The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise
March 15, 2025
Brendan Joyce
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 1/05/60
- Place of Birth: Melbourne (VIC)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 178
- Weight (KG): 79
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Nunawading
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 7/04/79
- AGE AT DEBUT: 18
- LAST NBL GAME: 21/09/91
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 31
- NBL History: Nunawading 1979-82, 1985-86 | St Kilda 1983-84 | Eastside Melb 1987 | Westside Melbourne 1988-90 | Brisbane 1991
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Born in Melbourne (VIC), Brendan Joyce grew up playing both basketball with the Nunawading Spectres and also played Australian rules football. As a junior he received a invitation to train and play for the North Melbourne Kangaroos but Joyce decided to continue with basketball and went on to play in the NBL.
FAMILY: Brendan’s son Daniel Joyce also played 131 games in the NBL.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Brendan Joyce made his NBL debut with the Nunawading Spectres at 18 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.
In what was NBL’s inaugural season, the league chose to simply have the two top team’s play for in the league’s first championship game. This season the Spectres were led offensively buy Bill Palmer and Gary Fox who both averaged 17.8 points per game. Nunawading, who had finished the season by winning their last 3 games, finished with the second-best record (13 wins, 5 losses) but would miss out on playing in the Grand Final with Canberra having finished with +2 points in their head-to-head matchups (1-1). Canberra was awarded second place and went on to lose to St Kilda, the league’s first championship team.
Joyce would see limited playing time as a rookie, appearing in only 5 games and scoring a total of 10 points.
1980
In 1980, Joyce increased his production to 4.5 points per game and became a regular part of the team’s rotation. Gary Fox (19.5 ppg) and Bill Palmer (15.9 ppg) led the Spectres in scoring for the second year in a row as the team finished the year in fourth place with a 14-9 record. They would lose to eventual champions St Kilda in the semifinals, 101-77.
1981
The 1981 season saw Joyce average 9.5 points and play a key role in helping the Spectres to a fourth place finish in the regular season with a 13-9 record.
The Spectres went on to lose to Launceston Casino City in the 1981 NBL Grand Final.
1982
During the 1982 season Joyce averaged 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists and helped the Spectres finish with a record of 19-7 and end the regular season in third place.
1983
During the 1983 season, Joyce averaged 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists and was a part of the Saints squad which finished in eighth place with a record of 12-10.
1985
In 1985 Joyce averaged 6.7 points and 3.5 rebounds, and helped guide the Spectres to a third place finish in the regular season with a 19-7 record.
1986
In 1986 Joyce averaged 8.9 points and 4.8 rebounds, and helped guide the Spectres to a ninth-place finish during the regular season with a 12-14 record.
1987
In 1987, Joyce averaged 9.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists as the Spectres finished with a record of 13-13 and in eighth place during the regular season.
WESTSIDE MELBOURNE SAINTS
1988
In 1988, Joyce averaged 10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists, playing a key role in the Saints rotation, helping the team finish reach a first place finish in the regular season with a 9-15 record.
1989
The 1989 season saw Joyce average 13.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists and play a key role in helping the Saints to a ninth-place finish during the regular season with a 8-16 record.
1990
During the 1990 season Joyce averaged 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists and helped the Saints finish with a record of 3-23 and end the regular season in fourth place.
BRISBANE BULLETS
1991
During the 1991 season, Joyce averaged 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists and was a part of the Bullets squad which finished in tenth place with a record of 13-13.
Joyce captained both Nunawading and the Westside Melbourne Saints.
Joyce was renowned for his defensive play and ability to penetrate and create opportunities for his teammates and retired having dished out more assists than any other play in NBL history at that time.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 31 | Brisbane | 13-13 (10) | 24 | 679.0 | 96 | 49 | 73 | 15 | 34 | 26 | 1 | 36 | 75 | 32 | 92 | 35% | 5 | 26 | 19% | 27 | 41 | 66% | 43% | 38% | 9 |
| 1990 | 30 | Westside Melbourne | 3-23 (14) | 26 | 1,068.0 | 266 | 85 | 153 | 20 | 65 | 43 | 2 | 72 | 62 | 96 | 268 | 36% | 43 | 137 | 31% | 31 | 63 | 49% | 45% | 44% | 28 |
| 1989 | 29 | Westside Melbourne | 8-16 (9) | 24 | 1,102.0 | 331 | 69 | 161 | 16 | 53 | 44 | 0 | 61 | 78 | 123 | 285 | 43% | 55 | 144 | 38% | 30 | 49 | 61% | 54% | 53% | 22 |
| 1988 | 28 | Westside Melbourne | 9-15 (11) | 24 | 1,060.0 | 247 | 87 | 189 | 18 | 69 | 50 | 2 | 65 | 74 | 87 | 208 | 42% | 30 | 91 | 33% | 43 | 64 | 67% | 52% | 49% | 19 |
| 1987 | 27 | Eastside Melbourne | 13-13 (8) | 26 | 1,069.0 | 250 | 90 | 166 | 18 | 72 | 45 | 4 | 77 | 65 | 92 | 232 | 40% | 46 | 111 | 41% | 20 | 36 | 56% | 50% | 50% | 30 |
| 1986 | 26 | Nunawading | 12-14 (9) | 26 | 0.0 | 231 | 124 | 175 | 27 | 97 | 44 | 3 | 82 | 63 | 88 | 215 | 41% | 28 | 68 | 41% | 27 | 43 | 63% | 49% | 47% | 18 |
| 1985 | 25 | Nunawading | 19-7 (3) | 24 | 0.0 | 160 | 85 | 199 | 25 | 60 | 38 | 2 | 60 | 59 | 70 | 183 | 38% | 10 | 29 | 34% | 10 | 23 | 43% | 41% | 41% | 17 |
| 1984 | 24 | St Kilda | 9-14 (13) | 13 | 0.0 | 118 | 31 | 54 | 3 | 28 | 17 | 0 | 29 | 22 | 50 | 112 | 45% | 1 | 10 | 10% | 17 | 27 | 63% | 47% | 45% | 19 |
| 1983 | 23 | St Kilda | 12-10 (8) | 25 | 0.0 | 141 | 46 | 56 | 10 | 36 | 21 | 4 | 42 | 46 | 58 | 143 | 41% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 25 | 39 | 64% | 44% | 41% | 17 |
| 1982 | 22 | Nunawading | 19-7 (3) | 27 | 0.0 | 192 | 77 | 94 | 26 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 64 | 81 | 201 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 30 | 44 | 68% | 43% | 40% | 23 |
| 1981 | 21 | Nunawading | 13-9 (4) | 22 | 0.0 | 210 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 94 | 188 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 22 | 36 | 61% | 51% | 50% | 18 |
| 1980 | 20 | Nunawading | 14-9 (4) | 23 | 0 | 104 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 45 | 90 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 14 | 22 | 64% | 52% | 50% | 11 |
| 1979 | 19 | Nunawading | 13-5 (3) | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 2 | 100% | 56% | 0% | 4 | Totals | 289 | 4978 | 2356 | 743 | 1320 | 178 | 565 | 328 | 18 | 571 | 693 | 920 | 2225 | 41.3% | 218 | 616 | 35.4% | 298 | 489 | 60.9% | 48% | 46% | 30 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 31 | Brisbane | 13-13 (10) | 24 | 28.3 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 35% | 0.2 | 1.1 | 19% | 1.1 | 1.7 | 66% | 43% | 38% | 9 |
| 1990 | 30 | Westside Melbourne | 3-23 (14) | 26 | 41.1 | 10.2 | 3.3 | 5.9 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 10.3 | 36% | 1.7 | 5.3 | 31% | 1.2 | 2.4 | 49% | 45% | 44% | 28 |
| 1989 | 29 | Westside Melbourne | 8-16 (9) | 24 | 45.9 | 13.8 | 2.9 | 6.7 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 11.9 | 43% | 2.3 | 6.0 | 38% | 1.3 | 2.0 | 61% | 54% | 53% | 22 |
| 1988 | 28 | Westside Melbourne | 9-15 (11) | 24 | 44.2 | 10.3 | 3.6 | 7.9 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 8.7 | 42% | 1.3 | 3.8 | 33% | 1.8 | 2.7 | 67% | 52% | 49% | 19 |
| 1987 | 27 | Eastside Melbourne | 13-13 (8) | 26 | 41.1 | 9.6 | 3.5 | 6.4 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 8.9 | 40% | 1.8 | 4.3 | 41% | 0.8 | 1.4 | 56% | 50% | 50% | 30 |
| 1986 | 26 | Nunawading | 12-14 (9) | 26 | 0.0 | 8.9 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 8.3 | 41% | 1.1 | 2.6 | 41% | 1.0 | 1.7 | 63% | 49% | 47% | 18 |
| 1985 | 25 | Nunawading | 19-7 (3) | 24 | 0.0 | 6.7 | 3.5 | 8.3 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 7.6 | 38% | 0.4 | 1.2 | 34% | 0.4 | 1.0 | 43% | 41% | 41% | 17 |
| 1984 | 24 | St Kilda | 9-14 (13) | 13 | 0.0 | 9.1 | 2.4 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 8.6 | 45% | 0.1 | 0.8 | 10% | 1.3 | 2.1 | 63% | 47% | 45% | 19 |
| 1983 | 23 | St Kilda | 12-10 (8) | 25 | 0.0 | 5.6 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 5.7 | 41% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.0 | 1.6 | 64% | 43.6% | 41% | 17 |
| 1982 | 22 | Nunawading | 19-7 (3) | 27 | 0.0 | 7.1 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 7.4 | 40% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.1 | 1.6 | 68% | 43.3% | 40% | 23 |
| 1981 | 21 | Nunawading | 13-9 (4) | 22 | 0.0 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 4.3 | 8.5 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 1.0 | 1.6 | 61% | 51.2% | 50% | 18 |
| 1980 | 20 | Nunawading | 14-9 (4) | 23 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.6 | 1.0 | 64% | 51.8% | 50% | 11 |
| 1979 | 19 | Nunawading | 13-5 (3) | 5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.4 | 0.4 | 100% | 55.9% | 0% | 4 | Total | 289 | 17.2 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 7.7 | 41.3% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.4% | 0.8 | 2.1 | 60.9% | 48% | 46% | 30 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 30 | 10 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
|---|
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