Dr Dave Adkins and why he should be in the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame
February 14, 2021
Wayne Mcdaniel
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 8/10/60
- Place of Birth: San Francisco, California (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 198
- Weight (KG): 104
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Cal State Bakersfield University (1980-82)
NBL CAREER OVERVIEW
NBL DEBUT
12/02/83
Age 22
LAST NBL GAME
18/09/94
Age 33
TEAM HISTORY
- Adelaide1983
- Geelong1984-85
- Newcastle1986-88
- Hobart1989-94
CHAMPIONSHIPS
NoneNICKNAME/S: Mac Attack
BIO: Wayne McDaniel was born in San Francisco, California (USA).
FAMILY: Wayne’s son Sam McDaniel also played 157 games in the NBL.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Wayne McDaniel made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 22 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.
The Adelaide 36ers entered the 1983 NBL season with high expectations, driven by their newly rebranded identity and the solid performances of key players like David Winslow (27.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) and Wayne McDaniel (26.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists).
The team, formerly known as the Adelaide City Eagles, changed its name to the Adelaide 36ers to reflect South Australia’s founding in 1836.
Mike Osborne continued as head coach, while David Winslow was named team captain.
Winslow, praised as possibly the best American in the NBL, demonstrated his versatility as a dominant inside presence and skilled playmaker.
McDaniel’s ability to dominate the boards and contribute offensively provided the team with a formidable frontcourt duo.
Despite these standout performances, the 36ers faced challenges throughout the season, highlighted by inconsistent performances on the road.
The team managed an 11-11 record, struggling to find cohesion in close games, particularly away from their home court at Apollo Entertainment Centre.
Darryl Pearce (15.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) continued to shine as a dependable scoring threat from the perimeter, earning recognition for his smooth shooting and on-court awareness.
Adelaide’s season was marked by both highs and lows.
They achieved notable victories, including a win over the league champion West Adelaide Bearcats (114-95), showcasing their potential as a competitive force in the league.
However, the 36ers also endured tough losses, such as their defeat to Canberra (86-107) and an away loss to the Geelong Cats (90-106), which ultimately limited their playoff chances.
Their biggest winning streak was three games, achieved from March 12 to March 20, where they recorded victories over the Canberra Cannons (93-92), Westate Wildcats (102-91), and Hobart Devils (103-85).
Conversely, their longest losing streak also spanned three games and occurred multiple times during the season, with one stretch from February 12 to February 26, including losses to Canberra (86-107), Bankstown (81-90), and Coburg (99-103).
Local talents Kym Borrett (9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) and Dean Kinsman (5.1 points, 2.5 assists) provided crucial depth for the team.
Borrett’s inside presence and Kinsman’s playmaking abilities were instrumental in the team’s rotation, even as they struggled with maintaining consistency over the season.
Additionally, role players like Chris Stirling (3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds) and Malcolm Penno (4.0 points, 1.2 rebounds) offered steady contributions, ensuring the 36ers had options off the bench.
Despite the team’s efforts, they ultimately finished sixth in their division, falling short of a playoff berth.
1988
Wayne McDaniel earned All-NBL Second Team honours for the 1988 season.
1989
Wayne McDaniel earned All-NBL Second Team honours for the 1989 season.
1993
Throughout the 1993 season, Wayne McDaniel proved to be the Hobart Devils’ offensive powerhouse, consistently stepping up as the team’s go-to scorer and leader on the court. One of his most electrifying performances came on September 11 against Townsville, where McDaniel exploded for a season-high 34 points (14-of-19 FG, 6-of-7 FT) and dominated the glass with 12 rebounds, adding 3 assists and 4 steals in a brilliant all-around display.
Earlier in the season, McDaniel lit up Brisbane on April 30, pouring in 33 points (12-of-20 FG, 9-of-10 FT) and grabbing 10 rebounds, showcasing his ability to control the paint and finish efficiently. Another standout game came against Geelong on July 30, when he scored 29 points (12-of-21 FG, 5-of-6 FT) along with 8 rebounds and 3 assists, leading the Devils’ offensive charge. McDaniel also impressed on July 9 against Sydney, tallying 31 points (9-of-17 FG, 13-of-15 FT) and 12 rebounds, proving nearly unstoppable at both ends.
The 1993 season marked a significant turning point for the Hobart Devils, as the franchise moved on from player-coach Cal Bruton, parting ways with import Joe Hurst and veteran Shane Froling, while young big man David Stiff departed for Boston College. Despite these changes, the Devils retained a core group led by McDaniel, alongside Andrew Svaldenis (15.6 points, 9.2 rebounds), Donald Whiteside (15.2 points, 5.6 assists), David Close (13.2 points, 2.9 assists), and rising guard Anthony Stewart (11 points, 3.7 assists), who doubled his scoring from his rookie season.
Injuries to key players like McDaniel and Close forced Hobart to bring in Mike Kelly as an injury replacement; he delivered a brief but impactful stint, averaging 19.5 points and 9 rebounds across two games. Jim Havrilla (9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Justin Cass (7.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2.3 assists) added important support, but the team’s lack of depth was frequently exposed against stronger NBL opponents.
Despite McDaniel’s consistent heroics and multiple 30-point games, the Devils struggled to convert strong individual efforts into wins, finishing with a 6–20 record and landing in 13th place. McDaniel’s leadership and scoring brilliance remained a defining feature of the 1993 campaign, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most feared offensive players and the heart of the Hobart Devils’ attack.
Wayne McDaniel played twelve seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Adelaide 36ers, Geelong Cats, Newcastle Falcons and Hobart Devils. He averaged 26.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 288 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 19th in total points
– 26th in total rebounds
– 45th in total steals
– 24th in points per game.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 34 | Hobart | 2-24 (14) | 21 | 824 | 324 | 163 | 79 | 52 | 111 | 21 | 6 | 85 | 77 | 131 | 289 | 45% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 60 | 83 | 72% | 50% | 46% | 28 |
| 1993 | 33 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 23 | 871 | 465 | 204 | 49 | 79 | 125 | 38 | 2 | 86 | 83 | 188 | 368 | 51% | 2 | 9 | 22% | 87 | 111 | 78% | 56% | 51% | 34 |
| 1992 | 32 | Hobart | 9-15 (11) | 23 | 855 | 509 | 217 | 36 | 76 | 141 | 31 | 5 | 73 | 80 | 218 | 404 | 54% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 73 | 102 | 72% | 57% | 54% | 36 |
| 1991 | 31 | Hobart | 8-18 (12) | 26 | 973 | 608 | 210 | 56 | 78 | 132 | 33 | 4 | 76 | 75 | 254 | 491 | 52% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 99 | 140 | 71% | 55% | 52% | 36 |
| 1990 | 29 | Hobart | 8-18 (12) | 25 | 1,079 | 848 | 258 | 45 | 97 | 161 | 37 | 4 | 100 | 76 | 361 | 647 | 56% | 2 | 7 | 29% | 124 | 181 | 69% | 58% | 56% | 48 |
| 1989 | 29 | Hobart | 8-16 (10) | 24 | 1,078 | 806 | 235 | 35 | 74 | 161 | 31 | 5 | 88 | 62 | 348 | 634 | 55% | 2 | 6 | 33% | 108 | 145 | 74% | 58% | 55% | 57 |
| 1988 | 27 | Newcastle | 13-11 (5) | 25 | 1,121 | 765 | 304 | 101 | 87 | 217 | 46 | 15 | 92 | 72 | 321 | 628 | 51% | 5 | 25 | 20% | 118 | 149 | 79% | 55% | 52% | 52 |
| 1987 | 27 | Newcastle | 6-20 (12) | 26 | 1,073 | 768 | 276 | 76 | 115 | 161 | 41 | 17 | 102 | 76 | 333 | 678 | 49% | 4 | 15 | 27% | 98 | 121 | 81% | 53% | 49% | 41 |
| 1986 | 26 | Newcastle | 10-16 (10) | 26 | 0 | 679 | 230 | 46 | 101 | 129 | 45 | 8 | 81 | 80 | 292 | 563 | 52% | 0 | 5 | 0% | 95 | 125 | 76% | 55% | 52% | 41 |
| 1985 | 25 | Geelong | 15-11 (7) | 26 | 0 | 789 | 247 | 75 | 119 | 128 | 38 | 23 | 109 | 56 | 337 | 589 | 57% | 5 | 16 | 31% | 110 | 136 | 81% | 61% | 58% | 43 |
| 1984 | 23 | Geelong | 21-2 (1) | 21 | 0 | 494 | 208 | 45 | 86 | 122 | 26 | 25 | 68 | 65 | 197 | 338 | 58% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 100 | 124 | 81% | 63% | 58% | 36 |
| 1983 | 22 | Adelaide | 11-11 (10) | 22 | 0 | 584 | 254 | 59 | 103 | 151 | 19 | 19 | 77 | 56 | 246 | 489 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 92 | 126 | 73% | 54% | 50% | 41 | Totals | 288 | 7874 | 7639 | 2806 | 702 | 1067 | 1739 | 406 | 133 | 1037 | 858 | 3226 | 6118 | 52.7% | 23 | 95 | 24.2% | 1164 | 1543 | 75.4% | 56% | 53% | 57 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 34 | Hobart | 2-24 (14) | 21 | 39.2 | 15.4 | 7.8 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 13.8 | 45% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 50% | 2.9 | 4.0 | 72% | 50% | 46% | 28 |
| 1993 | 33 | Hobart | 6-20 (13) | 23 | 37.9 | 20.2 | 8.9 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 8.2 | 16.0 | 51% | 0.1 | 0.4 | 22% | 3.8 | 4.8 | 78% | 56% | 51% | 34 |
| 1992 | 32 | Hobart | 9-15 (11) | 23 | 37.2 | 22.1 | 9.4 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 6.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 9.5 | 17.6 | 54% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 3.2 | 4.4 | 72% | 57% | 54% | 36 |
| 1991 | 31 | Hobart | 8-18 (12) | 26 | 37.4 | 23.4 | 8.1 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 9.8 | 18.9 | 52% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 33% | 3.8 | 5.4 | 71% | 55% | 52% | 36 |
| 1990 | 29 | Hobart | 8-18 (12) | 25 | 43.2 | 33.9 | 10.3 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 6.4 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 14.4 | 25.9 | 56% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 29% | 5.0 | 7.2 | 69% | 58% | 56% | 48 |
| 1989 | 29 | Hobart | 8-16 (10) | 24 | 44.9 | 33.6 | 9.8 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 14.5 | 26.4 | 55% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 33% | 4.5 | 6.0 | 74% | 58% | 55% | 57 |
| 1988 | 27 | Newcastle | 13-11 (5) | 25 | 44.8 | 30.6 | 12.2 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 8.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 12.8 | 25.1 | 51% | 0.2 | 1.0 | 20% | 4.7 | 6.0 | 79% | 55% | 52% | 52 |
| 1987 | 27 | Newcastle | 6-20 (12) | 26 | 41.3 | 29.5 | 10.6 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 6.2 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 12.8 | 26.1 | 49% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 27% | 3.8 | 4.7 | 81% | 53% | 49% | 41 |
| 1986 | 26 | Newcastle | 10-16 (10) | 26 | 0.0 | 26.1 | 8.8 | 1.8 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 11.2 | 21.7 | 52% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0% | 3.7 | 4.8 | 76% | 55% | 52% | 41 |
| 1985 | 25 | Geelong | 15-11 (7) | 26 | 0.0 | 30.3 | 9.5 | 2.9 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 13.0 | 22.7 | 57% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 31% | 4.2 | 5.2 | 81% | 61% | 58% | 43 |
| 1984 | 23 | Geelong | 21-2 (1) | 21 | 0.0 | 23.5 | 9.9 | 2.1 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 9.4 | 16.1 | 58% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 4.8 | 5.9 | 81% | 63% | 58% | 36 |
| 1983 | 22 | Adelaide | 11-11 (10) | 22 | 0.0 | 26.5 | 11.5 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 11.2 | 22.2 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 4.2 | 5.7 | 73% | 53.6% | 50% | 41 | Total | 288 | 27.3 | 26.5 | 9.7 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 11.2 | 21.2 | 52.7% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 24.2% | 4.0 | 5.4 | 75.4% | 56% | 53% | 57 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 57 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
|---|
COLLEGE
Wayne McDaniel suited up for Cal State Bakersfield during the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons as part of the Division II men’s basketball program, which compiled records and statistics for that era under head coaches of the Roadrunners program. During his two seasons with the Roadrunners, McDaniel appeared in 53 total games and finished his college career with a scoring average of 19.8 points per game, ranking among the top scoring averages in program history for that period.
Across the 1980-81 and 1981-82 campaigns, McDaniel accumulated a significant scoring load, contributing as one of the leading offensive players on the team and placing him high on the Roadrunners’ Division II scoring average list.
McDaniel’s performance also earned him recognition on NCAA Division II All-Tournament teams while representing CSU Bakersfield in postseason tournament play, indicating standout contributions in those championship games.
Cal State Bakersfield’s team totals, opponents, and detailed box scores from each season place McDaniel as a consistent scoring threat, though specific field goal, free throw, and rebound totals for his individual college career are not comprehensively archived online from that era.
His collegiate tenure at Cal State Bakersfield directly preceded his 1982 draft year, after which he embarked on a professional basketball career overseas, notably in the Australian NBL.
AWARDS
- 2x All-NBL Second Team
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
After basketball he became somewhat of a movie star, appearing in films such as Son of the Mask (2005) and Superman Returns (2006) and The Sapphires (2012).
Related
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
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