Gran Canaria has announced it has signed Australian Boomers swingman Brad Newley for 2012-13.
After a strong Olympic campaign Lower Mitcham, SA basketball product Brad Newley has signed to play with Gran Canaria of the Spanish ACB league. Gran Carina is part of the Canary Island’s and the ninth largest city in Spain.
Newley played a huge part of the Australian Boomers Olympic campaign, averaging 7.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in a starting role for Australia. His signing is considered a huge coup for Gran Canaria who have had little success in recent years and are excited about adding a 2012 Olympian to their roster.
Newley, 27 and 198cm, began last year with Lithuanian club Lietuvos Rytas, averaging 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 8 games, before joining fellow Australian Boomers squad member AJ Ogilvy at Valencia Basket in Spain. Newley increased his performance after his move to Valencia and averaged 6.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 24 games in the Spanish ACB.
The ACB is home to a number of Australian Boomers squad members including Ogilvy, David Barlow, Nathan Jawai and Joe Ingles who won the ACB championship with Barcelona last season.
Newley played 10 games for Valencia in the Eurocup averaging 4.8 points and 2.4 rebounds and leading his team to the EuroCup finals where they lost 77-68 to Russian side BC Khimky which featured Australian Boomers captain Matt Nielsen.
The Adelaide 36ers had expressed interest in South Australian born Newley during his time between European contracts. During an Australian Boomers Olympic camp held on the Gold Coast Newley stated he was “just waiting to see what happens” and made no secret of the fact he was hoping to return to Europe.
Newley signed a contract with Adelaide in 2007 but was drafted by the Houston Rockets shortly afterwards and never played for the team. He has played in Europe ever since in order to boost his chances of making an NBA roster some day.
During his time in the Australian NBL Brad Newley played in 102 games for the Townsville Suns from 2004 to 2007 and averaged 19.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He is the only player to ever win the NBL’s Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year in the same season.
Brad Newley with a coast to coast jam over Spain 2012
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.
