Luke Doherty
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 25/06/81
- Place of Birth: Wollongong (NSW)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 187
- Weight (KG): 90
- Junior Assoc: NSW - Illawarra
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 12/11/99
- AGE AT DEBUT: 18
- LAST NBL GAME: 26/03/03
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 21
- NBL History: Wollongong 1999-2003
- Championships: 1
- Wollongong (2001)
BIO: Luke Doherty was born in Wollongong (NSW) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Illawarra basketball program.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Luke Doherty made his NBL debut with the Wollongong Hawks at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
During the 1999/00 season, Doherty averaged 0.4 points and 0.6 rebounds, and helped guide the Hawks to a eighth place finish in the regular season with a 11-17 record.
2000/01
The 2000/01 season was a historic one for the Wollongong Hawks as they captured their first-ever NBL Championship. Head coach Brendan Joyce made significant roster changes before the season, adding Axel Dench, Charles Thomas, Damon Lowery, Grant Kruger, Matt Shanahan, and veteran big man Ray Borner. Borner, a former NBL champion and Australian basketball legend, provided leadership and experience off the bench while helping mentor the team’s young frontcourt players.
Wollongong finished fourth in the regular season with a franchise-best 21-7 record, boasting one of the most balanced offenses in the league. The team was led by Melvin Thomas (18.7 points, 9.5 rebounds), Charles Thomas (16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds), Glen Saville (15.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists), and Damon Lowery (13.6 points). Rookie Axel Dench (13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds) and Mat Campbell (12.8 points) also played key roles. Borner saw limited action, averaging 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, while Luke Doherty (1.1 points and 0.8 assists ) saw limited action during the season appearing in nine games.
In the playoffs, the Hawks upset Perth in Game 1 of the Qualifying Finals, winning 97–90 at WIN Entertainment Centre behind strong performances from Melvin Thomas (22 points, 13 rebounds) and Damon Lowery (19 points). The Wildcats responded in Game 2 with a 106-95 victory, forcing a deciding Game 3 in Perth. Wollongong secured a stunning 98–88 upset, with Glen Saville delivering 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Lowery adding 20 points as the Hawks claimed their first-ever playoff series win.
The Hawks then faced Adelaide in the semifinals, securing a dramatic 84–83 win in Game 1. Melvin Thomas (18 points, 13 rebounds), Charles Thomas (17 points, 6 rebounds), and Saville (13 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists) led the way. Adelaide struck back with a 111-100 win in Game 2 before the series was decided in Wollongong. In one of the most famous moments in NBL history, Damon Lowery hit three free throws with no time on the clock to lift the Hawks to a thrilling 109–108 victory, sending them to their first-ever Grand Final.
The Grand Final series saw Wollongong defeat the Townsville Crocodiles in three games. The Hawks won Game 1 at home (104–101) before Townsville evened the series in Game 2 (114–97). In the decisive Game 3, Wollongong battled to a 97-94 victory, with Charles Thomas (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Finals MVP Glen Saville (18 points, 12 rebounds) leading the charge. The Hawks’ 2–1 series win made them the first New South Wales team to win an NBL Championship, marking a historic moment for the franchise.
Luke Doherty played four seasons the Wollongong Hawks. He averaged 1.3 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 56 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 21 | Wollongong | 18-12 (4) | 27 | 168.0 | 47 | 21 | 25 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 21 | 12 | 36 | 33% | 8 | 23 | 35% | 15 | 26 | 58% | 49% | 44% | 8 |
| 2001-02 | 20 | Wollongong | 16-14 (4) | 13 | 60.0 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 22 | 18% | 2 | 12 | 17% | 4 | 8 | 50% | 27% | 23% | 8 |
| 2000-01 | 19 | Wollongong | 21-7 (4) | 9 | 42.0 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 21% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 2 | 0% | 25% | 26% | 7 | |
| 1999-00 | 18 | Wollongong | 11-17 (8) | 7 | 28.0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 20% | 1 | 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 30% | 0% | 3 | Totals | 56 | 298 | 74 | 37 | 41 | 14 | 23 | 11 | 0 | 25 | 36 | 21 | 82 | 25.6% | 13 | 45 | 28.9% | 19 | 36 | 52.8% | 38% | 34% | 8 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 21 | Wollongong | 18-12 (4) | 27 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 33% | 0.3 | 0.9 | 35% | 0.6 | 1.0 | 58% | 49% | 44% | 8 |
| 2001-02 | 20 | Wollongong | 16-14 (4) | 13 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 18% | 0.2 | 0.9 | 17% | 0.3 | 0.6 | 50% | 27% | 23% | 8 |
| 2000-01 | 19 | Wollongong | 21-7 (4) | 9 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 21% | 0.2 | 0.7 | 33% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0% | 25% | 26% | 7 |
| 1999-00 | 18 | Wollongong | 11-17 (8) | 7 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 20% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 25% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 30% | 0% | 3 | Total | 56 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 25.6% | 0.0 | 28.9% | 0.2 | 0.8 | 52.8% | 38% | 34% | 8 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Illawarra 1998-03
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 21% | 48% | 35% | 0% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 21 | 82 | 25.6% | 13 | 45 | 28.9% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 21 | Wollongong | 18-12 (4) | 27 | 168.0 | 47 | 21 | 25 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 21 | 12 | 36 | 33% | 8 | 23 | 35% | 15 | 26 | 58% | 49% | 44% | 8 |
| 2001-02 | 20 | Wollongong | 16-14 (4) | 13 | 60.0 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 22 | 18% | 2 | 12 | 17% | 4 | 8 | 50% | 27% | 23% | 8 |
| 2000-01 | 19 | Wollongong | 21-7 (4) | 9 | 42.0 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 21% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 2 | 0% | 25% | 26% | 7 | |
| 1999-00 | 18 | Wollongong | 11-17 (8) | 7 | 28.0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 20% | 1 | 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 30% | 0% | 3 | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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