Danny Mills (Perth Wildcats GM) on plans to face euro teams, the 2022-23 roster and the end of the streak
September 30, 2022
Michael Frazier
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 8/03/94
- Place of Birth: Tampa, Florida (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 191
- Weight (KG): 91
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Florida (2012–2015)
- NBL DEBUT: 17/12/21
- AGE AT DEBUT: 27
- LAST NBL GAME: 6/01/23
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 28
- NBL History: Perth 2022 | Illawarra 2023
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Michael Frazier was born in Tampa, Florida (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Michael Frazier made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 27 years of age. He scored five points in his first game.
After a dominant period under Trevor Gleeson, where the Perth Wildcats claimed five championships in seven seasons, the team saw significant changes ahead of the 2021/22 season. Gleeson departed to join the NBA’s Toronto Raptors coaching staff, and Perth suffered further blows with the departures of Will Magnay and key bench contributors Clint Steindl, Jarrad Weeks, and Jarred Bairstow. All four players signed with the Tasmania JackJumpers under former Wildcats assistant coach Scott Roth.
In response, Perth appointed US coach Scott Morrison as Gleeson’s replacement. The Wildcats added import players Vic Law (via Brisbane) and Michael Frazier II while securing Matthew Hodgson (via Brisbane) to bolster their frontcourt. These additions, combined with the returning Bryce Cotton and core veterans, set expectations high for the Wildcats to contend for another title.
Perth opened the season with five straight home games, winning four, before embarking on a grueling stretch of 14 consecutive road games due to Western Australia’s border closures caused by COVID-19. Despite the challenges of extended time away from family and friends, the Wildcats remained in the top four for much of the season. Bryce Cotton (22.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals) and Vic Law (20.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks) led the way, forming a formidable duo and keeping Perth at the top of the league in scoring (89.1 points per game).
Michael Frazier II played 19 games, averaging 7.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Although he struggled to make a consistent impact early in the season, he provided moments of strong play, particularly on the defensive end. However, Frazier’s time with the team faced turbulence. As Perth prepared for a late-season playoff push, they opted to replace Frazier with big man John Brown III. Brown began training with the team but was unable to receive a clearance from his former club, leading to an awkward situation where Perth reactivated Frazier while Brown returned to the United States.
Earlier today, @PerthWildcats head coach Scott Morrison addressed the awkward nature of how things have played out with Michael Frazier II and John Brown III.#NBL22 pic.twitter.com/scxWbnKfDQ— NBL (@NBL) April 6, 2022
The late-season struggles compounded when Vic Law suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Bryce Cotton missed several games during the run home. This significantly hampered Perth’s chances, as they managed to win just three of their final nine games. Entering the final round, Perth needed to defeat South East Melbourne Phoenix to keep their playoff streak alive, a streak that had spanned 36 consecutive seasons since 1986.
Perth appeared poised to win, holding an eight-point lead in the second half, but the Phoenix mounted a comeback, forcing overtime and ultimately sealing a 102–100 win. The loss ended the Wildcats’ unprecedented run of consecutive playoff appearances, a heartbreaking conclusion to a season that began with high expectations.
ILLAWARRA HAWKS
2022/23
Following two consecutive semi-final appearances, Illawarra Hawks entered the 2022/23 season with a new direction after head coach Brian Goorjian departed to coach the Bay Area Dragons in the East Asia Super League. Goorjian’s longtime assistant, Jacob Jackomas, was elevated to head coach but faced a massive roster overhaul. The Hawks retained only Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling from the previous season’s main rotation, while key players Duop Reath, Justinian Jessup, Antonius Cleveland, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes all departed. Longtime Hawk AJ Ogilvy retired, further highlighting the significant changes.
Illawarra rebuilt their roster, adding local talents Deng Deng (via Brisbane), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (via Perth), and Mangok Mathiang, who was returning from injury. The Hawks finalized their team with imports Justin Robinson and George King. Despite a promising foundation, the season quickly unraveled due to injuries.
In the opening game against Sydney, import guard Justin Robinson suffered a meniscus tear in his knee that required surgery, effectively ending his season. The Hawks brought in Kevin White as a short-term replacement and later released George King after persistent lower leg injuries hampered his performances. The signing of Peyton Siva (9.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals) provided temporary relief, but Siva played just 11 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, leaving the Hawks shorthanded yet again.
By mid-November, the Hawks were 1–9 and in desperate need of reinforcements. At this point, Michael Frazier II was signed as a replacement player for Robinson. In December, Frazier helped Illawarra snap a nine-game losing streak with a 93–79 win over Melbourne. Sam Froling led the way with 29 points, while Frazier contributed 16 points and Tyler Harvey added 15.
Frazier delivered several standout performances during his short stint with the Hawks. In a double-overtime loss to Cairns (102–101), he recorded 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. He followed this up with a 27-point, 3-rebound, and 3-assist outing in a loss to Melbourne (88–77). However, just as Frazier began to find his rhythm, he suffered a broken arm during a game against Adelaide after a collision with two opposing players. The injury cut his season short after just eight games, during which he averaged 17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, emerging as the Hawks’ highest-scoring player during that stretch.
The Hawks finished the season with a dismal 3–25 record, the worst in club history. Tyler Harvey led the team in scoring with 18.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 steals, while Sam Froling (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) was named the team’s MVP. Frazier’s brief yet impactful stint highlighted the Hawks’ turbulent season, marred by injuries and inconsistency.
Michael Frazier played two seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Perth Wildcats and the Illawarra Hawks. He averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 12 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 29 | Illawarra | 3-25 (10) | 8 | 238.9 | 138 | 31 | 18 | 8 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 22 | 52 | 114 | 46% | 16 | 41 | 39% | 18 | 26 | 69% | 55% | 53% | 27 |
| 2021-22 | 28 | Perth | 16-12 (5) | 4 | 429.8 | 37 | 23 | 12 | 2 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 37 | 35% | 5 | 15 | 33% | 6 | 6 | 100% | 46% | 42% | 13 | Totals | 12 | 669 | 175 | 54 | 30 | 10 | 44 | 11 | 1 | 21 | 34 | 65 | 151 | 43.0% | 21 | 56 | 37.5% | 24 | 32 | 75.0% | 53% | 50% | 27 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 29 | Illawarra | 3-25 (10) | 8 | 29.9 | 17.3 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 6.5 | 14.3 | 46% | 2.0 | 5.1 | 39% | 2.3 | 3.3 | 69% | 55% | 53% | 27 |
| 2021-22 | 28 | Perth | 16-12 (5) | 4 | 107.4 | 9.3 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 5.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 9.3 | 35% | 1.3 | 3.8 | 33% | 1.5 | 1.5 | 100% | 46% | 42% | 13 | Total | 12 | 55.7 | 14.6 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 12.6 | 43.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 37.5% | 1.8 | 4.7 | 75.0% | 53% | 50% | 27 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 27 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Played for USA during the FIBA World Cup Qualifying window in 2022.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Italy - Verona (2016–2017) | Germany - Ludwigsburg (2017) | France - Metropolitans 92 (2023) | China - Sichuan (2023) | Jordan - Amman United (2024–2025) | Lebanon - Beirut Club (2025) | Iran - Palayesh Naft Abadan (2025–2026) | Taiwan - Taipei Taishin Mars (2026)
Michael Frazier II spent the 2016–2017 season in Italy after signing with Scaligera Basket Verona on 9 August 2016, playing in Serie A2 where he produced 17.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a high-volume perimeter scorer for the Verona backcourt.
Frazier spent the 2017 offseason in Germany after signing with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg on 27 June 2017, but the club voided his contract on 12 August 2017 following a quad injury before he appeared in a competitive game for the team.
Frazier spent the closing portion of the 2022–2023 season in France after joining Metropolitans 92 on 20 March 2023 as a medical replacement for Hugo Besson through the end of the season, but an arm issue prevented him from making an on-court debut while the roster around him included Victor Wembanyama, Tremont Waters, and Lahaou Konate during that Betclic Elite campaign.
Frazier spent part of the 2023–2024 season in China with Sichuan after signing on 3 November 2023, and he was removed from the roster on 5 December 2023 after three appearances in the Chinese Basketball Association where he averaged 0.5 points, 0.2 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 10.7 minutes per game.
Frazier spent the 2024–2025 season in Jordan with Amman United after joining in December 2024, and in FIBA WASL West Asia League play he averaged 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game with game lines that included 25 points and 6 rebounds against Al Dajeej and 27 points against Al Riyadi Beirut Club.
Frazier spent time in Lebanon with Beirut Club during 2025 before moving to Iran for the 2025–2026 season with Palayesh Naft Abadan, continuing his career across West Asia competitions prior to his next move to East Asia.
Frazier spent the 2026 season in Taiwan after signing with Taipei Taishin Mars on 4 February 2026 to play in the Taiwan Professional Basketball League.
COLLEGE
Michael Frazier II played three NCAA seasons at Florida from 2012–13 to 2014–15, emerging under Billy Donovan as one of the most accurate high-volume shooters in program history and becoming the seventh Gator to reach 200 career three-pointers.
As a freshman in 2012–13, Frazier appeared in 36 games and immediately flashed elite range, shooting .468 from three, including a season-high 18 points at Auburn on 6-of-7 from deep and 17 points against Marquette on 5-of-9 threes, performances that earned him SEC Freshman of the Week honours and a spot on the 2013 SEC All-Freshman Team along with First-Year Academic Honor Roll recognition.
Frazier’s breakout came as a sophomore in 2013–14, when he set Florida records for made threes in a season (118) and in a game (11 at South Carolina), with the single-game total also noted as the most ever in an SEC league game.
On March 4, 2014 at South Carolina, Frazier erupted for 37 points while going 11-for-18 from three, breaking the prior SEC-game record of nine made threes and tying the most points ever scored by a Florida player under Donovan.
Across that 2013–14 season, he played 39 games with 34 starts and averaged 12.4 points in 30.6 minutes while shooting .447 from three (118-of-264), and his postseason run included All-SEC Tournament Team and All-NCAA South Regional Team honours as Florida reached the Final Four with Frazier as the only non-senior among the regular starters.
In 2014–15, his junior year was interrupted by a high-ankle sprain suffered against Kentucky, but he still finished with 57 made threes, averaged 12.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 26 games, and produced a season-high 27 points at Ole Miss (6-of-8 from three) while also being named Orange Bowl Classic MVP after returning from a forehead laceration that required 14 stitches.
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