock and Alvis Rogers while adding Dave Simmons and David Colbert, both of whom provided significant contributions. The team also signed local talents Ray Gordon, Warrick Giddey, and rookie Stephen Whitehead, laying the foundation for future success.

Gaze led the league in both scoring (34.5 points) and assists (7.2), while also contributing 5.3 rebounds per game. Simmons (26.3 points, 9.9 rebounds) and Colbert (25.8 points, 11.8 rebounds) provided strong support, helping the Tigers achieve a 17-10 record and secure their first-ever playoff berth.

In the postseason, Melbourne’s inexperience showed, as they were eliminated in the first round by the Sydney Kings. Despite the early exit, Gaze’s efforts earned him the MVP award in the 1989 NBL All-Star Game.

1990
Coming off their first-ever playoff appearance in 1989, the Melbourne Tigers retained their core group and looked to build on their success in 1990. While the team lost naturalized swingman Eric Bailey to the Gold Coast, they secured an even stronger replacement in Cecil Exum (via North Melbourne), who had played a key role in the Giants’ 1989 championship. Imports Dave Colbert and Dave Simmons were also re-signed, providing stability and talent to the roster.

Andrew Gaze returned to the team after an offseason stint with Seton Hall University and narrowly missing out on an NBA contract with the Seattle Supersonics. Gaze was ready to dominate the NBL, and he didn’t disappoint. He averaged an incredible 37.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. Colbert (31.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks) and Simmons (27.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks) complemented Gaze, with the trio combining for a staggering 96 points per game.

The Tigers hit a major setback late in the season when Gaze was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder, an issue that nearly ended his career. As a result, Gaze was sidelined for the team’s final two regular-season games and the playoffs due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. Despite this, Melbourne finished the regular season in fourth place with a 17-9 record.

In the elimination finals, the Tigers faced fifth-seed Perth Wildcats. In Game 1, Dave Colbert stepped up in Gaze’s absence with a career-high 52 points, along with 9 rebounds and 4 steals. However, Perth’s well-rounded attack, led by Ricky Grace (30 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and David Close (25 points and 6 rebounds), proved too much, as the Wildcats claimed a 122-100 victory.

Game 2 saw another dominant performance from Colbert, who tallied 42 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while Simmons added 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Despite their efforts, Perth shut down the rest of Melbourne’s roster and secured a 123-113 win, ending the Tigers’ season.

1991
By 1991, Melbourne had established itself as a formidable force in the NBL. Andrew Gaze returned healthy and delivered another MVP-caliber season, averaging 38.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. Dave Colbert (24.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks) and Dave Simmons (24.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks) continued to shine, while Stephen Whitehead emerged as a key contributor, doubling his production with 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game after being moved to the starting lineup.

On July 27, the Tigers made history in a game against Illawarra, recording the highest-scoring match in NBL history with a combined 344 points. Melbourne secured a 186-158 victory, with Gaze (59 points, 11 assists, and 4 steals), Colbert (42 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 assists), and Simmons (36 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) doing most of the scoring. Illawarra’s Patrick Fairs (41 points and 10 rebounds) and Greg Hubbard (36 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) led their team, which shot an astonishing 76% from the field—a record for a losing team.

Melbourne entered the playoffs with high hopes but faced the Adelaide 36ers in the elimination finals. The Tigers lost Game 1 (115-129) despite Gaze’s scoring brilliance. Game 2 ended similarly, with Melbourne falling 96-132, resulting in a first-round exit.

Despite the playoff disappointment, Gaze’s remarkable season earned him the NBL Most Valuable Player award, the first of his career. This accolade marked the beginning of an unprecedented era of dominance, as Gaze went on to claim the MVP award in seven of the next eight seasons.

1992
Melbourne entered the 1992 season with a revamped roster, replacing forward David Colbert with former NBA guard Lanard Copeland. Together with Andrew Gaze, the two formed one of the most dynamic backcourt duos in the league. Gaze (33.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.3 assists) led the league in scoring, while Copeland (28.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists) quickly established himself as one of the NBL’s best imports.

The Tigers adopted a faster-paced style of play with their new lineup, propelling them to a third-place finish in the regular season with a 15-9 record. Once in the playoffs, Melbourne faced the Perth Wildcats in the quarterfinals, defeating them in a best-of-three series (2-1). This set up a semifinal showdown against the Sydney Kings, who had eliminated the Brisbane Bullets in their own quarterfinal matchup.

Melbourne overcame Sydney’s high-profile import Dwayne McClain (36 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) in Game 1, securing a 122-112 victory behind Gaze (34 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists) and Copeland (40 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks). The Kings returned home for Game 2 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, with a sellout crowd providing an electrifying atmosphere from tip-off to the final buzzer.

Melbourne started Game 2 on fire, with Gaze draining three triples to help the Tigers race to a 16-4 lead. However, Sydney clawed their way back, shooting an astonishing 75% from the field in the first half and taking a 68-64 lead into halftime. Sydney turned up the intensity in the third quarter, outscoring Melbourne 33-19. McClain torched the Tigers for 14 points in the period, helping Sydney build a 20-point lead early in the fourth quarter. While Melbourne mounted a late comeback behind Gaze (37 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals) and Copeland (35 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals), the Kings held on for a 124-118 victory, relying on four clutch free throws from McClain in the final minute to secure the win.

Sydney’s McClain (45 points) delivered the best performance of his NBL career, shooting 15-of-21 from the field, 15-of-18 from the free-throw line, while adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a remarkable 7 steals. To this day, it remains the best-ever postseason output by a Sydney player. Sydney’s 73.8% shooting from the field set the record for the best shooting performance in NBL playoff history and the second-best in any NBL game. Gaze later described the crowd as the loudest he had ever heard.

With the series tied at 1-1, Game 3 returned to Melbourne. Despite McClain’s heroic effort (34 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 4 steals while playing all 48 minutes), the Tigers proved too strong. Gaze led Melbourne with 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, while the Tigers received crucial contributions from their lesser-heralded teammates. Robert Sibley (19 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists) dominated inside, while Stephen Whitehead (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and David Simmons (10 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals) also delivered key efforts. The Tigers secured the series with a hard-fought victory, eliminating the Kings and advancing to their first-ever NBL Grand Final.

In the Grand Final, Melbourne faced the newly formed South East Melbourne Magic, created through a merger of the South Melbourne Saints and the Eastside Melbourne Spectres. The Magic had finished the regular season as the top seed and swept their way through the playoffs, defeating the Canberra Cannons in the quarterfinals and the North Melbourne Giants in the semifinals.

Game 1 of the Grand Final series saw Melbourne dominate behind stellar performances from their backcourt. Copeland (34 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) and Gaze (26 points) led the Tigers to a commanding 116-98 victory. However, the game came at a cost for the Magic, as starting point guard Darren Perry suffered a torn ACL and was ruled out for the remainder of the series.

Despite losing Perry, the Magic bounced back in Game 2. Darren Lucas stepped up in Perry’s absence, delivering a season-high 19 points while providing lockdown defense on Copeland, limiting him to only 14 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Rob Rose (20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) controlled the offense, and Bruce Bolden (22 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks) dominated inside. The Magic overpowered the Tigers, securing a 115-93 victory to even the series at 1-1.

In the deciding Game 3, the Magic’s defense once again proved the difference. They held Gaze to just 18 points on 5-of-19 shooting and kept Copeland below his season average with 24 points. Despite a valiant effort from the Tigers, the Magic ground out a 95-88 win to claim the NBL Championship. Rose (26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Bolden (21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) were outstanding, with Bolden receiving the NBL Finals MVP award from NBA Commissioner David Stern, who was in attendance.

Although Melbourne fell short of the championship, the 1992 season was a breakthrough year for the Tigers, marking their first-ever Grand Final appearance. Gaze and Copeland established themselves as one of the most electrifying duos in NBL history, and their playoff run set the foundation for future success.

1993 – THE TIGERS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP
The Melbourne Tigers entered the 1993 season with high expectations after their Grand Final loss the previous year. Their roster received a significant boost with the signing of star center Mark Bradtke. His arrival made national headlines, as he had spent the off-season playing in Spain and had previously given Adelaide a verbal agreement that he would return to the 36ers. However, upon his return to Australia, Bradtke refused to play out the final year of his contract with Adelaide, amid rumors that the Tigers were actively recruiting him. After failed negotiations, the 36ers gave permission for a buyout, but the NBL vetoed the move, allowing Bradtke to leave for Melbourne without Adelaide receiving compensation. It was later revealed that Bradtke had chosen to relocate to Melbourne to be closer to his girlfriend (and future wife), professional tennis player Nicole Provis.

Despite coming off a Grand Final appearance, the Tigers began the season poorly, starting 2-7. At midseason, they were not considered championship contenders. However, the team found its rhythm and finished strong, winning 14 of their final 17 games to end the regular season in third place. Bradtke (17.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) provided the interior presence Melbourne had long lacked, while Andrew Gaze (32.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.7 steals) and Lanard Copeland (22.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 steals) led the Tigers’ high-powered offense.

Once in the postseason, Melbourne breezed through the quarterfinals, sweeping Illawarra (2-0) to set up a highly anticipated rematch of the previous season’s Grand Final against South East Melbourne in the semifinals.

Adding to the intrigue, this was the only season between 1991 and 1998 where Andrew Gaze, despite his continued dominance in the league, did not win the NBL MVP award, with voters instead awarding the honor to the Magic’s Robert Rose.

The semifinal series was defined by Mark Bradtke’s outstanding performances. Bradtke torched his former crosstown rivals, scoring 21 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in a dramatic 108-106 Game 1 victory. He then followed it up with a commanding 28-point, 15-rebound effort in an 89-72 Game 2 win, eliminating the Magic and securing the Tigers’ spot in the Grand Final.

On the other side of the bracket, the top-seeded Perth Wildcats (21-5) had powered their way through the playoffs and awaited the Tigers in the championship series.

Game 1 was held in Melbourne, and by the second quarter, the Tigers were in control, holding a 19-point lead. However, foul trouble became a major issue, with Robert Sibley (13 points and 4 rebounds) and Bradtke (4 points, 11 rebounds) both fouling out. Bradtke, who struggled against Perth’s interior defense, shot just 1-of-9 from the field. The Wildcats, led by Ricky Grace (23 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals), stormed back to close the gap to four points in the final minutes. Despite Perth’s late push, Gaze (41 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists) remained ice-cold from the free-throw line, knocking down all ten of his free throws in the fourth quarter to secure a 117-113 Tigers victory.

Game 2 followed a similar pattern, with Melbourne jumping out to an early 32-22 lead behind Bradtke’s dominance (24 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists). However, Perth’s formidable frontline—James Crawford (32 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks), Andrew Vlahov (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks), and Scott Fisher (16 points and 6 rebounds)—clawed their way back, leading 60-54 at halftime.

Melbourne’s foul issues resurfaced in the second half, as both Gaze (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Dave Simmons (12 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) fouled out. Grace (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists) orchestrated Perth’s offense, feeding Crawford inside as he shot an efficient 11-of-15 from the field. The Wildcats held off a late Tigers rally, winning 112-105 in front of a sellout crowd of 8,000 at the Perth Entertainment Centre. The victory extended Perth’s home-winning streak to 17 games and set up a decisive Game 3 in Perth, where Melbourne had never won.

Heading into the final game, Perth was the clear favorite, having never lost a home playoff game in their 17-game winning streak. However, the Tigers came out fearless, determined to overcome history. They built a 15-point lead early, only for Perth to mount a furious comeback. With just seconds remaining, Melbourne clung to a two-point lead (104-102) after Gaze hit a crucial free throw. On the final possession, Vlahov (31 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) attempted a game-tying shot, but the ball rattled in and out, sealing Melbourne’s first-ever NBL Championship.

For Lindsay and Andrew Gaze, the championship was the culmination of a decade-long journey with the Melbourne Tigers. The iconic moment of the series came after the final buzzer when Andrew, overcome with emotion, embraced his father and longtime coach in celebration. It was an image that symbolized not just the Tigers’ triumph but also the perseverance of two figures who had dedicated their lives to Australian basketball.

Lanard Copeland (35 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) led all scorers, while Bradtke (23 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) finally broke free from Perth’s defensive pressure to dominate inside. In a surprising decision, Grand Final MVP honours were awarded to Ricky Grace despite playing for the losing team.

1994
Coming off their first NBL championship, the Melbourne Tigers returned in 1994 with nearly the entire roster intact. The only key departure was backup big man Robert Sibley (to Brisbane), with the team adding a promising young Chris Anstey in his place. The defending champions built on their momentum from the previous season, recording their best regular-season result in franchise history with a 19-7 record, securing second place on the ladder.

Andrew Gaze (33.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.4 steals) was at his brilliant best, leading the league in scoring while also taking home the NBL Most Valuable Player award—his fourth overall and the first in a streak of five consecutive MVPs. Mark Bradtke (20.2 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks) was dominant inside, leading the league in rebounding, and both players were selected to the All-NBL First Team.

Melbourne entered the playoffs in strong form, making light work of Illawarra in the quarterfinals. The Tigers dominated Game 1 (107-85) and Game 2 (119-83), advancing to the semifinals against an exceptionally talented Adelaide 36ers squad. The 36ers, who had finished fourth on the ladder, featured a stacked lineup including reigning NBL MVP Robert Rose (18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 3.0 steals), Mark Davis (21.7 points and 12.9 rebounds in the regular season), Willie Simmons, Phil Smyth (6.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists), Brett Maher, and Chris Blakemore.

Despite Melbourne’s strong regular season, Adelaide proved too deep and too well-balanced in the semifinals. The 36ers took Game 1 in Adelaide (101-88), and despite a strong effort from Gaze (29 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) in Game 2, the Tigers fell again (110-101) on their home floor, ending their season and securing Adelaide’s place in the Grand Final against North Melbourne.

For Gaze, 1994 was yet another individual triumph as he reclaimed the MVP award and reaffirmed his place as the league’s premier player.

1995
In 1995, Mark Bradtke requested some time off to allow him to support his wife Nicole’s tennis career as she traveled abroad, causing him to miss the first two-thirds of the season. Around the same time, Chris Anstey, a part of the Tigers’ junior program, also informed the club that he would return, having signed a deal to play with rival club South East Melbourne. Melbourne coach Lindsay Gaze appealed via the NBL tribunal, which ruled that Anstey could not leave the Tigers as long as they could match the contract, which they did.

After some extremely creative salary tweaking, the Magic then signed Anstey to a one-year deal worth $180,000, which the Tigers had no interest in matching, allowing Anstey to shift clubs. Once Anstey had signed with the Magic, he renegotiated his contract to a three-year, $181,000 contract, remaining higher than the Tigers’ contract not to break any NBL salary cap rules of the time.

The Tigers added forward Matt Reece (via Gold Coast) and center Blair Smith (via Brisbane) to cover the loss of Bradtke and Anstey.

Andrew Gaze (33.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 2.3 steals), Lanard Copeland (25.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals), and Dave Simmons (14.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks) led the team offensively during a season which saw a merry-go-round of league leaders. During the regular season, Brisbane, Sydney, North Melbourne, South East Melbourne, and Melbourne all sat in the number one spot on the ladder at some point. With Melbourne narrowly sitting among the top eight teams (10-7), Bradtke (11.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks) would return to play out the Tigers’ last nine games of the season.

The Tigers narrowly secured a playoff berth, finishing with a 14-12 record—their worst result since 1988—as the eighth seed. Despite their struggles, Melbourne stunned the top-seeded Perth Wildcats in Game 1 of the quarterfinals with a 103-91 upset, fueled by standout performances from Andrew Gaze (28 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Lanard Copeland (29 points).

However, with Bradtke still finding his rhythm after returning late in the season, the Tigers were unable to maintain their momentum. In Game 2, Andrew Vlahov (30 points and 11 rebounds) delivered a dominant performance, ensuring the Wildcats stayed alive with a nine-point victory (108-99). Perth then closed out the series in a tightly contested Game 3 (96-92), with all five starters—Crawford (20 points), Vlahov (18 points), Grace (18 points), Scott Fisher (17 points), and Cattalini (11 points)—scoring in double figures to eliminate Melbourne.

The Wildcats carried their strong form through the remainder of the playoffs, ultimately winning the 1995 NBL championship.

1996
The Tigers entered the 1996 season with high expectations, bringing back a full-strength Mark Bradtke and retaining their core group, with the only departure being Stephen Whitehead (to Sydney). After a disappointing 1995 campaign, Melbourne quickly reestablished themselves as a title contender, finishing with the best regular-season record in franchise history (21-5). Andrew Gaze (31.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.7 steals) earned his sixth MVP award while leading the league in scoring, with strong support from Lanard Copeland (21.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals) and a rejuvenated Bradtke (22.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.6 blocks).

Melbourne’s playoff run began against eighth-seeded Brisbane (14-12), but the Tigers were caught off guard in Game 1, suffering a 118-97 loss. They bounced back in Game 2, winning 96-87 behind strong performances from Gaze (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Bradtke (24 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists). In the decisive Game 3, the duo again led the way, with Gaze (29 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Bradtke (29 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks) dominating in a 111-93 victory to advance to the semifinals.

Facing the Canberra Cannons, Melbourne once again dropped the opening game (98-87), with Robert Rose (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists), Darnell Mee (21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks), and Simon Dwight (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks) proving too much to handle. However, the Tigers responded in Game 2 with Gaze (30 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals) narrowly missing a triple-double in a 100-82 win. In the decisive Game 3, Gaze (29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) and Bradtke (26 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks) combined to score half of Melbourne’s points, securing a hard-fought 91-87 win and a place in the Grand Final.

In a rematch of their 1992 Grand Final, the Tigers faced the South East Melbourne Magic (19-7), who finished second in the regular season. Melbourne took control in Game 1 with a 100-89 win, as Gaze (35 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) delivered his best game of the series, while Bradtke (24 points and 15 rebounds) and Copeland (23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) combined with him for 82 points.

Game 2 saw the Magic bounce back with an 88-84 win in front of a Grand Final record crowd of 15,064 at the National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park, still the highest-attended NBL game in Melbourne history. Gaze (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists) led the Tigers in scoring, but the Magic countered with Tony Ronaldson (28 points) and Mike Kelly (19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals), who played a crucial role in evening the series.

Less than 48 hours later, the deciding Game 3 proved to be a nightmare for Melbourne. The Magic’s younger, fitter squad took full advantage of the short turnaround, demolishing the Tigers 107-70. Billy McCaffrey (24 points and 5 assists) led the way, while Sam MacKinnon (18 points and 9 rebounds) shot an incredible 9/10 from the field, and John Dorge (16 points and 8 rebounds) was equally efficient, making 8 of his 11 shots. South East Melbourne’s superior shooting—54% (46/85) compared to Melbourne’s 38% (23/60)—was the deciding factor in the 30-point blowout.

The 1996 NBL Grand Final series set a new aggregate attendance record of 43,605 (average 14,535), the highest ever for a three-game series. Magic guard Mike Kelly was named Finals MVP after averaging 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2.3 steals across the series.