Dr Dave Adkins and why he should be in the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame
February 14, 2021
Andre Lafleur
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 22/03/65
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 190
- Weight (KG): 93
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Northeastern University (1983–1987)
- NBL DEBUT: 13/04/91
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 20/09/96
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 31
- NBL History: Gold Coast 1991-94 | Illawarra 1995-96
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Andre LaFleur was born in Los Angeles, California (USA).
LaFleur arrived in Australia in 1989 as a import for state league team Mount Gambier. At the end of the season, he was given a try-out with the Brisbane Bullets but ultimately beaten to the spot by Derek Rucker. LaFleur would spend another season playing for Mount Gambier, waiting for a second chance at the NBL, which came in 1991 when he was signed by the Gold Coast Rollers.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Andre LaFleur made his NBL debut with the Gold Coast Rollers at 26 years of age. He scored 27 points in his first game.
In 1991, Gold Coast re-branded themselves from the Cougars to the Rollers and under new head coach Dave Claxton they recorded their best team result ever, finishing with 14 wins and 12 losses. The team was headlined by import stars Mike Mitchell (29 points per game) and Andre LaFleur (22 points per game) but despite the winning record the Rollers would not qualify for the post season. LaFleur contributed 22.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 7.9 assists in what would be the most successful year of the franchise’s six years of existance.
1992
After narrowly missing out on the playoffs in 1991, the Gold Coast re-signed stars Mike Mitchell and Andre LaFleur and looked to take things one step further. Nine games into the season, however, the Rollers suffered a huge blow when they lost Mitchell on May 31, 1992, after he suffered a horrific injury after a loss in Illawarra. Mitchell had punched a wire-reinforced glass panel of a locker-room door after Gold Coast narrowly lost to the Illawarra Hawks, which saw his arm almost severed, and his muscle cut from the bone. Mitchell was found slumped on the floor in a pool of blood by Rollers teammate Ron Radliff. Doubt was initially cast over whether Mitchell would ever play again, miraculously he recovered, making his return to the court the following season.
Mitchell had averaged 26.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3 assists prior to the injury and left a huge hole at both ends of the court. Willie Jennette, who had averaged 37.3 points over three seasons in the state league (SEABL) was signed as his replacement. LaFleur stepped up in Mitchell’s absence, he averaged 22.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 9.6 assists for the season but the Rollers were unable to cover Mitchell’s loss. The team struggled to generate wins against any of the top team’s and finished in 10th place, with a record of 11-13.
1993
In 1993, LaFleur averaged 20.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists during a season where the Rollers struggled to generate wins, finishing with a 12-14 record and their second consecutive tenth place finish.
1994
No sooner had the NBL season resumed than Gold Coast captain Andre LaFleur walked out on the Rollers after feeling he had been set up as the scapegoat for the club’s crash from playoff contention.
1994 was the third season in a row where the Rollers finished in 10th place, although they had won fewer and fewer games each year. LaFleur averaged 19.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 8 assists this season, which would end in a major revamp at the end of the year with the team not re-signing import duo Mike Mitchell and Andre LaFleur.
ILLAWARRA HAWKS
1995
After three consecutive years of being eliminated in the first round of the NBL playoffs, head coach Alan Black knew his job was on the line if the team was unable to advance past the Quarterfinals. Black was able to re-sign star import Melvin Thomas and have veterans Chuck Harmison, Mick Corkeron and Dene MacDonald return but lost Butch Hays and Craig Adams, who both signed with Newcastle. Black bolstered his roster by replacing Hays with pass-first point guard Andre LaFleur, who had connected on more assists than any other player in the league over the prior three seasons, former Perth Wildcats star Kendal Pinder, young talent Glen Saville and Illawarra junior Terry Johnson.
Five games into the season, offcourt issues arose surrounding Pinder (9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists), who was released from the team after facing criminal charges. However, with his absence and injuries to Mick Corkeron (9.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists), the Hawks witnessed the explosion of young point guard Terry Johnson. Johnson, who had failed to make his with the Giants two years earlier. Off court issues saw the Giants question Johnson’s commitment to the sport which resulted in him spending a year playing with Cairns in the state league. Johnson (11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) respnded by tripling his numbers from 1993 to finish as the competition’s leading three point shooter at 48 percent (34 of 71) and runner-up to Tonny Jensen (Newcastle) for the Most Improved Player award.
Melvin Thomas led the team in almost every category, posting 27 points, 10 rebounds, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks and formed quite the duo with LaFleur, who finished with averages of 21.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.9 steals. LaFleur finished the season with averages of 21.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.
Illawarra (14-12) finished seventh and faced off against second-placed South East Melbourne in the Quarterfinals. In game one, the Hawks delivered a upset, defeating the Magic behind a 29 point outburst from 37 year old veteran Chuck Harmison (12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists). The Hawk’s flying start was stemmed once the series moved to Melbourne. There, the Magic claimed victory in both games two (92-89) and three (93-75) to deliver a fourth straight Quarterfinals exit for Illawarra in as many years.
At season’s end, Black was not re-signed by Illawarra and promptly took up a role with rival club Sydney for the 1996 season, taking Hawks star Melvin Thomas along with him.
1996
In 1996, the Hawks lost head coach Alan Black and Melvin Thomas, their leading scorer and rebounder from the past four seasons to the deeper wallets of rivals Sydney. Although many felt the void left by Thomas would be a difficult one to replace, new import Marcus Timmons surprised everyone by being one of the premier forwards in the competition. He led the team in almost every category, leading the team in points (21.9 ppg), rebounds, (12.3 rpg), steals (2.3 spg) and blocks (1.0 bpg). His import partner Andre LaFleur however started to show signs of slowing down, his numbers dropping to 18.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.
Under new head coach Brendan Joyce, The Hawks would struggle to find wins during the year and finished in 10th place with a record of 9-17.
Andre LaFleur played six seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Gold Coast Rollers and the Illawarra Hawks. He averaged 21 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in 150 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 34th in total assists
– 2nd in assists per game.
– 29th in steals per game.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 31 | Illawarra | 9-17 (10) | 26 | 1,098.0 | 488 | 66 | 180 | 21 | 45 | 32 | 2 | 105 | 83 | 166 | 369 | 45% | 46 | 130 | 35% | 110 | 137 | 80% | 56% | 51% | 31 |
| 1995 | 30 | Illawarra | 14-12 (7) | 29 | 1,364.0 | 629 | 103 | 214 | 24 | 79 | 56 | 2 | 110 | 93 | 217 | 436 | 50% | 64 | 160 | 40% | 131 | 168 | 78% | 61% | 57% | 38 |
| 1994 | 29 | Gold Coast | 10-16 (9) | 20 | 905.0 | 392 | 50 | 159 | 12 | 38 | 51 | 4 | 74 | 77 | 136 | 283 | 48% | 34 | 97 | 35% | 86 | 109 | 79% | 59% | 54% | 33 |
| 1993 | 28 | Gold Coast | 12-14 (10) | 26 | 1,173.0 | 540 | 79 | 237 | 23 | 56 | 71 | 2 | 72 | 78 | 205 | 397 | 52% | 58 | 129 | 45% | 72 | 96 | 75% | 61% | 59% | 33 |
| 1992 | 27 | Gold Coast | 11-13 (10) | 23 | 1,017.0 | 524 | 64 | 220 | 29 | 35 | 50 | 4 | 79 | 86 | 187 | 383 | 49% | 40 | 115 | 35% | 110 | 142 | 77% | 58% | 54% | 36 |
| 1991 | 26 | Gold Coast | 14-12 (8) | 26 | 1,134.0 | 579 | 81 | 206 | 29 | 52 | 67 | 7 | 70 | 106 | 206 | 419 | 49% | 64 | 140 | 46% | 103 | 129 | 80% | 60% | 57% | 36 | Totals | 150 | 6691 | 3152 | 443 | 1216 | 138 | 305 | 327 | 21 | 510 | 523 | 1117 | 2287 | 48.8% | 306 | 771 | 39.7% | 612 | 781 | 78.4% | 60% | 56% | 38 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 31 | Illawarra | 9-17 (10) | 26 | 42.2 | 18.8 | 2.5 | 6.9 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 6.4 | 14.2 | 45% | 1.8 | 5.0 | 35% | 4.2 | 5.3 | 80% | 56% | 51% | 31 |
| 1995 | 30 | Illawarra | 14-12 (7) | 29 | 47.0 | 21.7 | 3.6 | 7.4 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 7.5 | 15.0 | 50% | 2.2 | 5.5 | 40% | 4.5 | 5.8 | 78% | 61% | 57% | 38 |
| 1994 | 29 | Gold Coast | 10-16 (9) | 20 | 45.3 | 19.6 | 2.5 | 8.0 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 6.8 | 14.2 | 48% | 1.7 | 4.9 | 35% | 4.3 | 5.5 | 79% | 59% | 54% | 33 |
| 1993 | 28 | Gold Coast | 12-14 (10) | 26 | 45.1 | 20.8 | 3.0 | 9.1 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 7.9 | 15.3 | 52% | 2.2 | 5.0 | 45% | 2.8 | 3.7 | 75% | 61% | 59% | 33 |
| 1992 | 27 | Gold Coast | 11-13 (10) | 23 | 44.2 | 22.8 | 2.8 | 9.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 8.1 | 16.7 | 49% | 1.7 | 5.0 | 35% | 4.8 | 6.2 | 77% | 58% | 54% | 36 |
| 1991 | 26 | Gold Coast | 14-12 (8) | 26 | 43.6 | 22.3 | 3.1 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 7.9 | 16.1 | 49% | 2.5 | 5.4 | 46% | 4.0 | 5.0 | 80% | 60% | 57% | 36 | Total | 150 | 44.6 | 21.0 | 3.0 | 8.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 7.4 | 15.2 | 48.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 39.7% | 2.0 | 5.1 | 78.4% | 60% | 56% | 38 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 38 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Mount Gambier 1989-90 | Gold Coast 1990 | Sydney 1998
NBA EXPERIENCE
Andre LaFleur was drafted by the Houston Rockets with pick #104 in the 1987 NBA Draft.
COLLEGE
LaFleur suited up for Northeastern University during the 1983-84 season under head coach Jim Calhoun and went on to compete for the Huskies through 1986-87, starting in his very first collegiate game and closing his career four years later in the NCAA Tournament.
In that 1983-84 season, Northeastern posted a 23-8 overall record and won the ECAC North Atlantic Conference title, and LaFleur started in his debut against Purdue, scoring nine points and adding four assists while beginning what would become 128 consecutive games played.
As a freshman, he averaged 6.4 points and 6.7 assists per game while helping the Huskies earn an NCAA Tournament berth, and he was named to the conference All-Rookie Team after directing an offense that finished among the league’s most efficient units.
During the 1984-85 campaign, Northeastern improved to 22-9 overall and again captured the conference championship before advancing to the NCAA Tournament, and LaFleur averaged 8.6 points and 7.8 assists per game while emerging as one of the top playmakers in Division I.
In 1985-86, LaFleur elevated his production to 10.8 points and 8.4 assists per game as Northeastern finished 30-3 overall and 16-2 in conference play, extended its dominance in league competition, and advanced once more to the NCAA Tournament, and he earned All-Conference recognition for the first time during his junior season.
That 1985-86 season included a stretch in which the Huskies won 38 consecutive home games, and LaFleur orchestrated an offense that regularly surpassed 80 points per contest while maintaining one of the nation’s highest assist totals as a team.
As a senior in 1986-87, Northeastern romped through its conference schedule with a perfect 14-0 mark and finished 27-5 overall, claiming the America East title before advancing to the NCAA Tournament, and LaFleur averaged 12.7 points and 9.7 assists per game while once again earning All-Conference honors.
His final collegiate appearance came against Purdue in the NCAA Tournament, where he scored 22 points and dished out four assists, mirroring the opponent from his first career start four years earlier.
Across the 1983-84 season through LaFleur’s senior year of 1986-87, Northeastern compiled a 60-6 conference record and a 102-26 overall mark, winning the league crown and earning an NCAA Tournament berth in each of his four seasons.
LaFleur played 4,405 minutes in 128 consecutive games, more minutes and more games than any other Husky past or present, and he concluded his career with 1,143 points, graduating as the 10th all-time leading scorer in program history.
He registered 89 steals as a senior and 252 for his career, both still Northeastern records, and he distributed 894 career assists, becoming the all-time NCAA Division I assist leader as a senior in 1987, a total that still ranked ninth in NCAA history thirteen years later.
AWARDS
- 2x All-NBL Second Team
- 2x NBL Assists Leader
COACHING HISTORY
LaFleur joined the coaching staff at Connecticut under Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun in 2001 where he helped the Huskies capture two national championships (2004 and 2011) and record a 258-88 mark (.764). The team also went to a Sweet 16 and an Elite 8 during his time on the staff, which was the most successful era in program history.
LaFleur was instrumental in bringing in Hasheem Thabeet and Kemba Walker among others to UConn. LaFleur spent three seasons as the team's director of basketball operations then, in 2005, he was promoted to assistant coach and was promoted again in 2006 by being named the team's recruiting coordinator.
After spent ten years at UConn, LaFLeur then took up a role as associate head coach at Providence under Ed Cooley. While at Providence the team played in the postseason during each of his last four years on the staff, including the last three in the NCAA Tournament where the team was led by All-America point guard Kris Dunn.
After five seasons at Providence he joined the UNLV men's basketball program as an assistant coach in 2016.
After completing his first season with the Runnin' Rebels, he helped bring in a recruiting class for the 2017-18 season that was ranked as high as No. 12 in the country.
Related
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