BIO: Ebi Ere was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA) and attended McLain High School and played two seasons of junior college basketball for Barton Community College.

He then played two seasons of Division I college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners between 2001 and 2003.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Ebi Ere made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 22 years of age. He scored 25 points in his first game.

After winning the 2003 NBL championship, team captain Shane Heal chose to retire from basketball. Strangely enough, while retired Heal was offered a contract to play with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, which he accepted. CJ Bruton was signed as Heal’s replacement for Kings as the looked to rebuild the roster for a chance at back to back titles. With the Kings losing both imports Chris Williams and Kavossy Franklin to bigger deals overseas, Ere was signed, and instead of finding a second import, coach Brian Goorjian added Jason Smith, who had just returned from Europe, and Brett Wheeler, who had both played for Goorjian whilst with the Victoria Titans.

With only one import, this allowed up-and-coming talent, Matthew Neilsen (22.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steal, and 2.5 blocks), to deliver a breakout season and alongside Bruton (16.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists) and Ere (19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) that propelled the Kings’ to back-to-back championships.

The team began the season scorching hot, winning ten straight games before losing Smith (11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) when he suffered a season-ending injury. Unable to return, Goorjian would replace him with import Chris Carrawell (13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals), who played out the team’s last 11 regular season games.

Sydney would finish first place finish in the regular season with a 26-7 record and go on to win their second championship after their best-of-five grand final series with crosstown rivals West Sydney Razorbacks went down to the deciding fifth game. Nielsen would win the regular season and finals MVP in 2003/04 before leaving to play overseas.

2006/07
BRISBANE BULLETS
2006/07 – THE GREATEST NBL TEAM OF ALL-TIME?
Brisbane continued to develop its roster in 2007, adding the country’s best backcourt player in CJ Bruton (via Sydney) to the existing combo of two of Australia’s greatest frontcourt talents, Sam MacKinnon and Mark Bradtke. Signing Bruton also led to the Bullets moving on from long-term import duo Derek Rucker and Bobby Brannen. Ere, Bruton’s backcourt partner for the Kings championship in 2004, and do-it-all forward Dusty Rychart (via Adelaide) were signed as import replacements and, with the roster having a number of scoring options, chose not to re-sign Lanard Copeland (to Adelaide) and Daniel Egan (to Townsville) and brought in defensive stopper Dillon Boucher (via Perth) who Bullets front office felt was responsible for the Wildcats eliminating the team from the playoffs the previous season, after shutting down leading scorer Stephen Black.

The Bullets began the season by winning the NBL Preseason Blitz (Coffs Harbour), with Bruton being named MVP of the tournament. In contrast, Brisbane began the regular season with a largely indifferent record (3-3), which by the season’s mid-way point was a respectable, but not at all earth-shattering 10 wins and 5 losses. Reigning champions Melbourne (11-4) sat on top of the ladder, although Brisbane had managed to defeat them in their first matchup of the season (98-85). From here, the Bullets reached a level that has many considering this team to be the greatest of all time. Brisbane wouldn’t lose for the remainder of the regular season, heading into the playoffs on a 18 game winning streak. During this time, seven of the team’s victories come in wins by 30 points or more, including a run of three games against Adelaide, New Zealand and Singapore, where they won by 32, 34, and 32, respectively.

Mackinnon (18.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks) would deliver perhaps the greatest season of all time, becoming the first player in NBL history to win both the Best Defensive Player and Most Valuable Player award in the same season. Making Brisbane even tougher to stop is the fact that besides MacKinnon, they had five guys who could take over a game at any time in Ere (17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists), Rychart (15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals), Bruton (14 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists), Black (13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists) and Bradtke (10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists).

Joey Wright would be named coach of the year before leading Brisbane to a seven-point win over Sydney (91-84) in the first game of the semi-finals. Ere (22 points) led the Bullets in scoring. Game two moved to Sydney, where Ere (23 points) would again finish as the game-high scorer, but it was Bruton (21 points) that sealed the series, scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter to eliminate his former club from the playoffs (93-86).

Melbourne (25-8) had finished second on the ladder and defeated Cairns (2-0) to meet Brisbane in the Grand Final. Playing at home, Brisbane extended their winning streak to 21, narrowly defeating Melbourne by three points (98-95). Stephen Black (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) top scoring, alongside Sam Mackinnon (18 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 blocks), who came close to racking up a triple-double. Chris Anstey (21 points and 9 rebounds) would lead the Tigers in the loss.

Melbourne would end the streak in game two, defeating Brisbane (105-91) thanks to a huge game from Anstey (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and the Tigers dominating the Bullets on the glass (59 to 44 rebounds).

Brisbane returned home for game three where they had only lost one game for the entire season and made sure Anstey (9 points and 13 rebounds) wouldn’t have a repeat performance. MacKinnon, Bradtke and Rychart were instrumental in keeping him off the scoreboard, limiting him to 4 of 15 shooting. Black (22 points) again finished as the game’s high scorer, with MacKinnon (19 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals) filling every other column of the stat sheet to give the Bullets a 20 point victory (113-93).

In game four, Brisbane defied the odds and defeated Melbourne by nine points (103-94), despite the Tigers shooting a better percentage from the field, beyond the arc and winning the rebound battle. However, Melbourne finishing with 26 turnovers, compared to Brisbane’s 14 was the true indicator of the championship. Rashad Tucker (17 points and 12 rebounds) would lead the Tigers in scoring, while the Bullets held Anstey (16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) well below his usual scoring averages again, making him shoot 6 from 15 from the field. Bruton (22 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals) and Dusty Rychart (21 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals) were instrumental at both ends of the floor, while MacKinnon (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals), who may have had his quietest game of the series, was awarded the Finals MVP.

MacKinnon would become the first player to ever be selected to the All-NBL First team, win the regular season and finals MVP awards, be the defensive player of the year and win a championship in the same season (Until Chris Anstey would repeat the effort in the following season). Ere would appear in 39 games and average 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for the season.

2007/08
During the 2007/08 season, Ere averaged 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists and was a part of the Bullets squad which finished in third place with a record of 20-10.

MELBOURNE TIGERS
2008/09
With the Bullets folding following the 2007/08 season, Ere signed with the South Dragons for the 2008/09 season but later, exited the deal to pursue a NBA contract. When that fell through, he was unable to join the Dragons after the club signed Tremmell Darden rather than waiting for Ere. Ere subsequently signed with crosstown rivals, the Melbourne Tigers.

In 2008/09, Ere averaged 20.7 points and 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, and helped guide the Tigers to a second place finish in the regular season with a 20-10 record.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2015/16
After finishing third with a 17-11 record before being swept by eventual champion New Zealand in the 2014/15 semifinals, Adelaide entered Joey Wright’s third season after club MVP Jamar Wilson (to Rouen), Brock Motum (to Žalgiris Kaunas) and Luke Schenscher (to Townsville) departed. The 36ers revamped their backcourt by signing Kenyon McNeail (via Oliveirense) and bringing a two-time NBL champion back to the league (via Bayamón), while Lucas Walker (via Melbourne) and Nathan Sobey (via Cairns) were also added. Sobey had spent the previous season as a training player with Cairns before Wright noticed him working out when Adelaide was in town and offered him a full roster spot.

Adelaide completed its roster on August 27 by signing the veteran as its second import, reuniting him with Wright after the pair had won the 2007 championship together in Brisbane. He had spent the previous six years playing overseas and most recently played for Vaqueros de Bayamón in Puerto Rico. Less than a month after signing, a calf injury ruled him out of the NBL Blitz, but he recovered in time for the regular season.

Ere (13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) made his return to the NBL against defending champion New Zealand on October 7, scoring all 13 points during the first half as Adelaide opened a 51-26 halftime lead before winning 90-71. Hodgson (18 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) led Adelaide in scoring and Johnson (15 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) provided support, while Cedric Jackson (14 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) led New Zealand.

Ere (10.8 points and 2.3 rebounds across 28 games) appeared in every game, making nine starts while moving between the starting lineup and bench. The calf problem which kept him out of the preseason Blitz did not cost him a regular-season game, with his production proving inconsistent during the first half of the season before he became increasingly important during Adelaide’s January push towards the playoffs.

McNeail (4 points across 3 games) (released) left the team after only three games when the shoulder injury he suffered during the preseason dunk contest failed to respond to treatment. Jerome Randle (via Eskişehir Basket) was signed as his replacement after spending the previous five seasons in Europe following concerns he was ‘too small’ to make the NBA. Randle (23 points and 5.2 assists across 23 games) later said he had begun to ‘fall out of love’ with basketball before Wright, who was never known for holding back, told him, “If you don’t play your game, then you’re gonna f***in’ sit on the bench!” The unexpected outburst struck a chord, with Randle remembering thinking, “Damn, I’m at home now”.

One of Ere’s most important performances came against Sydney on November 7, where Ere (8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) made two three-pointers during Adelaide’s fourth-quarter comeback from 25 points behind as the 36ers escaped with a 99-98 victory. Randle (33 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) and Petrie (23 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) led Adelaide, while Al Harrington (18 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) was Sydney’s best.

Ere (16 points and 5 rebounds) scored 10 first-quarter points while making all four of his shots against league-leading Melbourne on January 22, helping Adelaide defeat United 90-81 for its sixth consecutive victory and improve to 13-9. Randle (26 points, 5 assists, and 1 steal) led the scoring and Creek (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) provided support, while Todd Blanchfield (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) was Melbourne’s leading scorer.

Ere’s best game of the season came against Illawarra on January 30, where Ere (28 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) made six of ten three-pointers as Adelaide defeated the Hawks 104-90 and improved to 14-10. Johnson (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 block) and Creek (15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals, and 1 block) provided support, while Kevin Lisch (24 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) led Illawarra. Randle (4 points, 2 rebounds, and 9 assists) suffered a knee injury early in the second half and did not return, with the injury subsequently keeping him out of Adelaide’s next two games.

Randle finished as the NBL’s leading scorer and second in assists, becoming the first Adelaide player to lead the league in scoring, while scoring 30 points or more three times, including a season-high 41 against Sydney on January 20. He won the inaugural NBL Australia Post Fan’s MVP and was selected to the All-NBL First Team. Johnson (15.5 points and 9.3 rebounds across 28 games) led the NBL in rebounding and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Petrie (9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds across 28 games), Creek (9.9 points and 4.1 rebounds across 26 games), Gibson (9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 27 games) and Walker (5.3 points and 4.9 rebounds across 28 games) provided the other major contributions.

Adelaide closed the season against Perth on February 14, where Ere (4 points and 5 rebounds) played 20 minutes as the Wildcats defeated the 36ers 100-84. Creek (17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Gibson (16 points) led Adelaide, while Tom Jervis (14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) was Perth’s best. The loss completed a four-game losing streak and left Adelaide fifth with a 14-14 record.

Ebi Ere played five seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 19 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 176 NBL games.

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