BIO: Paul Rogers was born in Adelaide (SA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Sturt basketball program.

Rogers reportedly stood at only 182 cm (6’0″ feet) in mid-1990 before having a growth spurt that saw him measuring at 209 cm (6’10” feet) by the time he joined the 36ers.

As a younger player, Rogers had a unorthodox shooting style in which he would grit his teeth before shooting. This was most noticeable when at the free throw line.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Paul Rogers made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Adelaide had played at the Apollo Stadium since the team’s inception in 1982, but by the early 1990s, ticket demand was far too great to remain there, and the team moved into the 8,000 seat Clipsal Powerhouse prior to the 1992 season. During the off-season, the team was able to retain import point guard Butch Hays and captain Mark Davis but saw local favourite and former captain Darryl Pearce sign with the North Melbourne Giants.

The venue quickly became a fortress for the 36ers, with every game played in front of a sell-out crowd. The increased fan support saw Adelaide open the year with a 106-84 victory over the North Melbourne Giants. After this initial success, however, the team failed to win again across their next seven games, including losses to perennial easy beats like Hobart and Newcastle.

The 36ers would then face a major hurdle after the league’s mid-season break to accommodate the Barcelona Olympics. After the Boomers finished the tournament in fourth place, Bradtke returned with the announcement that he had accepted a lucrative deal (reportedly worth $200,000) to finish the season playing for Spanish team Juver Murcia. In his 17 games prior to the break, Bradtke had clearly become the best local big man in the competition. In his last game wearing a 36ers jersey, he scored a career-high 43 points, grabbed 25 boards against the Geelong Supercats at home, and averaged 20.1 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for the season.

The 36ers, although never looking like a playoff team, were never able to fill the gap left by Bradtke and limped home to a 11-13 record, finishing in the ninth spot.

Davis (23.5 points, 14.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks) again led the team with his spectacular all-around game, with Rogers also contributing 0.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game.

Despite the disappointing season, two positives in 1992 were the rookie debuts of local teenagers Brett Maher, who averaged 2.2 points in 8 minutes per game (before going on to play a record 525 games for the 36ers), and 18-year-old Paul Rogers, who appeared in five games. At the end of the season, Mark Davis would become a Australian citizen and play as a local moving forward.

Bradtke, who had signed with the Spanish club for only one season, had a agreement to play with Adelaide if he returned in 1993. Upon his return to Australia, Bradtke made it known he did not want to play the final year of his contract in Adelaide, amongst rumours the Melbourne Tigers were actively recruiting him. After negotiations between the two parties broke down, the 36ers gave permission for Bradtke to leave if a team would buy out his remaining contract. However, the NBL stepped in and vetoed the buyout, effectively letting Bradtke leave for Melbourne without the 36ers receiving any compensation. After the fact it became clear Bradtke had decided to move to Melbourne to be closer to then girlfriend (and future wife), pro-tennis player Nicole Provis.

1993
After two losing seasons under coach Don Shipway, Adelaide hired American Don Monson to replace him and steer the team back to its winning ways of the past decade. With the 36ers still regrouping from the huge loss of Boomers big man Mark Bradtke (who had left for Melbourne), they added young talent in Chris Blakemore (AIS) and Scott Ninnis (South East Melbourne) and veterans Phil Smyth (captain of the Australian Boomers at the time) and Willie Simmons from the Canberra Cannons.

Rogers averaged 1.4 points and 0.6 rebounds, while the team improved to a 14–12 record under Monson and made the playoffs by finishing in seventh place.

At the end of the season, Blakemore (5.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) claimed Rookie of the Year honours and while Ninnis (19.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals) delivered his highest scoring season to date and collected the Most Improved Player award. The 36ers were then eliminated in the Quarterfinals by Ninnis’s former team, the defending NBL champions, South East Melbourne Magic.

Rogers saw minimal opportunities to play in his first two seasons, stuck behind established big men Mark Davis, Mark Bradtke and Brett Wheeler. His first two seasons in the league saw Rogers play just ten games for the 36ers averaging just 1.4 points per game. At the end of his second season, he decided to play college basketball with Gonzaga University (Washington, USA) instead.

PERTH WILDCATS
1998/99
After spending four years in the US college system and a season playing in Spain, Rogers signed a deal to play in the NBL with the Perth Wildcats. Rogers averaged 21.4 points and 12.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists during a lacklustre season where the Wildcat’s limped home to a sixth place finish with a 13-13 record.

1999/00
In 1999/00, Rogers averaged 18.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists as the Wildcats finished in third place with a record of 22-6.

This season, the Wildcats would win the 2000 NBL Championship defeating the Victoria Titans two games to nil in the grand final series. Rogers’ all-around play was rewarded in 2000 as he was voted the NBL’s Most Valuable Player. He also won the first of two selections to the All-NBL First Team in 2000.

2000/01
In 2000/01, Rogers averaged 16.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, playing a key role in the Wildcat’s rotation, helping the team finish reach a third place finish in the regular season with a 21-7 record.

2001/02
Rogers continued to play for the Wildcats until the end of the 2001/02 NBL season, following which he signed to return home to the Adelaide 36ers, who would be defending NBL champions. Rogers’ season was interrupted by injury, and he only appeared in 9 games, averaging 11 points per game compared to his 30 games and 19-point average the previous season in Perth.

The 2001/02 season saw Rogers average 18.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists and play a key role in helping the Wildcats to a second place finish in the regular season with a 17-13 record.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2002/03
Rogers returned home to Adelaide, joining the league’s reigning champions and averaged 9.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He helped the 36ers finish with a record of 16-14 and end the regular season in fifth place. The season was a disappointing one for the defending champs as they were eliminated in the League elimination finals

In 2003, Rogers returned to Spain and played two seasons for Girona in the Spanish Liga ACB. Rogers returned to Australia, re-signing with the Wildcats in 2005.

PERTH WILDCATS
2005/06
After Ricky Grace retired in 2005, veteran Tony Ronaldson was elevated to team captain of the Wildcats. While the team looked to build on its disappointing seventh place finish last season, they kept the majority of their local intact, the only major change being the departures of Grace, Adrian Majstrovich (New Zealand), and seldom used Braith Cox (Melbourne), while replacing them with Paul Rogers (via Adelaide), Dillon Boucher (via New Zealand) and rookie swingman Cameron Tovey.

The Wildcats did clean house when it came to imports, however. The departing Rosell Ellis (to South) and Rashad Tucker (to Melbourne) would be replaced by point guard David Bailey and Shawn Redhage, who joined the team after being unceremoniously cut by New Zealand in 2004.

In his first season at Perth, Redhage (20 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists), perhaps motivated by his Breakers’ experience, led the team in scoring with Bailey (17.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals), producing quality numbers at the point guard spot.

With their two imports delivering, Tony Ronaldson (14.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists), Peter Crawford (14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals) would add additional scoring with veteran Matthew Shanahan (11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) produced the best season of his career coming off the bench.

Despite the individual development from its roster, Perth would finish seventh for the second season in a row.

Despite not having a winning record (16-16), the team qualified for the playoffs, with the league allowing the top eight team’s to proceed to the postseason.

There, things all began to click for the Wildcats, and after upset victories over both the sixth-ranked Brisbane (96-91) and third-ranked Wollongong (101-121), the team found themselves in a unlikely semi final appearance, facing off against a powerhouse Melbourne squad.

Behind the NBL MVP Chris Anstey and former Wildcat Rashad Tucker, the Tigers would prove too strong. Anstey (28 points and 11 rebounds) and Tucker (10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) delivered a comfortable 94-78 Melbourne win at home in game one. Then backing it in Perth, winning 106-101, with Anstey (29 points and 6 rebounds) and Tucker (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists), ending Perth’s ‘Cinderella’ playoff run and going on to win the NBL championship.

Rogers would appear in 27 games and averaged 7.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, while Redhage’s first year in Perth saw him finish runner-up in league MVP voting.

In February 2006, West Australian businessman Jack Bendat became the chairman and majority shareholder of the franchise. Although no longer the majority shareholder, Andrew Vlahov remained in control of the team as managing director. Bendat then assumed full control in 2007.

2006/07
Rogers was named captain of the team from the 2006/07 NBL season, he went on to average 15.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists as the Wildcats finished in third place with a record of 23-10.

2007/08
After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, the Wildcat’s moved on from veteran Tony Ronaldson (to New Zealand) and guard Damien Ryan (Europe), looking to get younger and bigger and replaced them with Alex Loughton (Spain) and Tom Garlepp (NCAA). After a impressive debut season, Perth could not retain import Darren Brooks who received several lucrative offers from overseas and replaced him with Rashad Phillips.

Despite leading the league in assists, Phillips (13.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists) was released six games into the season, with the team sitting on a 3-3 record and head coach Scott Fisher citing Phillps fitness being the main issue.

‘ Unfortunately, Rashad never really showed us the athleticism or intensity needed to make himself or those around him better. Plus, he never really contributed to the defensive side of things. He lacked the leadership and on-court management that this group needs. So we felt it was in the best interest of the club to delist him.’

The team immediately replaced him with Gerald Brown (13.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists), who had been a former teammate of Luc Longley at the Phoenix Suns.

Rookie Loughton (14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals)impressed during his rookie season, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting (losing to Nathan Jawai). Shawn Redhage (22.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists) delivered a career high scoring season, which incliuded a career-high 40 points against Adelaide (10 Oct 2007) and became the fastest Wildcat to reach 2,000 career points, doing so in 95 games and 3,400 minutes. Captain Paul Rogers (12.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks) proved he was still one of the competition’s elite big men, earning a spot on the All-NBL Third Team, joining Redhage who earned a spot on the All-NBL First Team. Despite the high-level play from Redhage and Rogers the team just couldn’t win on the road. Close to unbeatable at home (12-3) but woeful in away games (6-9), the Wildcats finished the season in fourth place (18-12).

Much like their results from the regular season, Perth was able to win at home but struggled on the road in the playoffs. They defeated fifth seed Townsville at home (96-78) in their quarterfinal matchup, but upon reaching the semi finals against Sydney, they were outmatched. Perth would push the Kings to the limit on their home court in game one (101-98) rebound behind a huge game from Redhage (35 points) to gain a win on home soil in game two (94-85) only to have Sydney hand Perth their worse loss of the season in game three (109-77), ending their playoff run. Shortly after, coach Fisher announced that he would not seek a new contract from the Wildcat’s and would return to the United States.

Redhage was selected to the All-NBL First Team, and captain Paul Rogers (12.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks) showed he was still one of the competition’s elite big men, being selected to the All-NBL Third Team.

2008/09
After four seasons of leading the Wildcats, coach Scott Fisher decided it was time to return to his family in the US. Upon Fisher’s announcement that he would not return after leading the Wildcats to within one game of the grand final, a worldwide search was conducted for the hiring of the team’s next coach. Ultimately, Fisher’s replacement would be Conner Henry, a former college teammate of Fisher’s who had been with the Wildcats since 2006 as a assistant coach.

The core of the Wildcat’s roster, Shawn Redhage (University of Utah), Alex Loughton, Peter Crawford and Paul Rogers, would all return, with the only major changes to the team’s local roster being the additions of Ben Knight (via Singapore), Chris Goulding (via Brisbane) and Rookie Stephen Weigh. As a result of Shawn Redhage becoming a naturalised Australian (Jan 08), the Wildcats had the luxury of being able to sign two new imports with athletic forward Isiah Victor (via Sydney) and Darnell Hinson (via West Sydney), who both delivered debut NBL seasons the year prior.

Perth entered the season fighting off multiple injuries, with guards Adam Caporn, Brad Robbins, and Peter Crawford all fighting through knee issues. The team even placed starting centre Rogers on the deactivated list due to a lingering knee complaint. The additional roster spot allowed Perth to pull off a major recruiting coup, beating Melbourne Tigers and South Dragons for the signature of former Boomers point guard Luke Kendall.

At the mid-way point of the season, Rogers returned to the lineup, forcing the Wildcat’s to release Kendall (8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals), who had become a key reserve with Robbins managing only three games over the season. Kendall signed a deal to play with Melbourne shortly after, who needed a replacement for Sam MacKinnon after medical staff advised him not to return to play. Team captain Rogers (9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks) played in only two games before a ruptured disc in his back that required surgery kept him out of the remaining games.

Perth’s efforts during the regular season were a carbon copy of the one before. The Wildcats were a force at home (11-4) but couldn’t win on the road (6-9), finishing in fourth place (17-13) for the second year in a row. Shawn Redhage (19.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) would lead the team in scoring and rebounding, earning selection to the Al-NBL Second Team along the way. Hinson (13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.7 steals), Loughton (13 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) and Victor (12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) all playing key roles also.

Once into the postseason, Perth faced fifth seed Townsville, who defeated them in the Elimination Finals (96-103), delivering a abrupt end to their season and ending their playoff run and ensuring Henry’s tenure lasted only one season.

2009/10
Following the 2008/09 season, the Wildcats came within weeks of folding unless they raised a million dollars in sponsorship. The NBL itself was also in strife; with the competition falling on tough times, there was a real possibility at the time that there would be no league in 2009-10. Collaborating with other clubs, the Wildcats helped reform the league.

Once the season was given the green light, the Wildcats hired a new coach in Rob Beveridge, who was tasked with recruiting a new-look team where Shawn Redhage, Stephen Weigh and Brad Robbins would be complimented by newly acquired proven talent Damian Martin (via Sydney), Drew Williamson (via Townsville), Luke Schenscher (via Adelaide), Martin Cattalini (via Cairns) and rookie Jesse Wagstaff to round out the bench. Paul Rogers relinquished the captaincy heading into the 2009/10 season, handing over the reins to Redhage. Import Kevin Lisch was then recruited to lead the Wildcats on the offensive end and lead the team into a new era.

Lisch was a slow starter in his first pro season out of St. Louis University. He averaged only 11.4 points over his first five NBL games, but after a 94-90 win over the Melbourne Tigers, where he dropped a season-high 21 points in 27 minutes, he more than made up for it over the remainder of the season. By January, the Wildcats had emerged as clear frontrunners (13 wins, 8 losses) and, with news that Rogers would be unable to complete the season, signed import Galen Young as his replacement. New point guard Damian Martin delivered his best season as a pro, averaging 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, numbers which would earn him a Australian Boomers call-up at the end of the season. Alongside them, Rogers would finish the season with averages of 2.5 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0 assists.

The team rolled through the regular season to finish in first place (17-11) before going on to the semi finals to face Gold Coast (fourth seed). Lisch (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Wildcats in scoring in game one (81-68). In game two, Lisch (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) backed it up, by leading the team to victory once again (82-78), sending Perth through to a Grand Final matchup with Wollongong (making their first Grand Final series since 2003).

Perth started the series with a very comfortable win at home (75–64), with Lisch (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 block) filling the box score. The series then moved to Wollongong for game two, where the Hawks rebounded to defeat Perth (75-63), with both Lisch (11 points) and Redhage (9 points) struggling to make a impact in the loss.

After Games 1 and 2 proved to be comfortable victories for each home team, the series returned to Perth for the third and deciding game, where the Wildcats found themselves down by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. Lisch (29 points and 5 rebounds) would prove to be the difference-maker in the second half, carrying the team offensively, defeating Wollongong (96–72) and guiding the team to a record fifth NBL Championship. Lisch was subsequently named Finals MVP after averaging 18 points and 4 rebounds over the three-game series.

2009/10
Following the 2008/09 season, the Wildcats came within weeks of folding unless they raised a million dollars in sponsorship. The NBL itself was also in strife; with the competition falling on tough times, there was a real possibility at the time that there would be no league in 2009-10. Collaborating with other clubs, the Wildcats helped reform the league.

Once the season was given the green light, the Wildcats hired a new coach in Rob Beveridge, who was tasked with recruiting a new-look team where Shawn Redhage, Stephen Weigh and Brad Robbins would be complimented by newly acquired proven talent Damian Martin (via Sydney), Drew Williamson (via Townsville), Luke Schenscher (via Adelaide), Martin Cattalini (via Cairns) and rookie Jesse Wagstaff to round out the bench. Paul Rogers relinquished the captaincy heading into the 2009/10 season, handing over the reins to Redhage. Import Kevin Lisch was then recruited to lead the Wildcats on the offensive end and lead the team into a new era.

Import Kevin Lisch was then recruited to lead the Wildcats on the offensive end and lead the team into a new era. Just prior to the season kicking off, Paul Rogers relinquished the captaincy heading into the 2009/10 season, handing over the reins to Redhage. In what would be his final NBL season, Rogers would play two games before a injury to his elbow and triceps in the team’s second game would see him sidelined for the rest of the season. The injuries would ultimately end Rogers’ playing career, and the Wildcats signed import Galen Young as his replacement.

Lisch started out slowly over his initial weeks in the league, averaging only 11.4 points across his first five NBL games. A victory over the Melbourne Tigers (94-90) where he dropped a season-high 21 points in 27 minutes, proved to all that he would be a force in this league. By January, the Wildcats had emerged as clear frontrunners (13 wins, 8 losses) as new point guard Damian Martin (8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) delivered his best season to date, numbers which would earn him a Australian Boomers call-up at the end of the season.

The team rolled through the regular season to finish in first place (17-11) before going on to the semi finals to face Gold Coast (fourth seed). Lisch (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Wildcats in scoring in game one (81-68). In game two, Lisch (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) backed it up, by leading the team to victory once again (82-78), sending Perth through to a Grand Final matchup with Wollongong (making their first Grand Final series since 2003).

Perth started the series with a very comfortable win at home (75–64), with Lisch (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 block) filling the box score. The series then moved to Wollongong for game two, where the Hawks rebounded to defeat Perth (75-63), with both Lisch (11 points) and Redhage (9 points) struggling to make a impact in the loss.

After Games 1 and 2 proved to be comfortable victories for each home team, the series returned to Perth for the third and deciding game, where the Wildcats found themselves down by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. Lisch (29 points and 5 rebounds) would prove to be the difference-maker in the second half, carrying the team offensively, defeating Wollongong (96–72) and guiding the team to a record fifth NBL Championship. Lisch was subsequently named Finals MVP after averaging 18 points and 4 rebounds over the three-game series.

Rogers and Cattalini would both retire, having won a championship to cap off their impressive careers.

For NBL games between the two clubs Rogers played for, the Adelaide 36ers and Perth Wildcats, the game MVP is awarded the Paul Rogers MVP Medal.

On 4 February 2013, Rogers was named in the Perth Wildcats 30th Anniversary All-Star team.

Paul Rogers played twelve seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Adelaide 36ers and the Perth Wildcats. He averaged 14.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 214 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 30th in total blocks

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (795 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.