BIO: Ian Ellis was born in Canberra (ACT) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Norths basketball program.
Ian Ellis made his NBL debut with the Canberra Cannons on 25/2/1979. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.
During the league’s first season, Ellis appeared in 18 games, averaging 8.9 points for the Canberra Cannons.
The team were led by Cal Stamp (23.8 ppg), who was one of three imports on the Cannons roster, the other two being Herb McEachin (23.8 ppg) and Jerry Lee (8.9 ppg). Canberra finished the season with a equal record to Nunawading (13 wins and 5 losses) but would finish +2 points in their head-to-head matchups (1-1), propelling them into the Grand Final.
To crown the first champions of the national league, the first and second team’s would play off in a single game Grand Final clash. This saw St Kilda (1st) defeating Canberra (2nd), 94–93, to become the league’s first champions. Cal Stamp led Canberra in scoring with 32 points while his St Kilda counterpart Larry Sengstock finished the game with a career-high 33 points.
1980
In 1980, Ellis averaged 5.5 points, as the Cannons finished in seventh place (11-11).
1981
In 1981, Ellis averaged 2.8 points, playing a key role in the Cannons rotation, helping the team finish to a seventh place finish (12-10).
Ian Ellis played three seasons the Canberra Cannons. He averaged 4.3 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists in 62 NBL games.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0 | Canberra | 12-10 (7) | 22 | 0.0 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 27 | 55 | 49% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 8 | 12 | 67% | 51% | 49% | 8 |
| 1980 | 0 | Canberra | 11-11 (7) | 22 | 0 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 47 | 94 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 26 | 35 | 74% | 54% | 50% | 15 |
| 1979 | 0 | Canberra | 13-5 (2) | 18 | 0 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 34 | 68 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 17 | 27 | 63% | 53% | 50% | 12 | Totals | 62 | 0 | 267 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 179 | 108 | 217 | 49.8% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 51 | 74 | 68.9% | 53% | 50% | 15 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0 | Canberra | 12-10 (7) | 22 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 49% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.4 | 0.5 | 67% | 51.1% | 49% | 8 |
| 1980 | 0 | Canberra | 11-11 (7) | 22 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.2 | 1.6 | 74% | 54.2% | 50% | 15 |
| 1979 | 0 | Canberra | 13-5 (2) | 18 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.9 | 1.5 | 63% | 52.6% | 50% | 12 | Total | 62 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 49.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 68.9% | 53% | 50% | 15 |
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|---|
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com
In 1984, the NBL introduced the three-point line, forever altering the geometry of Australian basketball. Since then, the league has seen traditional snipers, stretch bigs and volume scorers completely revolutionise how offenses operate and defenses scramble. But as the modern game places a premium on spacing and perimeter shooting, a critical question arises: Who are the most efficient and devastating shooters in the 40-year history of the NBL? To cut through the noise, we have to look beyond raw percentages. By combining historical spreadsheet data…
READ MOREPerth Wildcats head coach John Rillie joins the podcast to discuss the pressure that comes with coaching one of the NBL’s most successful clubs, the challenge of moving forward after Bryce Cotton’s departure, and what Perth needs to build its next championship contender. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Rillie about taking over the Wildcats after the club missed the finals for the first time since 1986, the expectations of the Red Army, and how Perth’s three…
READ MOREFormer Sydney Kings and Townsville Crocodiles big man Rolan Roberts joins the podcast to reflect on his time in Australia, including joining the Kings mid-season and helping them complete their historic 2005 NBL three-peat. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Roberts about playing under Brian Goorjian, becoming a key interior presence for Sydney, and being part of the Kings team that became the first in NBL history to win three straight championships. The episode also dives into…
READ MOREAt some point over the next 12 months, the Boomers are going to have to make a decision that Australian basketball has managed to avoid for almost two decades. Who exactly is this team built around now? Since 2010, that answer was simple. It was Patty Mills’ team. Mills has been the primary scorer for the Boomers for nearly two decades and few Australian victories have been recorded without a major scoring performance from Patty. But as the Boomers move toward the 2027 FIBA World…
READ MOREA player arriving in the NBL with NBA experience always creates interest. Fans get excited when their team signs a former NBA player, commentators mention it during broadcasts, and every article about that player usually links their NBL performance back to their NBA résumé. Sometimes, we see a big-time college prospect use the NBL as a springboard to the NBA and never return. Other times, established NBA veterans come to Australia looking for a fresh opportunity. And in many cases, local talent develops in the…
READ MOREOver the years, Aussie Hoopla has taken a deep dive into the full list of players who have competed in both the NBL and the NBA. You can see the full list of NBL players who have played in the NBA here: Names from every decade since the 1980s have featured, including NBL legends like Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Lanard Copeland and Rob Rose, alongside a long list of imports who used the NBL as a stepping stone to the world’s biggest stage. But with…
READ MOREFormer Adelaide 36ers star Julius Hodge joins the podcast to reflect on one of the most dominant short stints in NBL history, his journey from the NBA to Australia, and the impact he made during the 2007/08 season. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Host Dan Boyce chats with Hodge about his incredible all-around performances, triple-doubles, and what it was like adjusting to the Australian game mid-season. The episode also dives into his time playing in the NBA and overseas, his perspective…
READ MOREBelow is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…
READ MORE