BIO: Andrew Rice was born in Red Hill (England). Rice received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1998. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (1998, 1999).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Andrew Rice made his NBL debut with the Canberra Cannons at 19 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.

In 1999/00, Rice averaged 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.4 assists as a rookie playing for the Canberra Cannons, who finished with a record of 11–17 and placed ninth during the regular season.

2001/02
After not being offered an NBL contract in 2000, Rice spent a year playing in the state league competition before getting another chance to play in the NBL, this time with the Townsville Crocodiles.

2002/03
During the 2002/03 season, Rice averaged 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists, helping the Crocodiles finish with a record of 19–11 and secure third place at the end of the regular season.

2003/04
In the days following their grand final loss to Sydney, Perth choose not to renew Alan Black’s contract and parted ways with him for a second time (he was sensationally sacked in 1990 after just one season as a coach before being brought back in 1998 to replace the outgoing Adrian Hurley. After the change, Perth struggled to retain a lot of the roster which had reached the 2003 NBL Grand Final under Black, with only five players returning for 2003/04. Team captain Ricky Grace, James Harvey, Tony Ronaldson, Matthew Burston and Ben Thompson remained as the club’s core group after losing Brett Wheeler (Sydney) and last season’s leading scorer Rob Feaster (Victoria) after both were asked to take 30% pay cut. They were then replaced with import tandem Reed Rawlings and John Jackson. Young guns Travis Lane and Liam Rush were also signed to fill out the team’s second unit.

Past Wildcat legend Mike Ellis was brought in as head coach and struggled to retain the previous season’s roster, which had reached the Grand Final under Black. Only five players would return, Ricky Grace (team captain), James Harvey, Tony Ronaldson, Matthew Burston and Ben Thompson. Brett Wheeler (Sydney) and last season’s leading scorer Rob Feaster (Victoria) both signed with other clubs after being asked to take a 30% pay cut and replaced with young talent Travis Lane (Sydney) and rookie Liam Rush. Imports Reed Rawlings and John Jackson were both added to round out the roster.

After losing the first two games of the season, Reed Rawlings (12.5 points and 2.5 rebounds) was replaced by Rashad Tucker (17.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.3 steals), who was forced to take over point guard duties when Ricky Grace went down with a injury. During that time set the record for triple doubles in a season, notching up six during his first season with Perth.

This season also saw James Harvey (20.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) develop into one of the league’s most potent offensive weapons, his scoring increasing by 6 points per game, becoming the team’s leading scorer. while Rice averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.

In Ellis’ lone season as coach of the Wildcats, the team would record their first losing season (15 wins, 18 losses) since 1986, finishing in the seventh spot after a season destroying team’s at home (13-3) but failing to win on the road (2-15). In a year where the league’s top eight team’s would make the playoffs thanks to a early format of the play-in tournament, the Wildcat’s faced sixth-placed Cairns in a qualification game. There, former Perth guard Anthony Stewart (30 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists) led Cairns to victory (103-96) and ended the Wildcats’ season.

2004/05
The Hawks returned to the NBL Grand Final in 2004/05, where they lost to the Sydney Kings. Rice added 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.

2005/06
In 2005/06, Rice averaged 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds, and helped guide the Hawks to a third place finish in the regular season with a 19-13 record.

2006/07
Andrew Rice returned to the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2006/07 NBL season as a depth option in the frontcourt rotation. The team underwent key roster changes ahead of the season, with Robert Rose (to Cairns) and import Casey Calvary departing the squad. Daniel Egan (via Brisbane) and import Jelani Gardner (via France) were brought in, with Gardner eventually replaced mid-season by E.J. Rowland (12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.0 steals).

Rice remained with the team from the previous year, providing backup minutes in a crowded frontcourt led by Larry Abney (21.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals), Daniel Egan (10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds), and Greg Vanderjagt (6.0 points, 5.5 rebounds).

The Crocodiles opened the season with their new-look squad and built momentum through strong home performances, eventually securing a 19–14 record to finish fifth on the ladder and return to the playoffs. Alongside star contributors Brad Newley (22.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists) and John Rillie (19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists), Rice made 35 appearances for the season, averaging (4.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.4 assists, 0.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks) in a limited role off the bench.

Townsville’s first playoff matchup came against the Singapore Slingers, with the Crocodiles securing a 106–93 win at the Townsville Entertainment Centre. Rice (0 points, 2 rebounds) played five minutes in the victory, which was headlined by Larry Abney (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 steals), John Rillie (26 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists), and E.J. Rowland (13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists).

In the quarter-final against the Sydney Kings, Rice (2 points, 2 rebounds) contributed in 11 minutes as Townsville were eliminated 122–89 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Mark Worthington (28 points, 6 rebounds), B.J. Carter (20 points), and Russell Hinder (17 points, 6 rebounds) led the Kings. Kelvin Robertson (21 points), E.J. Rowland (17 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals), and Abney (14 points, 7 rebounds) were the Crocs’ top performers.

Andrew Rice completed the season having contributed in a reliable bench capacity, bringing size and interior coverage to the rotation. The 2006/07 campaign marked his final season in the NBL.

Andrew Rice played seven seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Canberra Cannons, Wollongong Hawks, Perth Wildcats and Townsville Crocodiles. He averaged 6.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 194 NBL games.