NICKNAME/S: JR

BIO: John Peter Rillie was born in Toowoomba (QLD) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Toowoomba Mountaineers basketball program. Following the completion of his collegiate career, Rillie spent 16 years playing professional basketball internationally. From 1995-2009 he enjoyed stints with the Brisbane Bullets (1995), Adelaide 36ers (1996-98), West Sydney Razorbacks (1998-02 and 2003/04) and Townsville Crocodiles (2004-09), and spent 2009/10 with the New Zealand Breakers. Rillie also played one season (2002) with AEK Athens of the Euroleague.

FAMILY: John’s son Jaron Rillie also played 14 games in the NBL.

NBL EXPERIENCE

John Rillie made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 23 years of age. He scored 10 points in his first game.

Rillie joined a Bullets team on the rebound in 1995, having list to Adelaide in the Quarterfinals the previous season. The early exit saw Brisbane revamp their frontcourt, releasing import forwards Dave Colbert and Andre Moore as well as veteran forward Shane Froling. Head coach Bruce Palmer retained Shane Heal, Leroy Loggins, Rodger Smith, Robert Sibley and Wayne Larkins, while adding Andrew Goodwin (via Gold Coast), Mike Mitchell (via Gold Coast), Chris Munk and late signing John Rillie to the roster.

Rillie (13 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) arrived as a backup guard behind Heal but quickly became a key part of Brisbane’s rotation, adding shooting and playmaking to the backcourt.

His best game came against Adelaide, where he finished with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, shooting 6-of-16 from the field, 4-of-10 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Heal (22.9 points and 7.4 assists), Loggins (21.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks) and Mitchell (20.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals) carried Brisbane offensively, with Munk (10.4 points and 7.9 rebounds), Goodwin (8.6 points and 4.2 rebounds), Sibley (6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds) and Smith (5.2 points) also contributing.

Brisbane finished fifth with a 16-10 record, while Rillie’s debut season ended with him winning the NBL Rookie of the Year award.

Brisbane opened the Quarterfinals at home against North Melbourne, losing 115-105 as Pat Reidy (25 points) and Rod Johnson (20 points) led the Giants, while Rillie added 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals for the Bullets.

Game two moved to North Melbourne, where the Giants completed the sweep, with Rillie handing out 9 assists as Brisbane’s season ended in the Quarterfinals.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1996
After losing to Perth in the 1995 semifinals, Adelaide underwent significant roster changes with Robert Rose (to Canberra), Chris Blakemore (to Canberra) and Mike McKay (to Brisbane) all departing the club. Head coach Mike Dunlap responded by recruiting Leon Trimmingham (via Sydney), Martin Cattalini (via Perth), John Rillie (via Brisbane) and import guard Rick Brunson to join returning stars Brett Maher and Mark Davis.

Fresh off winning the NBL Rookie of the Year award with Brisbane, Rillie immediately became an important member of Adelaide’s guard rotation alongside Maher and Brunson. One of his best performances of the season came in a win over Brisbane where he produced 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, shooting 6-of-16 from the field, 4-of-10 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the foul line. Another highlight came when Rillie delivered a perfect alley-oop pass to Trimmingham for a spectacular finish that became one of the season’s memorable Adelaide plays.

Trimmingham (22 points and 5.9 rebounds) emerged as Adelaide’s leading scorer, while Brunson (19 points and 7 assists) provided an outstanding all-round contribution in his lone season with the club. Maher (16 points and 4 rebounds) continued his rise and earned selection for the Australian Boomers squad at the Atlanta Olympic Games, while Davis (13 points and 8 rebounds) remained a key frontcourt contributor. Rillie (13.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3 assists) rounded out one of the NBL’s deepest line-ups as Adelaide finished sixth with a 16-10 record.

Adelaide opened the Quarterfinals against arch-rivals Perth Wildcats and gained revenge for their 1995 playoff defeat by eliminating the Wildcats to advance to the semifinals.

The 36ers then faced eventual champions South East Melbourne Magic in the semifinals. Adelaide dropped the opening game before the Magic completed a two-game sweep to end the 36ers’ championship challenge.

The season also proved to be Mike Dunlap’s last in charge of the club. Following the sudden passing of his father after the season, Dunlap returned to the United States and chose to remain closer to his family. His departure came amid disagreement with the Adelaide board after he proposed moving on from veteran Mark Davis and focusing on younger players. The board instead retained Davis, who would go on to play another four seasons, bringing Dunlap’s Adelaide tenure to an end.

John Rillie finds Leon Trimmingham for the Stuff!!! Anyone remember how this game ended?? I will post the video of the ending later. @johnrillie @Adelaide36ers pic.twitter.com/VYifbyhOxf— RANDOM HOOPS (@HoopsRandom) March 13, 2023

1997
After being eliminated by South East Melbourne in the 1996 semifinals, Adelaide farewelled import guard Rick Brunson who returned to the United States. Following Mike Dunlap’s departure, the 36ers promoted assistant coach Dave Claxton to the head coaching role. Adelaide retained the core of Brett Maher, Mark Davis, Leon Trimmingham, Martin Cattalini and John Rillie, while adding Rupert Sapwell (via Geelong) and import centre Jeff Brown. The club also ushered in a new era when Maher replaced Davis as team captain, a role he would hold until his retirement in 2009.

Rillie continued to establish himself as one of Adelaide’s most important perimeter players, averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists. His second season with the 36ers saw him take on a larger playmaking role while providing consistent scoring support alongside Maher and Trimmingham.

The 36ers expected Brown to provide frontcourt support for Trimmingham and Davis, however six games into the season it became clear he was not the answer. Adelaide released Brown (7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds) and replaced him with former 36ers big man Willie Simmons (5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds), who returned to the NBL at age 35 after last playing in the league during 1994.

Trimmingham (19.4 points and 8.3 rebounds) again led Adelaide offensively, while Maher (15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists) and Rillie (13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists) formed a productive backcourt. Davis (9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds), Cattalini (8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds) and Simmons also contributed, but Adelaide struggled to find consistency throughout the season.

The 36ers finished seventh with a 14-16 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992, bringing an end to an underwhelming campaign despite the continued development of Rillie and Maher.

1998
After missing the playoffs in 1997, Adelaide replaced Dave Claxton with rookie head coach Phil Smyth, who arrived with no previous head coaching experience. The 36ers retained captain Brett Maher, John Rillie, Martin Cattalini, Mark Davis and Leon Trimmingham, while adding Paul Rees (via North Melbourne), Darnell Mee (via France/Canberra) and Kevin Brooks. During the off-season Maher came close to signing with the Sydney Kings before ultimately re-committing to Adelaide.

Rillie (9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists) accepted a reduced offensive role as Adelaide’s roster became one of the deepest in the league. Brooks quickly emerged as Adelaide’s leading scorer and silenced any doubts about his unusual shooting style, while Mee and Maher provided additional scoring and leadership.

Brooks (19.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists) led the team in scoring, with Maher (17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists) and Mee (14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4 assists) providing outstanding support. Cattalini (11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds), Davis (8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds), Rees (8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds) and Rillie (9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists) all played important roles as Adelaide surged to second place with a 19-11 record, the club’s highest win total since 1988.

Adelaide opened the semifinals against Perth and immediately seized control of the series. Maher exploded for a career-high 36 points and six assists while shooting 7-of-11 from three-point range, while Mee added 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds as the 36ers claimed game one.

The 36ers completed the sweep in Perth with a 117-110 victory to advance to the Grand Final series against the defending champion South East Melbourne Magic.

Game one of the Grand Final saw Adelaide stun the defending champions on their home floor, winning 100-93 behind Brooks (24 points and 8 rebounds). The victory was only Adelaide’s second win over the Magic since the formation of South East Melbourne in 1992.

Game two moved to Adelaide where the 36ers dominated from the outset, crushing the Magic 90-62 to complete the sweep and secure the championship. Brooks (21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks) again starred, while Cattalini (20 points and 6 rebounds) provided strong support as Adelaide forced 26 Magic turnovers and controlled the game from start to finish.

The 36ers captured their first NBL championship since 1986, with Brooks named Grand Final MVP as Phil Smyth completed one of the greatest debut coaching seasons in league history.

WEST SYDNEY RAZORBACKS
1998/99
The 1998/99 season marked the debut of the West Sydney Razorbacks, a newly established franchise led by General Manager Robbie Cadee and head coach Gordie McLeod. The team assembled a competitive roster featuring former league MVP Derek Rucker (via Townsville), veteran forward Bruce Bolden (via Sydney), elite shot-blocker Simon Dwight (via Canberra), and sharpshooter John Rillie, who joined after winning a championship with Adelaide.

West Sydney wasted no time making an impression in their inaugural game, defeating the Sydney Kings (103-97) on the road. They backed up their strong start with another victory over Canberra (104-89) before falling in a closely contested matchup against Newcastle (87-89).

The Razorbacks continued to show promise in the early rounds, securing back-to-back road wins over Adelaide (112-95) and Perth (98-95) to become the first team in NBL history to complete the “Doomsday Double.” However, consistency became an issue as the season progressed. A road loss to Wollongong (91-100) and a home defeat to Victoria (81-92) exposed the team’s struggles in closing out games.

John Rillie (17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists) quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier perimeter threats, leading the NBL in three-point shooting at 47.5%. His ability to space the floor complemented team captain Derek Rucker (20.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists), who controlled the offense, while Simon Dwight (14.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks) dominated defensively, finishing as the league leader in blocked shots. Bruce Bolden (15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) played a crucial role coming off the bench, earning the NBL Best Sixth Man award.

Despite Rillie’s efficient shooting and all-around contributions, West Sydney struggled with inconsistency in the latter half of the season. A heavy defeat to Victoria (73-101) and a tough 19-point loss to Melbourne (90-109) made it increasingly difficult to stay in the playoff race. However, one of the highlights of the campaign came in a home victory over Sydney (78-72), where the Razorbacks’ defense limited their rivals to just 72 points.

West Sydney finished their inaugural season in eighth place on the NBL ladder (12-14), with road struggles proving to be a decisive factor in missing the playoffs.

1999/00
The 1998/99 season marked the debut of the West Sydney Razorbacks, a new franchise led by general manager Robbie Cadee and head coach Gordie McLeod. The club assembled an experienced roster featuring Derek Rucker (via Townsville), Bruce Bolden (via Sydney), Simon Dwight (via Canberra), Ernest Nzigamasabo and John Rillie, who arrived after winning the 1998 NBL championship with Adelaide.

West Sydney made an immediate impact in its inaugural season, opening with a 103-97 road win over the Sydney Kings before defeating Canberra 104-89. The Razorbacks then became the first team in NBL history to complete the “Doomsday Double”, winning in Adelaide 112-95 and Perth 98-95 on the same road trip.

Rillie emerged as one of the league’s premier perimeter players, averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists while leading the NBL in three-point shooting at 47.5%. His outside shooting perfectly complemented captain Derek Rucker (20.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists), while Simon Dwight (14.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks) anchored the defence and led the league in blocked shots. Bruce Bolden (15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists) provided major impact off the bench and was rewarded with the NBL Best Sixth Man award.

One of the highlights of the season came in a 78-72 victory over the Sydney Kings, where the Razorbacks’ defence held their rivals to just 72 points. Rillie’s shooting and all-round play were central to West Sydney’s success throughout the campaign as the expansion club proved competitive from its first season.

Despite several impressive wins, inconsistency plagued the Razorbacks throughout the second half of the season. West Sydney finished eighth with a 12-14 record, narrowly missing the playoffs in its inaugural campaign.

2000/01
After securing their first-ever playoff appearance the previous season, the Razorbacks entered the 2000/01 campaign with high expectations. The team moved from Liverpool’s Whitlam Centre to the larger State Sports Centre in Homebush Bay, signaling their intent to establish themselves as a long-term force in the NBL. Head coach Gordie McLeod retained the core group, led by captain Derek Rucker, with key contributors John Rillie, Simon Dwight, Cheikh Ya Ya Dia, and Bruce Bolden returning. Scott McGregor (via Sydney) was the team’s major offseason addition, while the naturalisation of Bolden allowed the club to sign an additional import in Jason Singleton.

West Sydney opened the season in dominant fashion, defeating Wollongong 115-97, with Rillie playing a key role in their efficient offensive display. However, the early momentum was quickly derailed as the Razorbacks dropped three consecutive games, falling to Victoria (93-110), Adelaide (94-114), and Townsville (96-112). A hard-fought road win over Cairns (103-99) temporarily steadied the ship, but inconsistency plagued the team for much of the season.

John Rillie (19.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists) remained one of the NBL’s most complete offensive players, providing outside shooting, rebounding, and playmaking. His ability to stretch the floor complemented the inside presence of Simon Dwight (16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks), who continued to anchor the defense while leading the league in blocked shots for the third straight year. Rucker (19.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists) controlled the tempo, while Ya Ya Dia (15.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks) brought physicality to the frontcourt, and Bolden (12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) provided veteran experience.

The team’s struggles became evident in round four when they fell to Sydney (101-113), unable to match their crosstown rivals in key moments. Consecutive losses to Victoria (101-112) and Perth (91-92) saw the Razorbacks slip further down the standings. A strong 114-92 victory over Brisbane in round 10 gave the team a boost, while a commanding 121-93 win over Melbourne in round 15 showcased the potential of their offensive firepower.

Midseason changes disrupted the roster, as Jason Singleton (12.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) was released after 12 games. In February, former NBA player James Cotton was signed as a late-season addition, but he made little impact, playing just three games and averaging 4.3 points, 1.0 rebound, and 0.7 assists before also being released.

Despite Rillie’s consistent production, the Razorbacks were unable to generate sustained success, dropping key games late in the season, including losses to Perth (75-110), Melbourne (101-125), and Sydney (101-122).

West Sydney finished the season in eighth place with a 9-19 record, missing the playoffs after back-to-back postseason appearances.

2001/02
After missing the playoffs in 2000/01, West Sydney entered the 2001/02 season looking to return to the postseason under head coach Gordie McLeod. The Razorbacks retained Derek Rucker, John Rillie, Simon Dwight, Bruce Bolden, Cheikh Ya Ya Dia and Scott McGregor, while adding Sam Mackinnon (via Townsville), Phil Handy and David Hinton. Mackinnon was expected to be the major off-season addition, but a knee injury ruled him out for the entire season before he could play a game.

West Sydney opened the season with a 99-117 road loss to Sydney, before responding with wins over Wollongong (107-81), Melbourne (110-89) and Perth (119-98). Rillie (22.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals) became the Razorbacks’ leading scorer and most reliable perimeter option, while also leading the NBL in three-point shooting at 47.4%.

One of Rillie’s best early games came in West Sydney’s 130-80 win over Cairns, where he finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists as the Razorbacks delivered their biggest win of the season. He later added 24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in a 106-99 win over Perth, then produced 33 points in a 124-95 road win over Sydney at the SuperDome as West Sydney avenged its opening night loss to the Kings.

Rillie also delivered 27 points and 8 rebounds in a 112-106 win over Townsville, while another key late-season game came in a 113-88 win over Adelaide where he scored 21 points as West Sydney pushed toward the postseason. Dwight (17.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks) anchored the defence and won the NBL Best Defensive Player award, while Rucker (16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists), Bolden (13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) and Handy (11.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) rounded out the Razorbacks’ core.

West Sydney finished the regular season with a 16-14 record, tied with Wollongong and Melbourne. Due to a three-way head-to-head tiebreaker, the Razorbacks secured fifth place and returned to the playoffs, while Rillie was named to the All-NBL Second Team.

West Sydney opened the elimination finals at the State Sports Centre with a 106-85 win over Perth, with Rillie (25 points) leading the Razorbacks while Paul Rogers (18 points) and Ricky Grace (16 points) were best for the Wildcats.

Game two moved to Perth, where West Sydney completed the sweep with a 109-98 victory behind Rillie (34 points) and Dwight (23 points), while Rob Feaster (26 points) and Grace (23 points) led the Wildcats.

The semifinals opened in Melbourne, where the Tigers defeated West Sydney 114-93 behind Marcus Timmons (36 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals) and Mark Bradtke (21 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), while Handy (19 points) and Rucker (15 points and 7 assists) led the Razorbacks.

Game two moved to the State Sports Centre, where West Sydney kept the series alive with a 125-109 win as Rillie added 11 rebounds and 6 assists, while Rucker (8 assists) helped direct the Razorbacks and Bradtke (16 rebounds) battled inside for Melbourne.

West Sydney completed the comeback in game three, defeating Melbourne 115-103 to become the first Sydney-based team to reach the NBL Grand Final.

The Grand Final series opened in Adelaide, where the 36ers defeated West Sydney 106-97 behind Brett Maher (25 points and 8 assists), while Dwight (34 points), Rillie (24 points and 8 assists) and Bolden (15 points) led the Razorbacks.

Game two moved to the State Sports Centre, where West Sydney kept its championship hopes alive with a 103-100 win behind Rillie (28 points), Dwight (20 points) and Rucker (16 points and 10 assists), while Maher (25 points) and Willie Farley (24 points) led Adelaide.

Game three returned to Adelaide, where the 36ers delivered a record shooting performance, hitting 19-of-31 from three-point range at 61.2 percent on their way to a 125-107 win and the championship, while West Sydney’s scoring was led by McGregor (28 points), Dwight (25 points) and Rillie (22 points).

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