BIO: Neil Mottram was born in Melbourne (VIC) Mottram received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 1999. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s state league team (1999, 2000).

FAMILY: Married to Jenni Screen.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Neil Mottram made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 19 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

In 2000/01, Mottram averaged 4.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.1 assists as the Wildcats finished in third place with a record of 21-7 .

2001/02
In 2001/02, Mottram averaged 3.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.2 assists, playing a key role in the Wildcat’s rotation, helping the team finish reach a second place finish in the regular season with a 17-13 record.

MELBOURNE TIGERS
2002/03
After coming close to a NBL Grand Final berth the prior season, which many feel they would have if not for a ankle injury that derailed Andrew Gaze for the playoffs, the Tigers underwent some small roster changes in 2002. Moving on were Daniel Egan (to Brisbane) and Warrick Giddey (retired), while Neil Mottram (via Perth), Blake and import Matt Rueter, who had both been playing in the state league, were also added to the roster.

Tigers started off slowly (2-4) before findng their groove and recording a four winning streak to improve to return to the top six by round 10 (6-4). Melbourne would lose Gaze (22.1 points, 4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) to a knee infection that saw him miss four games (one win, three losses) with David Smith (5.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) inserted into the starting lineup. When Gaze returned to the lineup he was visibly unfit and several kilograms lighter. The Tigers had also dropped out of the playoffs picture again (9-11) after losing the NBL’s leading rebounder, Mark Bradtke (17.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks) for six games with back and hamstring issues.

In addition to Gaze and Bradtke, the Tigers would rely on Lanard Copeland (18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals) and Marcus Timmons (13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3 assists 1.4 steals) to provide the offensive punch, with Neil Mottram (10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) and Stephen Hoare (9.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) also stepping up in Bradtke’s absence.

Heading into the last round, the Tigers (14-14) needed to a extra win to avoid losing the sixth spot on the ladder to West Sydney (12-16), who had the head to head advantage against Melbourne. They would defeat Illawarra (108-99) locking in a playoff spot, but then lose to Townsville (104-106) to end the regular season (15-15).

Melbourne faced the first seed Sydney (22-8) in the Qualifying Finals and lost the opening game (89-101) thanks to big games from Kings stars Shane Heal (25 points), Kavossy Franklin (19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists) and David Stiff (18 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks).

In game two, Bradtke (21 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals) and Kings star import Chris Williams (32 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks) would battle inside in one of the greatest head to head battles of all-time. Although Williams would do it all that night, the Tigers locked down the Kings backcourt of Heal (14 points) and Franklin (16 points) and thanks to big games from Gaze (25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists) and Copeland (22 points and 5 assists), came away victors in game two (108-104).

With the series returning to Sydney, the Kings simply outclassed the Tigers in game three (114-89), with Williams (25 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks) continuing his unstoppable form and the Kings winning by 25 points. The Kings locked down Melbourne’s ‘Big Three’ of Gaze, Copeland and Bradtke who in rare fashion were limited to only 34 points combined. Stephen Hoare (15 points and 12 rebounds) top scoring for the Tigers.

2003/04
During the 2003/04 season Mottram averaged 1.6 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.4 assists and helped the Tigers finish with a record of 20-13 to end the regular season in fifth place.

2004/05
In limited minutes, Mottram averaged 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists, playing alongside Melbourne Tigers legends Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland and Mark Bradtke. He helped guide the team to a 17-15 record and a sixth place finish in the regular season. The team would defeat Perth 108-88 in the first round of the elimination finals before losing to the Townsville Crocodiles in the second elimination final, 100-112. This game would be the last for Tigers legends Andrew Gaze and his father, Lindsey, who had decided to retire at the season’s end.

2005/06
In 2005, the Tigers were forced into rebuilding mode as legendary figures Andrew Gaze and his father Gaze retired while Tigers stalwarts Mark Bradtke and Lanard Copeland headed to Brisbane. By a stroke of luck, Chris Anstey, who after three seasons in Europe had decided he wanted to return to play in Australia, began talking to the Tigers, who were now the only NBL team in Melbourne.

With Anstey on board and David Stiff, Rashad Tucker, Dave Thomas, Darryl McDonald, Stephen Hoare and Daryl Corletto returning, the Tigers core was set and so finalised their roster by adding a bunch of young talent in Tom Greer, Braith Cox and Matt O’Hea.

The Tigers opened the season with a huge win over the Wollongong Hawks at home (102–61), then reeled off wins against Perth (twice) and Brisbane to start the season 4-0 before suffering their first loss (88–95) to the Sydney Kings.

Anstey (22.5 points, 10 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.1 blocks) would lead the Tigers scoring, rebounds, blocks, and minutes played and, unsurprisingly, was named the Philips Most Valuable Player of the 2005/06 Philips Championship season. Both Corletto (11.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) and Tucker (15.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists) were the primary benefactors of the exit of Gaze and Copeland, both seeing a major boost in their minutes and production. Tucker, who had struggled in the rotation the previous season, emerged as the team’s second option on offensive, which included Tucker erupting with a 35-point haul in a win over Perth (115-105), his former club.

Alongside Anstey and Tucker, Mottram averaged 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game.

The Tigers finished their season with the best record in franchise history (25-7) which included a almost unbeatable home record (15-1). Melbourne would still manage only second place however, with Sydney (15-1) also being unstoppable at home (15-1) and finishing with a better overall record (26-6).

With Melbourne and Sydney earning automatic entry to the semi finals, they awaited the winners of the play-in tournament, which resulted in Melbourne facing Perth and Sydney facing Cairns. Both team’s eliminated their competition in two straight games to set-up a Grand Final series between the two rivals who had been the clear front runners all season.

Anstey then led the Tigers to the franchise’s third title, winning three straight games against the defending triple-champion Sydney Kings to sweep them 3-0. Anstey’s play also saw him snare the Larry Sengstock Medal as MVP of the Philips Grand Final Series after he delivered arguably the most dominant performance of NBL Finals history, recording 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks In game one, 30 points 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in game two and 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists in Game 3.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2007/08
Mottram received a offer to play in Italy during the 2006/07 and played in Europe for one season before returning to the NBL. He signed a one year deal with Adelaide andd averaged 5.0 points and 4.9 rebounds for the season. The 36ers finished in ninth place (14-16).

Mottram’s year with the 36ers would be his last in the NBL. He spent the remaining three years of his career playing in Sweden.

Neil Mottram played seven seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Perth Wildcats, Melbourne Tigers and Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 156 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (815 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.