BIO: Scott Ninnis was born in Adelaide (SA) and started playing church basketball at the age of 7 before joining South Adelaide when he was just 11 years old. Scott Ninnis attended Marion High School in Adelaide, and completed Year 12 at Daws Road High School due to their basketball program.

FAMILY: Ninnis’s father Bruce was a championship winning basketball player with South Adelaide during the 1960s.

As of 2016, Ninnis lives in Adelaide with his second wife Rebekah and their 2-year-old son Patrick Bruce. He also has a 12-year-old daughter, Chiara, from his first marriage. After being sacked as the 36ers coach following the 2009/10 NBL season, Ninnis formed his own wine tour company Premium Wine Tours.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Scott Ninnis made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 20 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

After producing a standout 40-point game against the West Adelaide Bearcats in the local Adelaide competition in early 1985, Scott Ninnis caught the eye of coach Ken Cole. This led to an invitation to train with the Adelaide 36ers, where Ninnis went up against stars like Al Green, Darryl Pearce, Mike McKay, Ray Wood, Bill Jones, Peter Ali, and Mark Davis in daily practice. His efforts impressed Cole enough to sign him to the roster for the 1986 season.

Coming off a Grand Final loss to Brisbane, Adelaide rebounded in 1986 with what is considered the greatest season in NBL history. The team made only one major change, adding naturalised import Dwayne Nelson to replace the outgoing Karl Luke. Adelaide dominated the competition, finishing in first place with a league-best (24-2) record. Mark Davis (25.3 points, 16.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) led the league in rebounding and earned a spot on the All-NBL First Team. Alongside Davis, key contributors included Al Green (19.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals), Darryl Pearce (19.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steals), team captain Bill Jones (19.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks), and Mike McKay (13.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists). Scott Ninnis, in his rookie season, played 14 games, contributing (0.6 points, 0.1 rebounds) but gaining valuable experience during this historic campaign.

Nicknamed ‘The Invincibles’ by the South Australian media, this 36ers team set a record with their (24-2) season. Their two losses came on buzzer-beaters—one to West Sydney (87-89) and another to Coburg (114-116)—leaving them mere seconds away from a perfect season. Of their 27 victories, 17 were by 20 points or more. Adelaide averaged (117.3 points) per game while conceding (96.0), giving them an impressive average winning margin of (21.3) points. They secured the regular season championship five wins clear of second-placed Canberra (19-7).

Adelaide was unbeatable at home, winning all (13) of their regular-season games at a sold-out Apollo Stadium. This streak extended to (14) after a semi-final win over Illawarra (116-92), where Pearce (28 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Al Green (27 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the charge. Including the 1985 home games, this extended Adelaide’s home winning streak to (20-0).

The 36ers then faced Brisbane in a Grand Final rematch, with the NBL shifting the series format to a three-game showdown. Adelaide took Game 1 (122-119), with Mark Davis (38 points, 23 rebounds, and 5 assists) delivering his second-highest scoring performance of the season. Bill Jones (30 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Darryl Pearce (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) were also key contributors.

Game 2 in Brisbane saw the 36ers suffer a heavy defeat (104-84), with Cal Bruton (38 points) and Larry Sengstock (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) leading the Bullets. Scott Ninnis, while playing limited minutes, contributed his presence during Adelaide’s playoff run, though he did not score in any of the playoff games.

Adelaide rebounded in Game 3 at Apollo Stadium, winning (113-91) to secure their second NBL Championship in five years. Cal Bruton (31 points and 4 rebounds) was Brisbane’s top scorer, while Darryl Pearce (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) led Adelaide. Al Green (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) and Peter Ali (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) contributed to the win, capping off a historic season.

Although Ninnis’s contributions in terms of stats were modest, his presence on the team and the experience gained during this championship season laid the foundation for his future in the NBL.

1987
When the 36ers fired coach Ken Cole amid a marijuana smoking controversy in 1986 and replaced him with Gary Fox, Ninnis was sent to play with the Adelaide Buffaloes in the SEABL in 1987. The 36ers did have him play in two NBL games to help cover injuries, he played a total of 5 minutes and 18 seconds. Adelaide would finish the regular season in first place (21-5).

1988
Fox recalled Scott Ninnis back into the 36ers squad full-time from 1988, the same season Darryl Pearce and Peter Ali would be named co-captains of the squad and Adelaide born centre and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) attendee Mark Bradtke would make his NBL debut. Bradtke was signed by Ken Cole in 1986 when he was 16 years old and 203 cm tall but due to living in Brisbane at the time, he committed to the AIS for two years before joining Adelaide.

The Sixers had a great start to the season, kicking it off with a 4-1 start that included a 31-point win over Illawarra and had them picked as favourites to win the title in the early stages of the year. During the first month of the season, the 36ers were led by Darryl Peace, who exploded for 48 points, including 11 of 14 three-point attempts, against the Ken Cole coached Falcons in Newcastle in round two, a stat line that remains the highest scoring game in 36ers history.

Bradtke (7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) came off the bench as a backup to Bill Jones (15.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks) and Mark Davis (25.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals). Darryl Pearce (20.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) and Al Green (20 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals) would provide the offence from the perimeter, and Adelaide (19-5) finished the regular season in first place during for the third year in a row (second under coach Gary Fox). The 36ers would then be eliminated during the semi finals for the second year in a row, this time going down to the Canberra Cannons losing 2-0.

Ninnis would appear in 18 games, and 5.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

1989
1989 would be the last year with Gary Fox as coach after the team dropped to sixth on the regular season ladder with a 15–9 record. Due to the emergence of Mark Bradtke, import centre Bill Jones left the team to join former coach Ken Cole in Newcastle. Adelaide replaced him with import forward Orlando Phillips, the 1983 NCAA West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and a former Los Angeles Lakers draft pick.

Also, the team captaincy would be handed over fully to Darryl Pearce as co-captain Peter Ali chose to step down from the role. As the season began, Mark Davis (25.6 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks) would lead the team in scoring and rebounding while also being selected in the All-NBL First Team for a fourth time. Phillips (20.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) came as advertised, providing the additional scoring needed, and Bradtke (15.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) made the most of his new role as starting center, winning the league’s Most Improved Player award.

Ninnis would contribute 8.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists as the 36ers snuck into the playoffs as the sixth seed. Adelaide (15-9) would face Perth (16-8) in the Elimination Finals, where Cal Bruton (35 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists) finished as the game’s high scorer, but it wouldn’t be enough to get past the 36ers who had five players score over 18 points or more. Mark Davis (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals), Darryl Pearce (25 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists), Orlando Phillips (23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Mike McKay (20 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) and second year big man Mark Bradtke (18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks) combining for 91 points in the game one win (122-124).

With the series returning to Perth for game two, Perth returned to its regular season form, shooting 51% from the field (42/82), and defeating Adelaide by 20 points (114-94). Pinder (25 points and 14 rebounds) and Bruton (22 points and 5 assists) top scoring for the Wildcats, while Mark Davis (22 points and 20 rebounds) racked up a 20/20 game in the 36ers losing effort.

With Bruton (29 points and 7 rebounds) again leading the team in scoring, Perth came away with the win in game three (112-108) and ended 36ers playoff hopes.

1990
36ers long-time assistant coach Don Shipway was appointed coach of the team after three-year boss Gary Fox paid the price for the 36ers’ third consecutive playoff failure. In his first season at the helm, Shipway wasn’t able to do much better, with Adelaide missing the playoffs for the first time since 1983, the club’s first ever losing season.

1990 was also the year Mark Davis replaced Darryl Pearce as team captain, a role he would hold until the end of 1996, and it was the last season for local favourite Peter Ali who retired after 279 NBL games (141 of them with the 36ers). This season Ninnis would also average 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.

1991
Wanting a change of scenery, Ninnis signed with the Eastside Melbourne Spectres with the aim of developing his game under coach Brian Goorjian. After making the playoffs for the first time in three years, Goorjian was able to bring back almost the entire squad for another shot at the championship, the team’s only key loss being bruising forward Shane Froling.

Behind Eastside’s formidable frontcourt, led by Bruce Bolden (27.2 ppg and 10.4 rpg), Kent Lockhart (18.6 ppg and 5.7 rpg) and Dean Uthoff (16.8 ppg and 13.6 rpg) the Spectres finished the season with a 17-9 record. Ninnis also contributed 9.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists as Eastside finished in second place, earning them a first-round bye in the playoffs. Eastside would then eliminate North Melbourne in the semifinals (2–0) before facing off against the Perth Wildcats, who had finished the season in first place (22-4) and eliminated the Adelaide 36ers in their semi final matchup. The Grand Final series would see Perth come away victorious with a 109-83 win in game one before the Spectres evened things up with a 86-81 win in game two. Behind the stellar play from Perth imports Ricky Grace and Pete Hanson, who would be awarded the Grand Final MVP, Perth defeated Eastside in the deciding game, 90-80. Ninnis would appear in all 31 games, averaging 9.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE MAGIC
1992 – ONE MAGIC YEAR
With the South Melbourne Saints financially stressed at the end of 1991 and ownership unable to continue covering costs a merger was agreed to between the embattled Saints and nearby rivals, the Eastside Melbourne Spectres to become the South East Melbourne Magic.

With the Spectres already fielding a very successful team who had just recently fallen short in the NBL Grand Final. Bruce Bolden, Tony Ronaldson, Darren Lucas, Scott Ninnis, and Darren Perry were joined by John Dorge via the Geelong Supercats and import Milt Newton to finalise the roster for the team’s NBL debut, a campaign coined by the media as ‘One Magic Year’.

???? THROWBACK THURSDAY ????

Did you believe in Magic? How could you not with this old tune! Before the days of @SEMelbPhoenix we had the South East Melbourne Magic. Do you remember how many NBL Championships Magic had to their name? Read more – https://t.co/OezFZFpFDS #HoopsAtHome pic.twitter.com/mQfmy7kiG4

— Basketball Victoria (@Basketball_Vic) April 16, 2020

The team got off to a strong start to the year, winning six of their first seven games but felt a change was needed and released Newton, replacing him with LA Clippers guard Rob Rose. From there, the Magic rarely missed a beat, winning all 12 of their home games and losing only four games for the regular season. Ninnis would average 11.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for the season.

The Magic’s strong finish to the season would see head coach Brian Goorjian win the Coach of the Year award for the first time and set up a playoff matchup against the Canberra Cannons. The Magic would make short work of the Cannons, defeating them in two straight games. Next up, the Magic faced the North Melbourne Giants in the semifinals, eliminating them in two straight games. The win set up a NBL Grand Final against their crosstown rival Melbourne Tigers (15-9), who had finished third on the ladder.

In game one of the series, South East Melbourne’s starting point guard Darren Perry suffered a torn ACL and would miss the next nine months due to injury and the remainder of the Grand Final. The injury rattled the Magic, with the Tigers guards Lanard Copeland (34 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks) and Andrew Gaze (26 points) capitalising, taking home a 18 point win (116-98).

In game two, the Magic’s backcourt stepped up in Perry’s absence with Lucas (who delivered a season-high 19 points) and Scott Ninnis locking down Copeland, who had single-handed won the opening game for the Tigers, limiting him to only 14 points (6-19 shooting). Ninnis added 000 points while Robert Rose (20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals) controlled the point guard spot at the offensive end, and Bruce Bolden (22 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks) dominated inside, giving the Magic a 115-93 win to even up the series.

The Tigers had been taken by surprise by the Magic’s ability to bounce back without Perry, and although Melbourne battled valiantly in game three, the Magic seemed to have won the mental game with the previous victory. The Magic’s backcourt stepped up once again, forcing Gaze into a horrible shooting night (18 points on 5-19 shooting) and holding Copeland below his season average (24 points). Ninnis contributed 000 points, and the Magic ground out a 95-88 win in the deciding game. The Magic’s import duo of Rose (26 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks) and Bolden (21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks) were at their very best and at the conclusion of the game Bolden was awarded the NBL Finals MVP award by NBA Commissioner David Stern who was visiting Australia at the time.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1993
After two losing seasons under coach Don Shipway, Adelaide hired American coach Don Monson to replace him and steer the team back to its winning ways. With the 36ers still regrouping from the loss of Australian Boomers big man Mark Bradtke (to Melbourne), they built up the team’s frontcourt by adding Chris Blakemore, a talented young big man from the Australian Institute of Sport, import Paris McCurdy and welcomed back former 36er Willie Simmons (via Canberra). Key additions to the back court included Australian Boomers guard Phil Smyth (via Canberra) and the return of local prodigy Scott Ninnis (via South East Melbourne) who had spent two seasons playing under Brian Goorjian in Melbourne.

After nine games it was clear McCurdy (12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.0 steals) wasn’t what the team needed and he was replaced by import David Robinson (18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) a serviceable import for sure, but not quite the same player as his NBA namesake.

Adelaide improved on last season under Monson, finishing in seventh place (14-12) and returning to the playoffs.

Mark Davis (22.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 blocks) led the team in scoring and rebounding, Ninnis (19.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals) delivered the best season of his career and was selected as the league’s Most Improved Player and Blakemore (5.7 points and 4.9 rebounds) went on to claim Rookie of the Year honours.

Once into the playoffs, Adelaide were eliminated in the Quarterfinals by defending champions South East Melbourne.

1994
In 1994, under the coaching of Mike Dunlap, the 36ers reached their first NBL Grand Final since 1986, but the team would be swept 2–0 in the series by the North Melbourne Giants. At the end of the 1995 NBL season, where the 36ers were beaten by the eventual champion Perth Wildcats in the semifinals, Ninnis was cut from the team by Dunlap, who, as a former NCAA college basketball coach, had gained a reputation for favouring the younger players at the expense of the team veterans (during this period the 36ers also cut veterans Phil Smyth (1994) and Robert Rose and Mike McKay (1996).

1995
In 1995, Ninnis averaged 5.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, playing a key role in the 36ers rotation, helping the team finish in sixth place (17-9).

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1993
After being cut by the 36ers coach Mike Dunlap, Ninnis signed for the struggling Newcastle Falcons for the 1996 NBL season. Ninnis (13.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists) would only spend one year with the Falcons, who finished in ninth place (11-15) this season, before again returning to the 36ers in 1997 after Dunlap had been replaced by Dave Claxton.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
1997
Having just shown head coach Mike Dunlap the door, the 36ers hired his assistant and former Gold Coast Rollers coach Dave Claxton as his replacement. Despite finishing sixth the season prior, Adelaide chose to retain the majority of the roster this season, the only major changes being the addition of Rupert Sapwell (Geelong) and replacing import guard Rick Brunson with big man Jeff Brown. Perhaps the biggest change to the roster wasn’t during free agency but when Brett Maher (18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.9 steals) was handed the team captaincy from club legend Mark Davis (something he would hold until his retirement in 2009).

The plan had been for Brown to play alongside Leon Trimmingham (19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks) and Mark Davis (9.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) to form a dominant frontcourt, similar to what had been delivered recent championships for the Perth Wildcats. Six games in, it was clear Brown (7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals) wasn’t the player the 36ers needed, and he was swiftly released. Hoping to find a quick replacement, Adelaide brought back former big man Willie Simmons, who hadn’t played in the NBL since 1994 and was now 35 years old. Simmons (5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds) added what he could, but needless to say, Adelaide struggled through the remaining games and finished in seventh place (14-16), missing the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Ninnis would appear in 27 games and averaged 4.2 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists.

1998
At the end of 1997, the 36ers replaced head coach Dave Claxton, who was only signed by the club at the last moment due to unexpectedly losing Mike Dunlap. He was only signed for one season and was subsequently replaced by rookie coach and former player Phil Smyth. Smyth had been hired without any head coaching experience. In fact, his only previous coaching experience being a specialist coach at the Australian Institute of Sport during his playing days in Canberra.

During the off-season, local product Brett Maher engaged in serious talks with the Sydney Kings and almost moved to the nation’s capital to form a all-Australian backcourt with Aaron Trahair. Ultimately, he decided to re-sign with the Adelaide 36ers, who then recruited 205 cm centre Paul Rees (via North Melbourne).

Shortly after, Smyth signed Canberra Cannons guard Darnell Mee who had just spent a season in France after rehabilitating the knee that limited his productivity in his first NBL season.

Once signed, Mee recommended his former teammate Kevin Brooks to the 36ers, and they signed the former NBA forward to a two-year deal. After his first training session with the team, Brooks’ teammates thought he wouldn’t last a week in the NBL with a shooting style that saw him release the ball almost from behind his head. However, they soon found Brooks (19.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists) was for real as he went on to lead the team in points per game with Brett Maher (17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists) and Mee (14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4 assists) providing the additional scoring punch.

The 36ers’ gamble on Smyth’s playing experience translating into coaching success also paid off, with Adelaide recording the most wins since 1988 and finished in second place (19–11).

Ninnis also added 5.4 points, 1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

Brett Maher’s led the 36ers into the playoffs for the first time as captain and delivered a emphatic punch to Perth’s playoff chin. The 36ers seized a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three semi final series behind a sensational 36-point career-high game by Maher, who also led the Sixers with six assists (shooting 74 percent, including 7-of-11 three-pointers). Darnell Mee was his usual effective self, adding a game-high 14 rebounds to his 16 points as he terrorised Perth’s backcourt and set a aggressive defensive tone from the outset. Adelaide would defeat Perth just as easily as it had in game one, winning 117–110 to set up a Grand Final matchup against the South East Melbourne Magic.

Adelaide was not expected to defeat the Brian Goorjian led Magic, who had compiled a 26-4 record during the regular season and then swept the Brisbane Bullets in the semifinals. In game one, Brooks finished game-high scorer with 24 points (10/18 shooting), and 8 rebounds as the 36ers stunned all, delivering a 100-93 defeat to the defending champs on their home court. Amazingly, game one of the Grand Final was only the second time the 36ers had defeated the Magic since the Eastside Melbourne Spectres and Southern Melbourne Saints had merged to form the Magic in 1992.

The 36ers, who had started the season off slowly, had really found their form by the time of the Grand Final series and, come game two, obliterated the Magic at home (90-62). Adelaide held the Magic to less than 15 points in three of the game’s quarters. Kevin Brooks was again the star, posting 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks alongside Martin Cattalini, who added 20 points and 6 rebounds in a game decided by turnovers (the Magic finished with 26 turnovers compared to the 36ers’ 14) and free throws (The 36ers shot 25 from 33 from the free throw line compared to the Magics 6 from 8).

Adelaide collected their first NBL championship since 1986, and Kevin Brooks was named Grand Final MVP in what was the last winter season for the National Basketball League.

Ninnis would see limited playing opportunities in his last season in the NBL, appearing in 30 games and averaging 5.4 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

Scott Ninnis played thirteen seasons in the NBL. He averaged 9.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 318 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.